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Find Someone at California State Prison, Sacramento

CDCR runs one statewide search tool, CIRIS, covering every state prison including California State Prison, Sacramento.

Overview

CDCR operates a single statewide search tool, the California Incarcerated Records and Information Search (CIRIS), covering every adult institution it runs. To find someone at California State Prison, Sacramento, search by name or CDCR number at ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov, then confirm the result lists California State Prison, Sacramento specifically, not the separate, adjacent Folsom State Prison or Folsom Women’s Facility.

Quick Facts

  • Search CIRIS at ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov, CDCR's one statewide inmate locator.
  • You can search by full name or by CDCR number.
  • Results typically show age, admission date, current location, commitment county, and parole hearing information.
  • CIRIS only covers people currently in CDCR custody, not county jail, federal, or parole status.
  • New commitments and transfers can take a few days to appear or update in the system.
  • CSP-Sacramento, Folsom State Prison, and Folsom Women's Facility are 3 separate institutions on the same 882-acre property, so confirm the exact institution name in your CIRIS result.

Step 1. Go to CIRIS

Visit ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov, CDCR’s single statewide search tool covering all 31 adult institutions, including California State Prison, Sacramento.

Step 2. Search by Name or CDCR Number

Enter the person’s first and last name, or their CDCR number if you already have it from court paperwork or a prior search. The CDCR number gives you the most reliable match, and you’ll need it anyway for mail, deposits, and the visitor approval process.

Step 3. Confirm the Facility Listed

CIRIS should show the person’s current institution as California State Prison, Sacramento. Read this carefully: CSP-Sacramento sits on the same property as Folsom State Prison and Folsom Women’s Facility, and these are 3 separate institutions with their own wardens, addresses, and rules. If CIRIS lists one of those other 2 facilities instead, the guides on this page won’t apply, and you’ll need that institution’s own contact information.

What a CDCR Number Is and Where to Find It

Every person in CDCR custody has a unique CDCR number, usually a letter followed by five digits. You’ll find it on court paperwork, on a prior CIRIS result, or on any letter the person has sent you. It’s the most reliable way to search, and you’ll need it for the visitor questionnaire, deposits, and the mailing envelope.

What the Results Show

Results typically include the person’s age, admission date, current institution, commitment county, and any scheduled Board of Parole Hearings dates and outcomes. CIRIS shows the specific institution, which matters here since it’s the detail that tells you whether the person is at CSP-Sacramento or at one of the 2 other separate institutions on the same property.

Why Someone Might Not Show Up

A few common reasons: they were only recently booked into CDCR custody and the record hasn’t updated yet, they’ve been released or paroled, they transferred to another institution in the days before your search, or the name was entered with a spelling variation that doesn’t match CDCR’s records exactly.

If You Can’t Find Them

Try name variations, including middle names or common misspellings. If you have their case number or county of commitment, CDCR’s ID Unit at (916) 445-6713 can help locate someone with a common name when you provide a date of birth.

Confirming Before You Act

Recheck CIRIS close to your visit date, deposit, or mailing instead of relying on older information. Transfers happen, and a facility guide’s information only applies to the specific institution currently holding that person, not the general area or property it sits on.

Families Also Ask

6 of 10 questions

Q

How do I find someone at California State Prison, Sacramento?

Use CIRIS, CDCR's statewide inmate search tool, at ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov. Search by name or CDCR number, then confirm the result lists California State Prison, Sacramento.

Inmate Search
Q

Does CSP-Sacramento have its own inmate locator?

No. CDCR runs one statewide tool, CIRIS, covering every adult institution it operates, so there isn't a search tool specific to CSP-Sacramento.

Inmate Search
Q

What information do I need to search?

A full name is enough to start, but a CDCR number makes the search more reliable and you'll need it anyway for visitor approval, mail, and money deposits.

Inmate Search
Q

Is CIRIS free to use?

Yes. CIRIS is CDCR's free public tool at ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov. You don't need an account, and you never have to pay a third-party site to look someone up.

Inmate Search
Q

How do I know if my CIRIS result is for CSP-Sacramento and not Folsom State Prison?

Check the exact institution name in the result. CSP-Sacramento, Folsom State Prison, and Folsom Women's Facility are 3 separate institutions that share one 882-acre property, so a result naming Folsom means a different facility with its own contact information and rules.

Inmate Search
Q

Can I use CIRIS for someone in county jail?

No. CIRIS only covers people in CDCR custody. For county jail inmates, check that specific county sheriff's website or call the jail directly.

Inmate Search
Q

They were sentenced but aren't in CIRIS yet. Why?

They may still be in county jail waiting to be transferred to CDCR, which can take weeks. CIRIS only covers people already in CDCR custody, so check the county sheriff's site until they appear.

Inmate Search
Q

Why can't I find someone I know is at CSP-Sacramento?

They may be a recent booking that hasn't updated in CIRIS yet, they may have been released or paroled, they may have transferred, or the name doesn't exactly match CDCR's records. Try name variations, or call CDCR's ID Unit at (916) 445-6713 with a date of birth.

Inmate Search
Q

Do I need a CDCR number to search?

No, a name is enough to start, but the CDCR number is more reliable and you'll need it for the visitor questionnaire, mail, and deposits regardless.

Inmate Search
Q

How often does CIRIS update?

New commitments and transfers can take a few days to appear or update, so recheck close to your visit, deposit, or mailing date instead of relying on an older search.

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All information on this page comes directly from official government and facility sources. How we verify information › Last verified July 20, 2026.