Search California Busted Mugshots

California busted mugshots are booking photos taken by law enforcement after an arrest. These records are part of the public record system in California, and most county sheriff offices let you search them online for free. Each of the 58 counties runs its own jail and keeps its own booking database. You can look up mugshots through sheriff websites, file a California Public Records Act request, or check the state prison inmate locator run by the CDCR. This page covers all the ways to find busted mugshots across California, from state tools to local county searches.

Where to Find California Busted Mugshots

The main place to find busted mugshots in California is your county sheriff's office. Sheriffs run the jails. They take the booking photos. Most counties post this data on their website through an inmate search tool. You type in a name and the system shows you who is in custody right now. Some show the booking photo. Others just list charges and bail. It depends on the county. Los Angeles, Sacramento, Riverside, and Orange County all have online search tools for their jail systems.

The California Department of Justice is the state agency that keeps criminal history records. They do not hand out mugshots to the public directly, but they handle records requests through the California Public Records Act portal. Anyone can file a request. The DOJ has to respond within 10 days. They may charge 10 cents per page for copies. If you want your own criminal history, you need to get fingerprinted through Live Scan and pay a $25 fee. The DOJ processes these requests through their Record Review Unit in Sacramento.

The California Public Records Act portal on the DOJ website explains how to submit a request for busted mugshots and other records held by state agencies.

This page walks you through what you can ask for and how the DOJ handles your request under state law.

The CDCR inmate locator called CIRIS is another state tool. It only covers adults in state prison, not county jails. You can search by name or CDCR number. Results show the person's name, age, current facility, admission date, and parole hearing info. This tool is free and does not need an account. Keep in mind that most people with busted mugshots are in county jail, not state prison. County jails hold people before trial or for short sentences. State prison is for longer terms after conviction.

How to Search Busted Mugshots in California

There are five main ways to search for busted mugshots in California. The fastest is an online search through a county sheriff website. Go to the sheriff's site for the county where the arrest took place. Look for "inmate search" or "who's in jail" on their page. Type the person's name. If they are in custody, you should see booking info and sometimes a photo. This works best for recent arrests in California.

You can also submit a formal request under the California Public Records Act. The DOJ has an online request form for this. You can ask for arrest records that include mugshots from any state agency. Local agencies like police departments and sheriff offices accept CPRA requests too. You can send them by email, mail, or fax. The agency has 10 days to decide if they will release the records. A 14-day extension is allowed in some cases. There is no set form you have to use, but putting your request in writing helps keep things clear.

The DOJ online request form lets you submit a California Public Records Act request directly through the state website for busted mugshots and other records.

Fill in the details of what records you need, and the DOJ will process your request within the time limits set by state law.

If you want your own record, submit Live Scan fingerprints with form BCIA 8016RR. The processing fee is $25, but fee waivers are available if you get public assistance or have low income. You can find Live Scan locations at oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations. Processing takes 2 to 8 weeks by mail.

Third-party sites like JailBase and arrests.org pull data from county booking databases. They may show mugshots that are no longer on official sites. Use these with caution. Data can be old or wrong. California law under SB 1027 makes it illegal for any site to charge you to remove a mugshot.

California State Prison Inmate Search

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation runs the CIRIS inmate search tool. This covers people in state prison only. It does not cover county jails or city lockups where most busted mugshots come from. You search by last name or CDCR number. The system is free to use and runs all day.

Results from CIRIS show the inmate's name, CDCR number, age, current location, the counties where they were committed, and their admission date. You can also see Board of Parole Hearing dates and outcomes. The CIRIS search tool is on the CDCR website. For questions about a specific inmate, call the Inmate Identification Unit at (916) 445-6713 during business hours, Monday through Friday from 8am to 4:30pm.

The CDCR CIRIS inmate search database is the state tool for looking up people held in California state prisons.

CIRIS replaced the old inmate locator and gives updated information on current state prison inmates in California.

California Laws on Busted Mugshots

The California Public Records Act is the foundation for public access to busted mugshots. The CPRA was recodified in 2023 under Government Code sections 7920.000 and following. It says any writing about public business is a public record. Arrest records fall under this. That means mugshots are public. But agencies have some room to say no. The law enforcement records exemption under Government Code section 7923.600 lets agencies withhold "records of investigations" in certain cases. Some sheriff offices cite this when they deny mugshot requests.

The law does require agencies to release certain arrest information. Under Government Code section 7923.610, police must give you the full name, physical description, date and time of arrest, booking info, charges, and bail amount for any arrest. Mugshots are not on that list by name, but the First Amendment Coalition argues that a photo is just a visual form of "physical description" which is required. So the question of whether an agency must hand over a mugshot is not fully settled in California case law.

SB 1027 took aim at mugshot exploitation websites. Under Civil Code section 1798.91.1, no one can charge a fee to remove a booking photo from a website. Each time a site asks for payment, that counts as a separate violation. The penalty is $1,000 per violation or actual damages, plus attorney fees. This law protects people whose busted mugshots end up on commercial sites in California. Public agencies are exempt from this rule.

The DOJ FAQ page answers common questions about filing records requests and what you can expect when seeking busted mugshots through the Public Records Act process.

Check this page if you are not sure what the DOJ can give you or how long the process takes.

AB 1475 and AB 994 changed how police can share busted mugshots on social media. Under Penal Code section 13665, law enforcement cannot post booking photos on platforms like Facebook or Instagram for nonviolent crime arrests. There are exceptions for fugitives or when a judge orders it. For violent crimes, they can post but must take the photo down within 14 days. This rule applies to social media only. Official sheriff websites and booking databases are not affected by this law.

The AB 1475 bill text shows the full language of the law that restricts how California law enforcement shares busted mugshots on social media platforms.

This bill was later amended by AB 994 to add a mandatory 14-day removal rule for all booking photos posted to social media.

Removing Busted Mugshots in California

If you have busted mugshots you want removed, California has several legal options. Record sealing makes your arrest record, including the mugshot, inaccessible to the public. Under Penal Code section 851.87, you can petition to seal an arrest if you were never convicted. This works when charges were dropped, dismissed, or never filed. The burden shifts to the prosecutor to argue against sealing. In most cases, sealing is granted as a matter of right.

Penal Code section 851.8 covers sealing based on factual innocence. This has a much higher bar. You need to show there was no reasonable cause to believe the arrest was warranted. Courts call this an "incredibly high" standard. You have two years from the arrest to file unless you can show good cause for the delay.

The Clean Slate Act under SB 731 took effect in July 2023. It created automatic record clearing for many California arrests and convictions. Misdemeanor arrests get sealed after one year if no charges are filed. Felony arrests get sealed after three years with no charges. This happens without you having to file anything. Millions of people in California became eligible when this law took effect. Expungement under Penal Code section 1203.4 is different. It changes a conviction to "dismissed" but does not seal the mugshot or arrest record. The arrest still shows on your record, but the conviction is cleared from most background checks.

Note: If a commercial website charges you to remove your busted mugshot, report them to the California Attorney General. That violates state law.

California DOJ Record Review

The DOJ Record Review process lets you check your own criminal history in California. This is not the same as searching for someone else's busted mugshots. You submit Live Scan fingerprints at an approved location with form BCIA 8016RR. The DOJ charges $25 to process your request. If you receive public assistance or have low income, you can apply for a fee waiver through the Record Review page. Processing by mail takes 2 to 8 weeks. The Record Review Unit is at PO Box 160207, Sacramento, CA 95816-0207.

The DOJ Record Review page explains how to request your own criminal history record, including Live Scan locations and fee waiver information for California residents.

Follow the steps on this page to get your own RAP sheet from the California Department of Justice.

Third-party requests for someone else's full criminal history are not allowed through the DOJ. For individual mugshots, contact the arresting agency directly. The First Amendment Coalition has a good breakdown of the legal arguments around mugshot access in California. The 2003 Attorney General opinion gave agencies discretion to deny mugshot requests by calling them "records of investigations." Critics say the California Supreme Court narrowed this exemption years ago, but agencies still rely on it.

Browse California Busted Mugshots by County

Each county in California has a sheriff's office that runs the jail and keeps booking records. Pick a county below to find local mugshot search tools and contact info for that area.

View All 58 California Counties

Busted Mugshots in Major California Cities

City police make arrests but book people into the county jail. Pick a city below to find busted mugshots resources for that area.

View Major California Cities