To find out whether someone is in custody at an El Dorado County jail tonight, use the Sheriff's Office's Current Inmates locator, or call the jail: the Placerville Jail at (530) 621-6000 or the South Lake Tahoe Jail at (530) 573-3030. The Sheriff runs both facilities.
How do I look up someone at the El Dorado County Jail?
The Sheriff's Office links an online Current Inmates locator on its own site, and each of its two jails has a public phone line, listed below.
- Open the Sheriff's Office's Current Inmates locator, the online tool the Sheriff's own site links for current inmates.
- If the person does not appear, a very recent booking may not be reflected yet, or they may be held at the other county facility or somewhere else entirely. Call the Placerville Jail at (530) 621-6000 or the South Lake Tahoe Jail at (530) 573-3030 and ask directly.
- If the person may be in state prison rather than county jail, use the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's own locator, CDCR CIRIS, instead.
For custody in a different California county, see our courthouse and jail guides by county.
Where does El Dorado County hold people after an arrest?
The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office runs two jails, one in Placerville and one in South Lake Tahoe, each with its own public phone number.
| Facility | Address | Public phone |
|---|---|---|
| Placerville Jail | 300 Forni Road, Placerville, CA 95667 | (530) 621-6000 |
| South Lake Tahoe Jail | 1051 Al Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 | (530) 573-3030 |
How does release work before trial in El Dorado County?
For most misdemeanors, Penal Code section 853.6 requires release on a citation unless a listed reason applies; others post bail or wait for a judge.
The officer can still book the person at the scene or the station before releasing them on that citation, so a citation does not mean no booking happened; it only changes whether the person is held until seeing a judge. A listed reason, such as an outstanding warrant or a documented doubt the person will return to court, can keep someone in custody instead. For someone who stays in custody, own recognizance release or a reduced bail amount can be requested from a judge before or at that first appearance, described below.
How do I post bail for someone at the El Dorado County Jail?
Bail is posted at the jail or with the court clerk, in cash or through a surety bond, at the amount on the warrant or the court's bail schedule.
El Dorado Superior Court sets presumptive bail by offense in its 2025 Felony/Misdemeanor Bail Schedule, last revised January 21, 2025; for some offenses the schedule lists cite and release instead of a dollar amount.
A judge can move away from that figure. This arrest bail schedule is separate from the court's statewide Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedule, which covers traffic and infraction fines instead. The felony/misdemeanor schedule is adopted under Penal Code section 1269b, sets separate felony and misdemeanor sections, carries a general entry for offenses it does not list ($10,000 for an unlisted felony, and cite and release for an unlisted misdemeanor), and allows bail to be added together, or "stacked," when someone faces more than one charge. A bail-schedule figure is still only a starting point. Two California Supreme Court decisions limit the amount a judge sets: In re Humphrey (2021) requires a judge who sets money bail to consider the person's ability to pay and whether nonfinancial conditions, such as supervision, could reasonably protect the public and the victim or reasonably assure the person's return to court, and In re Kowalczyk (2026) holds that money bail must generally be set in an amount that is reasonably attainable. Kowalczyk also limited outright bail denial: outside capital cases, a judge may deny bail only for the offenses listed in California Constitution article I, section 12, subdivisions (b) and (c), not for every serious charge. See how California bail amounts are set for the full rule.
Under Penal Code section 1269b(a), the officer in charge of a jail and the court clerk can accept bail in cash or as a surety bond; Penal Code section 1295(a) also lets the defendant or anyone else deposit the cash amount with the court clerk after a misdemeanor booking or an order admitting the person to bail. Before bringing payment, call the Placerville Jail at (530) 621-6000 or the South Lake Tahoe Jail at (530) 573-3030 to confirm the charge, the amount and what the jail accepts, or ask a licensed bail agent about its own process.
When is the first court date after an arrest in El Dorado County?
A person held in custody after an arrest must be brought before a judge within 48 hours, not counting Sundays or holidays, under Penal Code section 825(a)(1).
"the defendant shall in all cases be taken before the magistrate without unnecessary delay, and, in any event, within 48 hours after his or her arrest, excluding Sundays and holidays."
That rule is about reaching a judge; it is not a deadline for filing charges and not a promise of release. If the 48 hours run out while court is not in session, Penal Code section 825(a)(2) extends the deadline through the end of the next court session on the following court day. For an arrest on a Wednesday after that day's court session has ended, the deadline is the following Friday, if neither day is a court holiday.
El Dorado Superior Court's own Judicial Assignments page puts criminal pretrial and trial departments at two locations: Departments 1, 2, and 7 at the Placerville Main Street Branch, 495 Main Street, Placerville, CA 95667, (530) 621-5047, and Department 3 at the South Lake Tahoe Branch, 1354 Johnson Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, (530) 573-3044. Other departments at the South Lake Tahoe Branch handle family law, juvenile, civil and traffic matters, so the building's name alone does not tell you a case is criminal; the judicial assignments list does. A citation or notice to appear names the court and the date (Penal Code section 853.6(a)(1)); call the branch to confirm the department before appearing. For more on these two locations, how to look up a case, and how to request an interpreter, see our El Dorado County Courthouse guide.
A defendant who appears for arraignment without a lawyer must be told of the right to counsel. If someone cannot afford a lawyer, the court can appoint the El Dorado County Public Defender's Office; ask about appointed counsel at the arraignment itself.
How do visiting, mail, and money work at the El Dorado County Jail?
The Sheriff's Visiting Information page sets the rules: first-come visits, proper identification, three 30-minute visits a week, and cash or cashier's checks for an inmate's account.
The Sheriff's Visiting Information page lists in-person visiting times for both jails and links a separate video visitation page. Visits are first come, first served, one visitor at a time (a parent or legal guardian may escort a minor), and each visitor must show proper identification. Each inmate may have up to three 30-minute visits a week. Money for an inmate's account can be brought to either jail as cash or a cashier's check, or mailed in those forms; call the jail for the current mailing address before mailing money or a letter. Inmate phone calls run through NCIC, (800) 943-2189. Before an evening visit, call ahead to make sure visiting has not been cancelled: Placerville at (530) 621-6000, South Lake Tahoe at (530) 573-3030.
What should I do right now if someone was just arrested in El Dorado County?
Start by confirming which El Dorado County jail holds the person, then get the charge and bail amount by phone and call a lawyer before the arraignment.
- Confirm custody. Search the Sheriff's Office's Current Inmates locator, or call the Placerville Jail at (530) 621-6000 or the South Lake Tahoe Jail at (530) 573-3030.
- Get the exact charge and bail amount from jail staff by phone before planning how to help with release.
- Decide how to help with release, whether that is paying bail directly, or working with a licensed bail bond agent.
- Keep any paperwork from the arrest; it names the courthouse and can help confirm the first court date.
- Call a criminal defense lawyer early. A lawyer can address bail, confirm the arraignment date and location, and explain what to expect before the family has to guess. If the arrest involved driving under the influence, our South Lake Tahoe DUI defense page explains what typically happens next.
Frequently asked questions
What if the El Dorado County inmate locator does not show the person?
A very recent booking may not appear yet, and the person may be held by another county or in state prison. Call the Placerville Jail at (530) 621-6000 or the South Lake Tahoe Jail at (530) 573-3030 to ask directly, or search the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's CIRIS tool if the person may be in state custody.
Does a citation mean the person was never booked?
No. An officer can still book someone at the scene or the station before releasing them on a citation under Penal Code section 853.6. A citation changes whether the person is held until a judge is available, not whether a record of the booking exists.
How much is bail in El Dorado County?
El Dorado Superior Court's 2025 Felony/Misdemeanor Bail Schedule, last revised January 21, 2025, sets a starting amount by offense. A judge can set a different amount at arraignment, and under In re Kowalczyk, money bail must generally be set in an amount that is reasonably attainable.
Can I ask for a lower bail amount before the El Dorado County arraignment?
Yes. Penal Code section 1269c lets the arrested person, or a lawyer, friend or family member, ask a judge for bail below the schedule or for own recognizance release before arraignment, except for the offenses listed in Penal Code section 1270.1(a). The request can also be made at the arraignment, where a judge setting money bail must consider ability to pay.
Does El Dorado County have a veterans treatment court?
Yes. The Veterans Treatment Court is a court-supervised program for veterans and active-duty military that typically lasts 12 to 24 months, available by application through an attorney using Local Form CR-183.
Can I appear in an El Dorado County criminal case remotely?
Sometimes. The court's remote appearance page cites Penal Code 977 and says every participant must ask for and receive approval before appearing through its Unicorn Digital Courtroom platform, in use since February 2, 2026. State law bars a remote appearance at a jury or court trial, and at a felony sentencing except in postconviction relief proceedings or as otherwise provided by law (Penal Code section 977).
Talk to a lawyer
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley offers a free consultation and is available 24/7, including for a family member calling about someone just arrested in El Dorado County. Call (800) 755-5174 to talk with a lawyer about what happens next, or request a free consultation online.