San Mateo Busted Mugshots

San Mateo busted mugshots are processed at the San Mateo County jail after local police make an arrest. The City of San Mateo has about 103,000 residents and sits on the peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose. The San Mateo Police Department handles law enforcement within city limits, but the San Mateo County Sheriff runs the Maguire Correctional Facility where booking takes place. The mugshot and booking record are stored in the county system. This page explains how to search for busted mugshots from San Mateo arrests, what databases are available, and the process for making public records requests.

San Mateo County Inmate Search

The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office operates the Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City, where all county bookings are processed. When San Mateo Police arrest someone, the person goes to this facility for booking. The mugshot is taken there and stored in the county system.

The sheriff's office provides inmate information through their website. You can search for people currently in custody at the Maguire facility. Results show the booking date, charges, bail amount, and next court date. The search is free and covers everyone in San Mateo County custody. This is the fastest way to check for a busted mugshot from a recent San Mateo arrest.

The Maguire Correctional Facility at 300 Bradford Street in Redwood City is the only county jail for San Mateo County. All arrests from San Mateo, Daly City, South San Francisco, and other cities in the county go through this one facility. That makes the inmate search tool a single point of access for all county bookings.

San Mateo Police Department Records

The San Mateo Police Department handles arrests and investigations in the city. SMPD keeps its own arrest reports and case files, separate from the county booking records. The mugshot is at the county jail. The arrest report is with SMPD.

Call (650) 522-7700 to reach the records division. You can file a California Public Records Act request for arrest reports, incident reports, and other documents. The department has 10 days to respond under state law. Ask for the arrest report by the person's name and the date of the incident. The report will have the officer's account of what happened, the charges at the time of arrest, and witness information. This is useful context that complements the booking record.

San Mateo is a relatively low-crime city compared to other Bay Area jurisdictions of similar size. SMPD focuses on quality of life issues, property crime, and traffic safety along with more serious offenses. The department's records process follows the same state rules that apply everywhere in California. You have the right to request public records and the department must respond within the legal timeframe.

How to Request San Mateo Busted Mugshots

Start with the county inmate search for current bookings. For people who are no longer in custody, contact the San Mateo County Sheriff's records division. Provide the person's name, approximate arrest date, and date of birth if you have it. The sheriff processes requests under the CPRA with a 10-day response window.

Court records are another important source. The San Mateo County Superior Court handles criminal cases from San Mateo arrests. You can search for case information through their online portal using a name or case number. Court records tell you what charges the DA actually filed, whether there was a plea deal, and what the outcome was. The main courthouse is at 400 County Center in Redwood City.

If you need records from multiple agencies, expect to make separate requests. The police have the arrest report. The sheriff has the booking photo. The court has the case file. Each processes requests independently. It can take a few weeks to gather everything you need if you are building a complete picture of what happened with a particular arrest.

California State Records for San Mateo Arrests

The California DOJ keeps statewide criminal history records. For your own record, use the Live Scan fingerprint process with form BCIA 8016RR and the $25 fee. The DOJ PRA FAQ page explains what records are available at the state level and how the request process works.

The FAQ page answers common questions about state-level records requests, response times, and what documents you can and cannot get.

SB 1027 bars websites from charging to remove mugshots. Penal Code section 13665 limits law enforcement from sharing booking photos on social media for nonviolent arrests. AB 1475 further restricts the release of booking photos in many situations. These protections cover all San Mateo arrests. The state system has criminal history data but may not include the actual booking photo. For the photo itself, go through the county sheriff.

Clearing San Mateo Arrest Records

Under Penal Code section 851.87, you can petition to seal an arrest record if charges were not filed, were dismissed, or resulted in acquittal. Sealing removes the busted mugshot from public access. The Clean Slate Act (SB 731) adds automatic sealing for some older records.

Expungement under Penal Code section 1203.4 dismisses a conviction but does not seal the arrest record itself. File petitions with the San Mateo County Superior Court in Redwood City. Legal aid organizations on the peninsula can help with record clearing. The court's self-help center provides forms and instructions for people who want to file without an attorney. The process usually takes several weeks from petition to order.

Nearby Cities in San Mateo County

Other cities on the peninsula share the San Mateo County jail system for bookings. Here are nearby cities with pages on this site.

See the San Mateo County page for countywide booking records and court details.