Arrested in El Dorado County: Placerville jail or the Tahoe jail?
El Dorado County climbs from the Sacramento suburbs at El Dorado Hills through Placerville to Lake Tahoe. The Sheriff runs two jails, the El Dorado County Jail – Placerville at 300 Forni Road and the El Dorado County Jail – South Lake Tahoe at 1051 Al Tahoe Boulevard. Check El Dorado County Inmate Search first.
How do I know which jail they went to?
It mostly depends on which side of the Sierra summit the arrest happened. Arrests from El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park, Shingle Springs and Placerville go to the Placerville jail (530-621-6000). Arrests in the Tahoe Basin go to the South Lake Tahoe jail (530-573-3030). People can be moved between them for court.
Back to questions ↑Using the county inmate lookup
El Dorado County Inmate Search covers both jails and lists the facility next to each name. Call either jail if someone was arrested in the last few hours. See El Dorado lookup tips.
Back to questions ↑When will they go to court?
Within 48 hours of arrest, excluding Sundays and holidays. West slope cases are heard in Placerville, with the court at 495 Main Street (530-621-5047). Tahoe cases go to 1354 Johnson Boulevard (530-573-3044). Read El Dorado court steps.
Back to questions ↑Bail in El Dorado County
Families may pay the scheduled amount in full at either jail, or hire a licensed bail agent. At arraignment the judge looks again, and since 2021 California judges must consider whether a person can afford the amount. Many minor charges end in a citation and release. See the El Dorado bail guide.
Back to questions ↑Public defender offices
The Public Defender has a west-slope office (530-621-6440) and a Tahoe office (530-573-3115). When there's a conflict, the Alternate Defender at 300A Forni Road (530-621-6770) takes the case.
Back to questions ↑Visiting either jail
Each jail keeps its own visit times, and visitors need ID and an appointment. See El Dorado visiting and video visiting.
Back to questions ↑Letters, deposits and calls
Send mail to whichever jail holds the person, with the booking number. We explain El Dorado mail, funding an inmate, jail store items, phone setup, messaging and tablets.
Back to questions ↑Youths in El Dorado County
Detained minors go to the Juvenile Treatment Center beside the Tahoe jail on Al Tahoe Boulevard (530-573-7980). It also holds youths for some nearby counties under contract.
Back to questions ↑Phone demands for El Dorado bail
Those calls are scams. El Dorado jails take bail only at the jail or through a bond agent you choose. Call 530-621-6000 or 530-573-3030 to check on the person yourself.
Back to questions ↑Which agency arrested them in El Dorado County?
- Placerville Police: 530-642-5280
- South Lake Tahoe Police: 530-542-6100
- El Dorado County Sheriff's Office, Placerville jail: 530-621-6000
The Sheriff patrols El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park and the rest of the unincorporated county.
Back to questions ↑El Dorado County contacts
- Roster
- El Dorado County Inmate Search
- Placerville jail
- 300 Forni Road, 530-621-6000
- Tahoe jail
- 1051 Al Tahoe Blvd, 530-573-3030
- Public defender
- 530-621-6440 or 530-573-3115
- Youth center
- 530-573-7980
Winter storms can close US 50; call ahead before driving to Tahoe.