Santa Rita Jail inmate lookup, bail & release · Dublin, CA
Someone you love was just taken to Santa Rita Jail.
Here’s what happens in the next 72 hours, and what to do tonight.
- Free, confidential consultation, day or night
- We ask for O.R. release or lower bail at the first hearing
- Former prosecutors and a former police officer who know Alameda County’s courts
Check the bail amount
Alameda County bail schedule. A judge can change it at arraignment.
On This Page
Fact Checked
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Rabin Nabizadeh who has practiced law since 2004. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
Arrested by Oakland police or anywhere in Alameda County? Our Oakland criminal defense attorneys at 1970 Broadway handle Santa Rita cases every week.
What to do right now
Find them
Search the Sheriff’s inmate locator with their full legal name and date of birth. A new booking can take several hours to show up. Write down the booking number. You’ll need it for bail and visits.
Check the bail amount
Use the lookup below to see the scheduled bail for the charge. If the locator says “no bail” or shows a hold, don’t pay a bondsman yet. Call a lawyer first.
Call a defense lawyer before arraignment
A lawyer at the first hearing can ask for release on their own recognizance (O.R.) or lower bail. That can save you the 10% bond fee, which you never get back.
Every call from Santa Rita is recorded except calls with their lawyer, and prosecutors use those recordings. Say “we’ll talk about it with the lawyer” and keep calls to logistics.
Which courthouse will the case go to?
Hayward Hall of Justice does not hear criminal cases. Fremont Hall of Justice hears misdemeanors only. South county felony arraignments are in Dublin. Department numbers are from the court’s Judicial Directory & Assignments, effective August 10, 2026.
Hour by hour after an arrest
- Hour 0–6
Booking
Fingerprints, photo, property inventory, medical screening and a warrant check. They usually show up in the online locator during or after this step.
- Hour 2+
Bail becomes available
For most charges, scheduled bail can be posted at the 24-hour lobby as soon as booking is done. Some low-level charges are released on a citation with no bail. For domestic violence charges, stalking, felony criminal threats, and serious or violent felonies, scheduled bail can be posted, but there’s no citation or O.R. release before court.
- Within 48 hours
Charges filed and arraignment
Under Penal Code §825, someone in custody must be brought before a judge within 48 hours, not counting weekends and holidays. An arrest Friday night can mean arraignment on Tuesday.
- At arraignment
Bail hearing
The judge can release on O.R., lower bail, or set conditions. Under In re Humphrey (2021), the court has to consider whether the person can afford the amount. This is the moment a lawyer has the most impact.
- After release
Property and next court date
Personal property is returned at release with a photo ID. In Alameda County, the Sheriff’s Office schedules the first court date within days of release, so look for the date and department on the release paperwork or in Odyssey.
Bail lookup: Alameda County
Source: Alameda County Superior Court 2024 Misdemeanor and Felony Bail Schedule (effective March 20, 2024, the court’s current local schedule as of October 2026). Felonies with a maximum of 4 years or less are normally eligible for O.R. release. Priors, enhancements and multiple counts raise the amount. A judge can set a different amount at arraignment.
What a “1275 hold” means, and how to get it lifted
Sometimes the family has the bail money ready, but the jail won’t take it. That’s usually a Penal Code §1275.1 hold, also called a bail source hold. It means the court won’t accept bail until someone proves the money didn’t come from a felony.
Police, the DA, or the judge
A peace officer or prosecutor files a sworn declaration showing probable cause that the bail money was “feloniously obtained.” A judge can also order the hold on their own.
Money-related charges
Holds are most common in drug sales, fraud, theft, embezzlement and robbery cases, where the DA suspects bail would be paid with proceeds of the crime.
The court has to act
If the court doesn’t act on the declaration within 24 hours, the person must be released once the bail is posted. The defense also gets a copy of the declaration within the §825 arraignment deadline.
How a 1275 hearing works
- Step 1
Probable cause is found
Once the judge finds probable cause, the burden shifts to the defense.
- Step 2
The defense proves where the money came from
The defense has to show, by a preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not), that no part of the bail money or bond collateral came from a felony.
- Step 3
The hold is lifted
If the judge is satisfied, the hold is released and bail can be posted at the set amount, including through a licensed bail agent.
For the person paying
Pay stubs, W-2s or tax returns, and 3–6 months of bank statements showing the money built up over time.
For borrowed money
Loan papers, a HELOC statement, or a signed letter from the relative who lent it. A loan is allowed if it’s repaid with lawful money.
For a bail bond
The cosigner’s income records and the collateral paperwork, such as a property deed or vehicle title.
The hearing can be closed to the public if the person who put up the money asks, to protect their financial privacy.
Don’t pay a bondsman’s fee before the hold is lifted. Don’t move cash between accounts right before the hearing, because it looks like laundering. Never give the court a misleading story about the money: under §1275.1(i), the judge can raise bail and hold it against them at every later bail hearing.
Source: California Penal Code §1275.1.
Check the case status in Odyssey
Alameda County’s criminal cases are on the court’s Odyssey Portal (Criminal Online Records Search). It shows whether charges have been filed and when the next hearing is. It’s free, and you don’t need an account.
Open the portal
Go to the Odyssey Portal and choose Smart Search. No account is needed. Registration is only for attorneys and justice partners.
Search the case
Search by name as Last, First (for example, Doe, Jane) or by case number (for example, 16-CR-000123). Use * as a wildcard if you’re unsure of the spelling.
Read the next hearing
Note the date, time and department number. Put the department into the decoder below to see which courthouse it’s in.
From the court’s Judicial Directory & Assignments, effective August 10, 2026. Assignments change. Check the date before relying on it.
Can’t find the case?
Arrested in the last 2 days
The DA may not have filed yet. Someone held in custody has to be charged and arraigned within 48 hours, not counting weekends and holidays (PC §825).
Cited and released
The police report goes to the DA, and charges can come weeks or months later. The deadline is generally 1 year for misdemeanors (PC §802) and 3 years for most felonies (PC §801).
Just released from Santa Rita
In Alameda County, the Sheriff’s Office schedules the first court date within days of release. If it isn’t on the paperwork yet, check Odyssey again in a few days, or call us and we’ll find it.
Want us to check for you?
Call us with the person’s name and date of birth. We’ll look up the case, tell you whether charges were filed, and find the next court date.
Call (510) 405-3067Visiting someone at Santa Rita
Book ahead
Visits are by appointment only, booked online up to three days in advance. No same-day visits.
30 minutes, once a day
One visit per inmate per day. Available times depend on the housing unit.
Bring ID, leave everything else
Bring a valid government photo ID. Personal items stay out of the visiting area, and there’s a dress code. Video visits are also available.
Visiting rules change. Confirm on the Sheriff’s Office site before you drive out.
Questions families ask
How long does it take to get released after bail is posted?
Usually several hours, longer during shift changes and on busy weekend nights. Release paperwork, property return and a final warrant check all happen after payment.
Can I get the 10% bond fee back?
No. The bondsman’s premium is their fee. Cash bail is returned if every court date is kept, which is why it’s often worth having a lawyer ask for O.R. release or lower bail first.
What if bail is listed as “no bail”?
Some charges, holds (probation, parole, ICE, or another county’s warrant) and violations have no scheduled bail. Only a judge can set release terms, and a lawyer can ask for a hearing.
When is the first court date after release from Santa Rita?
In Alameda County, the Sheriff’s Office schedules the first court date within days of release. It should be on the release paperwork. If it isn’t, check the court’s Odyssey Portal or call us and we’ll look it up.
Is Glenn Dyer Jail in Oakland still open?
No. Glenn Dyer closed, and Alameda County adult bookings now go to Santa Rita in Dublin.
Arrested in another county?
Every county has its own jail, court and bail schedule. Our guide for families covers each one.
Criminal Process Guide
Criminal Defense Lawyers Near You
Get Your Loved One Home
The first 48 hours shape the whole case. A lawyer at the first hearing can ask for release or lower bail.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Experienced, Dedicated & Battle-Tested Bay Area Defense Attorneys
Summit Defense is Northern California’s largest exclusively Criminal Defense Law Firm. Our Bay Area criminal defense attorneys are all highly experienced, aggressive and battle tested. We have taken much care in putting this team together in an effort to provide you with the best legal team in the bay area.
About the Firm
