Hayward 72 Hour Booking Lookup
Booking records for Hayward are public and can be searched through the Alameda County Sheriff's Office inmate lookup system. Hayward has its own police department that handles all arrests within city limits. After an arrest, the person is transported to an Alameda County jail facility for booking. The record then enters the county database and is available to the public. You can search for Hayward bookings online for free through the county's inmate search tool. This page walks through the process, the laws, and where to find specific records.
Hayward Booking Quick Facts
Hayward Booking in Alameda County
Hayward is in Alameda County, on the east side of the San Francisco Bay. The Alameda County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail system. When Hayward PD officers arrest someone, the person is transported to the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin for booking. Santa Rita is the main county jail and one of the largest in Northern California. It handles bookings from cities across the county.
To search for someone booked in Hayward, use the Alameda County Sheriff's inmate search. Enter the person's name and the tool shows current inmates with charges, bail, booking date, and custody location. The search is free and runs 24 hours a day. No sign-up is needed.
Because Hayward bookings go through Santa Rita Jail, the same search tool covers arrests from Oakland, Fremont, Berkeley, and other Alameda County cities. One search covers the entire county.
Hayward Police Department Records
The Hayward Police Department is the city's law enforcement agency. Officers handle patrols, crime response, and arrests. The department headquarters is at 300 West Winton Avenue, Hayward, CA 94544. The general number is (510) 293-7000. For records requests, you can contact the department's records division.
Hayward PD creates arrest reports for each arrest. The booking record is kept by the county at Santa Rita Jail. The arrest report stays with the city. These are not the same document. The booking record has name, charges, bail, and booking details. The arrest report adds officer notes, incident details, and evidence information. For the full arrest report, file a records request with Hayward PD. There is usually a small fee for copies.
The California DOJ provides guidance on public records requests through its FAQ page, which can help when seeking older Hayward booking data not available through the county online tool.
This page outlines the state rules for public records requests. It applies to all California agencies, including Hayward PD and the Alameda County Sheriff.
Hayward Booking Law
California makes all booking records public. Government Code 7923.610 lists what must be released. The law covers the full name, date of birth, physical description, charges, bail, booking date and time, arrest date and time, and where the person is being held. The Alameda County Sheriff and Hayward PD must follow this law. No one can be denied access.
Penal Code 851.5 protects people during the booking process. Within three hours of being booked at Santa Rita Jail, each person gets at least three free phone calls. Those calls can go to a lawyer, bail agent, or family member. The jail cannot block them or charge a fee.
For recent Hayward bookings, the county's online inmate search usually has what you need. For older records, a written request under the California Public Records Act is the way to go. The agency has 10 days to respond.
Santa Rita Jail and Hayward Bookings
Santa Rita Jail is in Dublin, about 20 minutes from Hayward. It is the main detention center for Alameda County. The facility has a capacity of over 4,000 inmates. All Hayward arrests that result in booking end up here. The jail handles intake, housing, and release for the entire county.
The booking process at Santa Rita is standard. Officers bring the arrested person in. Jail staff take fingerprints and a photo. All charges get logged into the system. Bail is set per the Alameda County bail schedule. For misdemeanors, bail can often be posted within hours. Felony cases may mean a longer hold or no bail at all, depending on the charges.
You can call Santa Rita Jail at (925) 551-6500 to ask about someone in custody. Staff can confirm if a person is being held and give basic booking data over the phone. For a written record, the online search or a formal request is better.
Search Tips for Hayward Bookings
Go to the Alameda County Sheriff's inmate search. Type the first and last name. Use the full legal name for the best chance of finding a match. If the arrest just happened, give it time. New bookings can take several hours to appear in the system. The jail processes each person before the record goes live.
- Use the Alameda County inmate search for current custody checks
- Search by full legal name
- Allow a few hours for new bookings to appear online
- Call Santa Rita Jail at (925) 551-6500 for direct questions
- Contact Hayward PD at (510) 293-7000 for arrest reports
Nearby City Booking Records
Several large cities near Hayward also have booking records searchable through the Alameda County system or their own tools.
Oakland, Fremont, and Berkeley are all in Alameda County. Their bookings go through the same Santa Rita Jail system. San Jose is in Santa Clara County to the south and has its own booking system.