Madera County Busted Mugshots Search

Madera County busted mugshots are held by the Madera County Sheriff's Office, located in the city of Madera. The county has a population of about 160,000 and covers a large area stretching from the San Joaquin Valley into the Sierra Nevada foothills. The sheriff operates the county jail and processes all bookings. Arrests made by the Madera Police Department, Chowchilla Police, or sheriff's deputies all go through the same booking system. This page covers the tools and steps you need to find busted mugshots in Madera County.

Madera County Sheriff Booking Records

The Madera County Sheriff's Office is your main source for busted mugshots in this county. Call (559) 675-7770 to reach the office. The sheriff runs the Madera County Department of Corrections, which operates the county jail. All arrests in the county get booked through this facility. The jail holds people awaiting trial, serving short sentences, or waiting for transfer to state prison.

To check on a current inmate, contact the jail directly. Staff can tell you if someone is in custody and provide basic booking information. For a copy of the booking photo or a full arrest record, you may need to submit a records request. The sheriff's office in Madera handles these requests under the California Public Records Act.

Madera County sits between Fresno and Merced counties in the Central Valley. The county also includes parts of the Sierra Nevada, including the southern entrance to Yosemite National Park. While the mountain areas see fewer arrests, the valley floor around the city of Madera has the bulk of the county's law enforcement activity. The Central Valley Narcotics Enforcement Team also operates in this area, leading to some federal bookings that go through a different system.

Finding Busted Mugshots in Madera County

Start by checking with the sheriff's office for current inmates. If the person is still in custody, getting basic booking information is straightforward. Call the jail or check any online tools the sheriff provides. The booking record includes the person's name, charges, bail amount, and the date they were booked.

For records on people who have been released, submit a public records request. Write to the Madera County Sheriff's Office at 14156 Road 28, Madera, CA 93638. In your request, include the person's full name and the approximate date of arrest. Cite the California Public Records Act. The office must respond within 10 days. They can extend that deadline by 14 days for complex requests, but most single-record requests do not qualify as complex.

The California DOJ FAQ page for public records requests covers common questions about the process.

This FAQ explains what types of records you can request and what agencies must provide under state law.

You can also file a CPRA request with the California DOJ for state-level criminal history records. The DOJ collects data from every county, including Madera. For your own record, use the Live Scan process with form BCIA 8016RR and a $25 fee.

State Resources for Madera County

The CDCR CIRIS database covers people in state prison. Madera County is home to the Central California Women's Facility and Valley State Prison in Chowchilla. Inmates at these facilities are in the state system. Do not confuse state prison records with county jail records. CIRIS lets you search by name for anyone in CDCR custody. The county sheriff does not manage state prison inmates.

California law under SB 1027 makes it illegal for websites to charge fees for removing mugshot photos. If a third-party site has your Madera County booking photo and asks for money to take it down, that is against state law. Report them. Penal Code section 13665 also restricts law enforcement from posting booking photos on social media for nonviolent arrests, unless the person poses a danger or is a fugitive.

Madera County Court Records

The Madera County Superior Court handles criminal cases in the county. Court records include charging documents, hearing schedules, plea agreements, and sentencing information. If a busted mugshot shows initial charges but you want to know the final outcome, court records have that detail. The courthouse is in the city of Madera.

Visit the court clerk's office to request records. Some case information may be available online. Paper copies cost a few dollars per page at standard rates. Certified copies are more. Criminal case records are public unless they involve juveniles or have been sealed by a judge. The court can also tell you the status of any pending cases connected to a booking record.

Clearing Madera County Records

If you have a busted mugshot from Madera County, California law offers paths to address it. Penal Code section 1203.4 lets you petition for dismissal of a conviction after completing probation. This updates the record to show the case was set aside. It does not erase the arrest or booking entirely, but it changes the status of the conviction.

Penal Code section 851.87 allows sealing of arrest records where charges were never filed, were dismissed, or resulted in acquittal. Once sealed, the arrest record and mugshot are restricted from public access. The Clean Slate Act under SB 731 also provides automatic sealing for some situations. Misdemeanor arrests with no charges are sealed after one year. Felony arrests with no charges are sealed after three years. For active petitions, file with the Madera County Superior Court. Central Valley legal aid organizations may be able to help you with the process if cost is a concern.

Cities in Madera County

Madera County does not have any cities with a population over 100,000. The city of Madera is the county seat and largest city, but it falls below that mark. Chowchilla is the other incorporated city in the county. All arrests in both cities are booked through the Madera County jail. The sheriff handles the booking process for all agencies in the county.

Nearby Counties

Madera County is in the Central Valley with borders reaching into the Sierra Nevada. Arrests near the county edge might get processed by a neighboring agency.