Palmdale Jail

The Palmdale City Jail in California has a capacity of 72 inmates. It may hold an arrestee up to 96 hours before they must appear in court. The precise location of the jail is 1020 East Avenue Q, Palmdale, CA 93550. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department operates the Men's Central Jail with a bed capacity of 5,640 inmates. The Palmdale Jail is located at 1020 E. Palmdale Blvd., Palmdale, CA 93550. The phone number for the jail is 661-272-2400. It is operated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. It should not be confused with California State Prison, Los Angeles County (LAC), which has a different address and phone number. The Palmdale Jail in California has visitation hours from 10am to 4pm daily. Inmates are provided with at least two visits totaling at least one hour per week. The Wasco State Prison-Reception Center is located in Wasco, California and can be contacted by phone at (661) 758-8400. Visiting hours for the Palmdale City Jail can be found on the Bridge Prison Ministry website. The conditions and treatment of inmates at Palmdale Jail in California have been described as "abysmal" by the ACLU. In 1997, the Department of Justice issued findings outlining numerous problems with the county's treatment of inmates with mental illness, including excessive use of force. The jail is part of California State Prison, Los Angeles County (LAC), and current and former medical staff members describe a working environment that is dysfunctional, abusive and detrimental to providing health care. Inmates in LA County Jail are subject to poor conditions, including those with mental health issues or suicidal ideations being chained and restrained. Palmdale Jail in California is unique because it is part of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, which provides law enforcement services to the city. It is also home to California State Prison, Los Angeles County (LAC), and has major projects in the pipeline such as two high-speed rail lines and re-establishing commercial air service. Palmdale is located in the Antelope Valley region of Southern California.

How do I find out if someone has been arrested and booked into the Palmdale Jail?

To find out if someone you know has been recently arrested and booked into the Palmdale Jail, call the jail’s booking line at 661-272-2400.

There may be an automated method of looking them up by their name over the phone, or you may be directed to speak to someone at the jail. Sometimes the jail staff may ask you the offender’s date of birth to ensure privacy of the offender’s status.

Keep in mind that after an arrest, the information on an offender may not be publicly available for several hours.

If you don’t want to check up on an offender by calling the jail, you can also try looking up people recently booked online.

Palmdale Jail Booking Roster

What happens during booking in Los Angeles County?

After being arrested and taken into custody, and after being read their Miranda Rights, an offender will next be transported to the local police or department or the Sheriff’s Department in Los Angeles County for booking.

Booking is very involved and requires multiple steps in the process, however, keep in mind that most attorneys will advise that an offender remain silent and not offer any additional information about the crime they have been arrested for because anything they do say may be recorded and may very well be used against them in court.

What is the booking process like at the Palmdale Jail?

Booking includes having their photo (mugshot) and fingerprints taken, as well as being asked a lot of questions about their personal history and state of mind. If it’s a serious felony, their DNA may also be taken. They will also be checked for warrants in Los Angeles County and other California and USA jurisdictions.

If the offender was arrested for a DUI offense, and has refused a breathalyzer test, they may also be forced to have blood drawn by a doctor or nurse.

It is also very likely that the offender will undergo a humiliating full body search while in the nude. This includes bending over, spreading their cheeks in the direction of an officer, and coughing. They will also be walked through a metal detector or x-ray machine, like those used at an airport.

What kind of questions are asked during booking?

The arresting jurisdiction will ask about gang affiliations, tattoos, medical conditions, prescribed medication they are taking, recreational drugs they are on or addicted to, allergies, if they are suicidal, and other relevant information that will help with determining their cell assignment and special needs.

What happens to an offender’s personal property during booking?

During the arrest and booking process an offender will also have all their personal property confiscated and held for either their release from jail, or with the offender’s approval, released to a friend or family member.

Personal property includes the clothing they are wearing, money, wallets, purses, cell phones, jewelry, body rings, earrings, watches, and even glasses if they are deemed a security risk. If they are allowed to keep their shoes or sneakers, the laces are removed.

What happens after booking?

At this point the offender will be allowed to make a free phone call to a person of their choice to notify them of their arrest, and/or arrange a bond or bail for their release.

If the offender is being detained and housed while awaiting arraignment, the Palmdale Jail will provide a jail garment and slip-on shoes, a blanket, sheets, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and a towel.

Often, before they are dressed in the jail outfit and brought to their housing location, they will be forced to take a shower and undergo a disinfectant treatment for body and hair lice, scabies or other pests that may be residing on their person.

How long does the Palmdale Jail Booking process take?

Booking can take anywhere from an hour to 24 hours or more. It all depends on the number of people that are awaiting processing, the number of staff on duty at the time, and the behavior of the offender.

If the offender is heavily intoxicated and/or violent, the Booking Officer may decide to stick the offender in a holding cell for several hours until they become more manageable.