San Francisco County Jail #3

The San Francisco County Sheriff's Office operates the San Francisco County Jail #3 (formerly known as County Jail #5). It is the largest detention facility in the county, and can house up to 768 inmates. 

While located in San Bruno, County Jail #3 is under the jurisdiction of the City and County of San Francisco.

Inmate Search

To find out if your loved one is being held in San Francisco County Jail #3, click here or use VINE (see below). 

VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday)

Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) is a free and anonymous telephone service that provides victims of crime both information and notification. VINE monitors the custody status of offenders in the San Francisco County Jail #3 and Annex and receives updated information every 15 minutes.

The Toll Free Number for California VINE is 1.877.411.5588. Anyone can call the California State VINE line to determine an inmate's custody status. To search for offender information, callers will need one of the following items:

• Offender name or alias
• Secondary search option (if there is more than one offender with the same name), such as:
  • Arrest date
  • Date of birth
  • Middle initial
  • Offender identification number

VINE will let callers know about the offender's current custody status, the location of the inmate, and their offender number.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visitation at San Francisco County Jail #3 must be scheduled in advance. Visiting hours are available seven days a week.

How to schedule a jail visit

Locate the person you want to visit using the “Find a Person in Jail” search tool. If the person is not listed, they are not in any of the San Francisco County jails. Next, book your appointment online the day before you plan to visit

You will need the person in jail’s name or SF number to schedule your visit. You can locate their SF number, or “SFNO,” on the “Find a Person in Jail” search tool. 

You also will need to register for a visitor’s account with the online scheduler. Once you register, you’ll receive an email with a temporary password and your visitor ID. Use the temporary password and your email address to log in to the online scheduler and reserve your visit. 

When you reserve your visit online, you will need to provide:

• Your name
• Date of birth
• Email address
• Home address as printed on your ID; and
• Phone number

Click here to schedule your visit

What You Need To Know

You must arrive at the jail one hour before your visit. County Jail #3 does not have a public parking lot. Be sure to allow plenty of time to find street parking and to walk to the jail. You must arrive 60 minutes before your scheduled visit time. 

The City and County of San Francisco and the Sheriff’s Office offer a free, wheelchair-accessible shuttle service to and from County Jail #3 every Saturday and Sunday for limited in-person visits.

All visitors will need to show a current, government-issued photo ID, like a driver’s license or passport. If you do not provide the requested ID, the Sheriff’s Office will refuse your visit. 

You are allowed to bring keys, ID, and money, which you must keep in the jail’s visiting locker. You and your belongings may be subject to search

Minor children under 18-years-old must receive advance approval for jail visits. Click here to learn more. Incarcerated people can apply to have their minor child (under 18) have a contact visit with them in jail. To qualify, the person in jail must:

• Submit an application 
• Complete parenting classes
• Follow the rules of conduct

Visitors are not allowed to disobey jail rules or deputy directions. They can not disrupt the jail, show uncontrollable behavior, or take photographs. No food, drink, or personal items can be brought into the visiting room.

• You cannot bring cell phones or cameras
• You cannot yell or swear
• You cannot show gang signs, tattoos, or graffiti
• You cannot give anything to a person in jail
• You cannot receive anything from a person in jail without approval from the jail watch commander
• You cannot visit a person in jail more than once a day
• You cannot visit a person in jail if you have a restraining order or other court order against that person

Any visitor who threatens the security of the jail, appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, brings any alcohol, drugs, medications, or tobacco products, or brings any weapons, may be detained and arrested.

Dress Code

All visitors at County Jail #3 must wear appropriate, non-revealing clothes. Shoes are also required. If you wear clothes that are not approved, you will be asked to change or your visit will be denied.

You CANNOT wear:

• Hats, bandanas, wave caps, headscarves, or other head coverings except for religious headwear
• Sexually provocative clothing that reveals genitalia, buttocks, or breasts
• Clothes that show your underwear
• See-through or excessively tight clothing
• Spaghetti strap, strapless, halter, bare midriff, or sleeveless shirts or tops
• Mini-skirts or shorts (all skirts and shorts must be as long as the ends of your fingertips when your hands are resting at your sides)
• Gang-related clothing, colors, or accessories
• Clothes that are printed with obscene or offensive words or drawings
• Orange, red, all-blue, or all-green clothes that could be confused for an incarcerated person’s clothes

Video Visits

Click here to look up the person in jail to find their SF Number. 

You must use the U.S. Postal Service to send mail to a person in jail. The Sheriff’s Office will open and search mail to make sure it follows the law and all jail rules. Your mail cannot be larger than 8-½ inches by 14 inches.

Only a publisher or book distributor can send books, newspapers, and magazines to a person in one of the San Francisco County Jails.

You may send cashier’s checks, certified checks and money orders from U.S. banks drawn on U.S. currency. The total amount cannot be more than $100. You may not send cash or a personal check.

How to Call an Inmate

Inmates at San Francisco County Jail #3 cannot receive incoming phone calls. However, they have access to phones and can make outgoing calls from the inmate housing area on a daily basis. 

California law has established the right of an arrested person to make at least three free local telephone calls when they are booked: one call to an attorney, one to a bail bond agent, and one to a relative or other personal contact. 

Phone calls are recorded and may be monitored at any time.

How to Send Money

Friends and family can send cashier’s checks, certified checks and money orders from U.S. banks drawn on U.S. currency via the US Postal Service directly to their inmate housed at County Jail #2. The total amount cannot be more than $100. You may not send cash or a personal check.

Depositing Cash in Person

To add funds in person, visit the Sheriff’s Office money window located on the first floor at 425-7th Street, San Francisco. The window is open during the following times:  

• Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Remember to allow time for parking.  

You’ll need your inmate's first and last names or SF number and the exact amount you’d like to deposit. You’ll also need to show your valid government-issued, photo ID.

The office accepts the following types of funds:

• U.S. dollars (no coins)
• Cashier’s checks, certified checks or money orders up to $100

You can also deposit funds 24 hours a day for anyone housed in San Francisco County Jails by using the kiosks located in the lobby at 425-7th Street. 

There is also a kiosk at County Jail #3 located at 1 Moreland Drive in San Bruno. If you are an approved, registered visitor, you can use the kiosk in the lobby to deposit funds for anyone housed in the various San Francisco County Jail locations during your visit.

Sending Money Online

You can send money online through Access Corrections. Start by clicking the “Send Money” button in the middle of the home page. Then, select a state (California) and an agency (San Francisco County Jail Facilities). 

The screen will prompt you to provide your inmate's first and last names. Follow the instructions to create an account and make a deposit. Fees do apply for this service.

Ordering Commissary

You may order commissary items for your inmate through the Sheriff’s Office approved online vendor. The vendor will deliver your items. This is the only approved way to send store items to a person in jail. 

Programs For Inmates

If your incarcerated family member or friend would like to participate in an in-custody program, they will need to provide an action request to County Jail #3 staff.

Affordable Care Act (ACA)

This program helps people in jail apply for health insurance.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

This 12-step program is offered in both English and Spanish. It helps individuals recover from alcohol addiction and stay sober.

Discharge Planning

Ahead of an inmate's release, their caseworker will connect them with housing and support services if the inmate struggles with substance abuse, mental health issues, and homelessness.

Five Keys Charter High School

Five Keys offers high school classes inside the San Francisco County jails. While in custody, inmates can earn their high school diploma.

College Pathways

Five Keys partners with City College of San Francisco to offer up to four classes per semester. 

Jail-Based Career Center Programing

This program helps inmates set career goals, build their resumes, and prepare for job applications. This program is in connection with America Works, an employment network that helps people from disadvantaged backgrounds find jobs.

Narcotics Anonymous (NA)

This 12-step program is offered in both English and Spanish. It helps individuals recover from drug addiction and stay sober.

Community of Veterans Engaged in Restoration (COVER)

This program builds fellowship among veterans in jail and helps them prepare for life after their release. 

Older Adult In-Custody Services

This program focuses on inmates 55 and older by offering support groups, connection to services, and help with returning to the community once their sentence is complete.

Religious Services

Volunteer religious leaders provide spiritual guidance, bible study, and grief counseling to people in jail. Other activities include concerts, dinners, holiday celebrations, and prayer support for visiting family members.

Roadmap to Peace (RTP)

This Five Keys program is for inmates aged 18-24. It connects young adults with neighborhood support programs to gain self-sufficiency and avoid violence once they are released from jail.

Transitional Age Youth Resiliency Program

This intensive one-on-one case management approach for young adults aims to help them prevent violence, build self-sufficiency and connect with helpful services.

Stanford Educational Courses

Stanford University offers classes, seminars, writing groups, and book clubs at the jail that are taught by graduate students and post-doctoral research fellows. Subjects include law, education, sociology, engineering, biology, and psychology.

Recipe for Success

Recipe for success prepares kitchen workers for food service careers after release from jail.

Living Is For Everyone (LIFE)

The LIFE program helps young adults learn how past trauma can lead to destructive behavior. Participants gain communication and leadership skills, and express themselves through music, film, writing, and more.

Pictures of San Francisco County Jail #3

Careers at San Francisco County Jail #3

If you are interested in a career with the San Francisco County Sheriff's Department and would like more information about the job openings in the San Francisco County Jail #3, click here.