Los Angeles County Busted Mugshots

Los Angeles County busted mugshots come from the largest jail system in the country. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department handles bookings for over 80 cities across the county, plus unincorporated areas. With a population near 10 million, LA County processes a huge volume of arrests. You can search current inmates and booking photos through the LASD Inmate Information Center online. The LAPD and dozens of city police departments also make arrests in LA County, but booking goes through the sheriff's jail facilities. This page covers how to find busted mugshots in Los Angeles County, from the sheriff's database to public records requests and state tools.

LASD Inmate Search for Los Angeles County

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department runs the Inmate Information Center online. This is your primary tool for finding busted mugshots in LA County. The search is free. You can look up inmates by name or booking number. The system requires you to solve a reCAPTCHA before you can search. LASD added this to stop automated scraping by mugshot aggregation sites.

When you search, the system shows results for people currently in LASD custody. You can see the booking photo, charges, bail amount, and facility location. The LA County jail system holds around 12,000 to 15,000 inmates at any given time across seven facilities. These include the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, Men's Central Jail, and the Century Regional Detention Facility. If someone was arrested in LA County recently, this tool is the best place to check for their busted mugshot.

The LASD Inmate Information Center lets you search for busted mugshots and booking records for people currently held in Los Angeles County jails.

You need to complete a CAPTCHA check before the search results load on this site.

How to Find Busted Mugshots in LA County

Start with the LASD inmate search. Go to the Inmate Information Center and enter a first and last name. The results page shows all matches in the system. Click on a name to see the full booking record. This includes the mugshot if one is available for that person in the LA County database.

If the person is no longer in custody, the online tool may not show them. For older records, you need to file a public records request. LASD accepts California Public Records Act requests through their transparency page. You can also contact them by phone at (213) 229-1700 or visit the main office at 211 W Temple Street in Los Angeles. Ask for the booking record by name and approximate date of arrest. The department has 10 days to respond under state law.

The LASD website provides information on how to request records, find inmate details, and access booking data for Los Angeles County busted mugshots.

Check the transparency section for forms and instructions on getting copies of arrest records from the sheriff's department.

LAPD handles arrests within the City of Los Angeles. They have their own records request process through lapdonline.org/public-records. Call (877) 275-5273 for help. But even for LAPD arrests, the actual booking happens at an LASD facility in most cases. So the mugshot is in the sheriff's system, not LAPD's.

State Resources for LA County Mugshots

The California DOJ keeps statewide criminal history records. You can file a CPRA request through the DOJ online form for records held at the state level. For your own record, submit Live Scan fingerprints with form BCIA 8016RR and a $25 fee. The CDCR CIRIS tool covers state prison inmates only, not county jail detainees in LA County.

Los Angeles County is one of the most searched areas in California for busted mugshots. Third-party sites frequently scrape data from LASD's booking system. Under SB 1027, none of these sites can charge to remove your mugshot. Under Penal Code section 13665, LASD cannot post booking photos on social media for nonviolent arrests unless the person is a fugitive or poses a threat. The LAPD adopted similar internal policies in 2020 after concerns about racial bias in mugshot distribution. These rules do not affect the official LASD inmate search database.

Removing LA County Busted Mugshots

California law gives you options to clear your record. Under Penal Code section 851.87, you can petition to seal an arrest record if charges were never filed, dismissed, or you were acquitted. Once sealed, the mugshot becomes inaccessible to the public. The Clean Slate Act under SB 731 also provides automatic sealing for misdemeanor arrests after one year and felony arrests after three years if no charges were filed.

Expungement under Penal Code section 1203.4 clears a conviction but does not seal the arrest record or mugshot. For LA County cases, file your petition with the Los Angeles Superior Court. The court has locations across the county. Legal aid is available through several organizations that serve LA County residents with low income.

Note: The Mugshots.com criminal charges case in 2018 involved victims from Los Angeles County, which helped push for stronger state protections against mugshot exploitation.

Los Angeles County Court Records

The Los Angeles Superior Court handles criminal cases in LA County. Court records can show case outcomes, charges, and sentencing details that go beyond what the booking record contains. The court system is the largest single unified trial court in the United States. If you need the full picture on a case connected to busted mugshots in LA County, the court records fill in what the booking data does not.

For registered sex offenders in LA County, the Megan's Law website provides public access to photos and registration information. This is a separate state database from the county booking system. It covers all of California, not just Los Angeles County.

Cities in Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County has over 80 incorporated cities. Arrests made by city police departments are booked at LASD facilities. Below are major cities in the county with their own pages on this site.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Los Angeles County. Arrests near county lines may be processed in a neighboring jurisdiction.