Access Pasadena Booking Records
Booking records in Pasadena are public under California law and can be searched through the Pasadena Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's jail system. Pasadena has its own police force and runs a city jail that handles initial bookings for arrests in the city. People held for longer periods are typically transferred to the LA County jail system. You can search for Pasadena booking data online for free through multiple sources. This page covers how the system works, the laws that make records public, and where to go for the specific data you need.
Pasadena Booking Quick Facts
Pasadena Booking in Los Angeles County
Pasadena is in Los Angeles County, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city has its own police department and city jail. The Pasadena city jail handles initial bookings for most arrests made within the city. For longer holds or more serious charges, inmates are transferred to the LA County jail system run by the sheriff.
For people in county custody, search the LASD Inmate Information Center. Enter the name and the tool shows current inmates across all county facilities. Charges, bail, booking date, and location are all shown. The search is free and works around the clock.
For people still at the Pasadena city jail, contact the Pasadena Police Department directly. The city jail and the county system are separate. Someone at the Pasadena jail may not show up in the county search until after a transfer.
Pasadena Police Department Records
The Pasadena Police Department is at 207 North Garfield Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101. The department runs its own jail and records division. You can call them at (626) 744-4501 for general questions. The records section handles requests for arrest reports and other police documents.
Pasadena's city jail is classified as a Type I facility. It holds inmates for short stays, usually up to 96 hours. The jail has its own booking process. When someone is arrested by Pasadena PD, they are brought to the city jail for intake. Staff take fingerprints and a photo. Charges get logged. Bail is set per the LA County bail schedule. The booking record is created at that point.
The California DOJ provides guidance on public records requests through its FAQ page, which can be useful when seeking older Pasadena booking data that is not available through online search tools.
This FAQ explains the statewide rules for public records requests. It covers response times, fees, and how to challenge a denial. The rules apply to Pasadena PD and the LA County Sheriff alike.
To get an arrest report from Pasadena PD, submit a written request. Include the person's name and the arrest date. The department has 10 days to respond under the California Public Records Act. Copies may have a small fee.
Pasadena Booking Law
California requires booking records to be public. Government Code 7923.610 lists what must be shared. That includes the full name, date of birth, charges, bail amount, physical description, arrest and booking times, and custody location. Both the Pasadena city jail and the LA County Sheriff follow this law. You do not need a reason to ask for booking data.
Penal Code 851.5 protects people during booking. Each person booked at the Pasadena jail or any other facility gets at least three free phone calls within three hours. Calls go to a lawyer, bail agent, or family. No charge. No interference.
The law applies equally to city jails and county jails. Pasadena PD must release booking data the same way the county does. If you are denied access, you can challenge it under the Public Records Act.
Pasadena City Jail Details
The Pasadena city jail is at the police department headquarters on North Garfield Avenue. It handles initial bookings for arrests within the city. The jail is a Type I facility for short-term holds. People facing minor charges may be booked, pay bail, and leave all within the same day. More serious cases go to the county system within a few days.
Bail at the Pasadena jail follows the LA County bail schedule. Misdemeanor charges typically have lower bail that can be posted quickly. Felony charges may mean a higher amount or a no-bail hold. The booking record is available as a public record from the moment it is created.
Call the Pasadena jail at (626) 744-4501 to check on someone in city custody. Staff can tell you if a person is being held. For people who have already moved to the county system, use the LASD Inmate Information Center instead.
Search Tips for Pasadena Bookings
If the arrest was recent, call Pasadena PD first. The city jail handles the initial booking and may have the most current information. For people who have been in custody for more than a day or two, check the LASD Inmate Information Center. Transferred inmates show up in the county system after the move.
- Call Pasadena PD at (626) 744-4501 for city jail bookings
- Search the LASD Inmate Information Center for county custody
- Use full legal names when searching online
- Allow a few hours for new bookings to appear in any system
- Check both city and county if unsure where the person is held
Nearby City Booking Records
Pasadena is near several other large cities in Los Angeles County. Glendale and Burbank are to the west. Los Angeles wraps around most of Pasadena. El Monte is to the east.
Glendale and Burbank both have their own police departments. Los Angeles has LAPD facilities throughout the city. El Monte is served by its own PD. All four cities are in LA County, and county-level bookings can be found through the LASD tools.