El Cajon Booking Records Lookup
El Cajon 72 hour booking records come from the El Cajon Police Department and the San Diego County Sheriff. The city has its own police force that handles arrests within city limits. People booked in El Cajon typically end up in the San Diego County jail system. The county operates the main detention facilities in the region. Booking records from both agencies are public under California law. The San Diego County Sheriff has an online tool that lets you search for anyone in county custody. It is free and open to everyone, no account needed.
El Cajon Booking Quick Facts
El Cajon Booking in San Diego County
El Cajon is in San Diego County, east of the city of San Diego in the inland valley. The El Cajon Police Department makes arrests in the city. For booking, people are typically transported to a San Diego County detention facility. The county sheriff runs multiple jails across the region. The East Mesa Reentry Facility and the San Diego Central Jail are the ones that most often receive El Cajon bookings.
The San Diego County Sheriff's Who's in Jail tool is the primary way to search for someone in county custody. Type in a name and the system pulls up results. It shows the booking date, charges, bail amount, and which facility holds the person. The tool covers everyone in the county jail system, not just people arrested by the sheriff. El Cajon PD arrests show up here once the person is processed into county custody.
The online tool runs around the clock. No login is needed. Just a name.
El Cajon Police Department
The El Cajon PD headquarters is at 100 Civic Center Way, El Cajon, CA 92020. The department handles all law enforcement for the city, including arrests, patrol, and investigations. When officers make an arrest, the person is transported for booking. El Cajon does not operate a large city jail for extended holds. Most bookings go through the county system.
For very recent arrests, call the El Cajon PD at (619) 579-3311. Staff can tell you if the person was arrested and where they were taken. The records division handles written requests for booking data and arrest reports. Copy fees may apply for printed documents. The basic booking lookup is free.
El Cajon PD also works with the San Diego County Regional Communications System, which coordinates law enforcement across the county. Arrests by other agencies within El Cajon's borders also go through the county booking system.
El Cajon Booking Law
Government Code 7923.610 requires the El Cajon PD and the San Diego County Sheriff to release all booking data. The law covers the person's full name, charges, bail amount, booking date and time, and the detention facility. No one needs to explain why they want the data. It is public for all.
The Board of State and Community Corrections tracks jail data statewide, including booking statistics from San Diego County facilities that process El Cajon arrests.
This state survey covers jail capacity and booking volume across California counties, including San Diego County facilities used for El Cajon bookings.
Penal Code 851.5 gives every arrested person the right to three free phone calls within three hours of booking. The calls can go to a lawyer, bail agent, or family member. This applies to all El Cajon arrests, whether the person is booked at a city holding area or a county facility. The jail cannot charge for these calls or block them.
How El Cajon Arrests Are Processed
An El Cajon PD officer makes an arrest and the person goes through standard booking. Fingerprints and a photograph are taken. Staff record the name, date of birth, charges, and bail. The bail amount follows the San Diego County bail schedule. Each charge has a set dollar figure. Some serious charges carry no bail at all.
For misdemeanors, many people get a cite-and-release. They are booked but do not stay in jail. A court date is given and they leave. A booking record is still created. Felony arrests usually mean a longer hold. The person waits in custody until they post bail or go before a judge. That first court hearing generally happens within 48 hours of the arrest, not counting weekends and holidays.
- Cite-and-release for many misdemeanor charges
- County jail hold for most felony arrests
- Bail set by the San Diego County bail schedule
- First court appearance within 48 hours
- Booking records created for every arrest type
Request El Cajon Booking Data
For current custody, the county's online tool is the fastest option. For older records, file a public records request. Send it to the El Cajon PD records division or the San Diego County Sheriff, depending on which agency has the file. Include the person's full name and the approximate arrest date. The agency must respond within 10 days. Printed copies may have a small fee attached.
The California Department of Justice handles statewide criminal history requests. Those searches cover all agencies in the state. The process takes longer and may require fingerprints for a background check. For most people looking up a recent El Cajon booking, the county online tool is all they need.
Nearby City Booking Records
El Cajon is near several other cities in San Diego County. Each has booking records you can search.
All of these cities are in San Diego County. Arrests from any of them can end up in the county jail system. The Who's in Jail tool covers them all.