To find out whether someone is in custody at the Shasta County Jail, use the Sheriff's Office "In Custody" search on its website, or call the jail directly at (530) 245-6100. The search is a public roster you search by name after agreeing to a liability disclaimer; it does not cover people held in state prison.
How do I look up someone at the Shasta County Jail?
Search the Sheriff's Office In Custody roster by name after accepting its liability disclaimer, or call the jail at (530) 245-6100 and ask custody staff directly.
- Go to the Sheriff's Office "In Custody" page on shastacounty.gov. Read and agree to the disclaimer of liability before the search loads; the county and the Sheriff's Office say they are not liable for erroneous information on the roster.
- Type the name into the search box and press search. A result lists the inmate's name, booking date, bail amount, and date of birth, along with a "last updated" time at the top of the page.
- A blank search result is not proof of release. The roster's last-updated timestamp may not yet include a very recent booking, or the person may be held somewhere other than the Shasta County Jail. Call (530) 245-6100, or (530) 245-6540 to speak with a deputy, and ask directly.
- If the person is in state prison, not 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 Shasta County hold people after an arrest?
Shasta County holds people at the Shasta County Jail, 1655 West Street in Redding, a high security facility for people awaiting arraignment, on trial or serving county time.
| Facility | Address | Public phone |
|---|---|---|
| Shasta County Jail | 1655 West Street, Redding, CA 96001 | (530) 245-6100 |
The jail can hold up to 484 people (404 men and 80 women).
How does release work before trial in Shasta County?
State law releases most misdemeanor arrestees on a written notice to appear; someone held can post bail, use a bail bond, or ask a judge for own recognizance release.
Penal Code section 853.6 requires most people arrested for a misdemeanor to be released on a written notice to appear instead of being taken before a judge, though officers may book the person first. Listed reasons to keep someone include an outstanding warrant, a need for medical care, or a stated reason to believe the person will not return to court. For someone who is booked, own recognizance release is requested from a judge, either before arraignment under Penal Code section 1269c (not for the offenses listed in Penal Code section 1270.1) or at the arraignment.
Shasta County's Alternative Custody Program lets qualified people who have already been sentenced and have time to serve live at home and report to a work site. It is a post-sentence program, not a pretrial or own-recognizance option, so it does not apply to someone who has just been arrested and has not yet been to court.
How do I post bail for someone at the Shasta County Jail?
Bring the exact amount in cash, a personal check up to $1,000, or a cashier's check or money order payable to Shasta County Superior Court to the jail's reception area.
The reception area is in the Main Jail Facility at 1655 West Street, Redding. Call (530) 245-6100 first to get the charge and bail amount from custody staff.
To use a bail bond instead, choose a bail bond agency and call them directly; the agent explains their own process.
Shasta County Superior Court's 2026 Bail Schedule took effect January 20, 2026, adopted under Penal Code section 1269b. A bail-schedule figure is a starting point, not the final word. A judge can set a different amount. In re Humphrey (2021) says a person cannot be held solely because they cannot afford bail: where money bail is necessary, the judge must consider ability to pay, and should consider whether nonfinancial conditions could reasonably protect the public and the victim or reasonably assure the person's presence at trial. In re Kowalczyk (2026) held that in noncapital cases a judge may deny bail only for the offenses listed in article I, section 12(b) and (c) of the California Constitution, and that money bail must generally be reasonably attainable for that person. See how California bail amounts are set for the full rule and how a judge can depart from the schedule.
When is the first court date after an arrest in Shasta County?
Someone held in the Shasta County Jail must be taken before a judge without unnecessary delay, and within 48 hours of arrest at most, not counting Sundays and holidays.
Penal Code section 825(a)(1) sets the outside limit:
"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 is a deadline to appear before a judge, not a deadline for filing charges and not a guarantee of release. If the 48 hours run out while court is not in session, the deadline runs through the close of the court's next session on the following court day, under Penal Code section 825(a)(2). The same subsection adds a Wednesday rule: someone arrested on a Wednesday after court has ended for the day must be brought before a judge no later than Friday, when neither day is a court holiday.
Shasta County's only courthouse is the Redding Main Courthouse, 1515 Court Street, Redding, CA 96001, which handles arraignments, trials, and every other court matter for the county; our Shasta County Courthouse guide covers it in more detail. If a family member is brought to court in custody, ask in person at the Criminal Clerk's Office with the person's name, date of birth, and arresting agency; the court does not give name searches or case disposition information over the telephone.
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 appoints the Shasta County Public Defender's Office, (530) 245-7598; it generally takes about two court days after arraignment for a case to be assigned to a specific deputy public defender.
How do visiting, mail, and money work at the Shasta County Jail?
Visits need an approved visitation form, mail goes to the jail's West Street address, and commissary money goes through the lobby kiosk, online, or by phone, never by mail.
In-person visiting at the Shasta County Jail resumed September 8, 2026, after a construction pause. A visitation form must be submitted for approval 7 days before the requested visit, and the jail does not accept requests more than 30 days ahead. Each inmate can have up to two scheduled visits. Because days and hours change, check the Sheriff's Office inmate visiting schedule page rather than relying on a printed time.
To send mail, address it to the inmate's last and first name, c/o Shasta County Jail, 1655 West Street, Redding, CA 96001. Deposits of money by mail are no longer accepted.
Money for commissary goes through the ACCESS Secured Deposit kiosk in the jail lobby, online, or the toll-free number 1-866-345-1884 (the Keefe Money System). Inmates place commissary orders every Sunday, up to $100 per week, and funds must be on the account before 8:00 a.m. Monday. Phone calls are handled through a vendor named icsolutions.com, with a calling-assistance line at 888-506-8407; video visitation, where available, is set up through gettingout.com. Family members can also register for custody-change notifications through VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) at 1-877-411-5588.
For questions about an arrested person's property, call the jail at (530) 245-6100.
What should I do right now if someone was just arrested in Shasta County?
Confirm custody, get the exact charge and bail amount from custody staff, choose cash, check or a bail bond, keep the arrest paperwork, and call a defense lawyer early.
- Confirm custody. Search the Sheriff's Office "In Custody" roster, or call (530) 245-6100.
- Get the exact charge and bail amount from custody staff by phone before going to the jail with cash or a check.
- Decide how to help with release, whether that is cash, a personal check up to $1,000, a cashier's check, or a licensed bail bond agent.
- Keep any paperwork from the arrest; it can help confirm the charge and the court date.
- Call a criminal defense lawyer early. A lawyer can address bail, confirm the arraignment date, and explain what to expect before the family has to guess.
Frequently asked questions
What if the Shasta County "In Custody" search does not show the person?
A very recent booking may not be reflected yet, and the search covers only the county jail, not state prison or another county. Call (530) 245-6100 to ask directly, or search the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's CIRIS tool if the person may be in state custody.
Can someone get released through the Alternative Custody Program right after an arrest?
No. The Alternative Custody Program is for people who have already been sentenced and have time left to serve; it lets them live at home and report to a work site. It is not a pretrial release option, and it does not apply before a case has gone to court.
How much cash can I bring to post bail at the Shasta County Jail?
The jail accepts the exact dollar amount in United States currency, a personal check up to $1,000, or a cashier's check or money order for the exact amount, made out to Shasta County Superior Court. Call (530) 245-6100 first to confirm the charge and bail amount.
Does the Shasta County Jail offer video visitation?
Video visitation, where available, is set up through a vendor the Sheriff's Office names as gettingout.com. In-person visiting also requires a visitation form submitted in advance; check the jail's current visiting page before planning a visit.
Does Shasta County have a drug court or mental health court?
Shasta's court lists two criminal programs: the Addicted Offender Program (AOP), run through the Criminal Division and discretionary with the court, and the Behavioral Health Court (BHC), a collaborative effort among the court, the District Attorney, the Public Defender, Probation, county behavioral health services, and the Sheriff's Office. Ask the court or your attorney whether a specific charge qualifies.
Can I ask for a lower bail amount before the Shasta County arraignment?
Yes. Before arraignment, the person, or a lawyer, friend or family member, can ask a judge for lower bail or own recognizance release, except for the offenses listed in Penal Code section 1270.1 (Penal Code section 1269c). The request can also be made at the arraignment, where the judge weighs the factors described above.
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 Shasta County. Call (800) 755-5174 to talk with a lawyer about what happens next, or ask for a free consultation online.