Mariposa County Busted Mugshots

Mariposa County busted mugshots are kept by the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office, which serves as the primary law enforcement agency for this rural Sierra Nevada county. With a population of only about 17,000, Mariposa is one of the smallest counties in California. There are no incorporated cities here. The sheriff handles all law enforcement duties and operates the county jail. Most people know Mariposa County as the gateway to Yosemite National Park. This page explains how to find busted mugshots and arrest records in Mariposa County.

Mariposa County Sheriff Booking Records

The Mariposa County Sheriff's Office is the only law enforcement agency in the county. There are no city police departments since Mariposa has no incorporated cities. Call (209) 966-3615 to reach the sheriff's office. They handle all patrol, investigations, and jail operations for the entire county.

The Mariposa County Jail is a small facility. Booking volume is low compared to larger counties. This can make it simpler to find specific records. The sheriff's staff knows the community well and can often help with inquiries quickly. If you call and ask about a booking record, they can usually tell you right away whether the person is in custody or has been through the system recently.

For formal records requests, write to the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office at 5099 Old Highway North, Mariposa, CA 95338. Include the person's name and any details you have about the arrest. The office has 10 days to respond under the California Public Records Act. In a county this small, response times tend to be fast. There is no large backlog of requests to work through.

Finding Busted Mugshots in Mariposa County

Your best first step is to call the sheriff's office. Ask about the person by name. If they are in custody, you can get basic booking information right away. The mugshot is taken at the time of booking and is part of the record. In a small county, the staff may be able to pull up the information while you wait on the phone.

For people no longer in custody, you need a public records request. You can visit the sheriff's office in Mariposa or send a written request by mail. The California Public Records Act gives you the right to ask for booking records, which are generally considered public. Some information may be redacted if there are safety or privacy concerns, but the basic booking data and mugshot are typically available.

The California DOJ public records request form lets you access criminal history data held at the state level.

Use this form if you need records that go beyond what the local sheriff has available.

Because Mariposa County includes parts of Yosemite National Park, some arrests in the park are handled by the National Park Service, not the county sheriff. Federal law enforcement in Yosemite has its own booking process and court system. Those records would not be in the county's database. If the arrest happened inside the park, check with the Yosemite NPS office instead. County arrests outside the park go through the Mariposa County Jail as usual.

State Resources for Mariposa County

The California Department of Justice maintains statewide arrest records. You can submit a CPRA request through the DOJ online form. The DOJ collects data from all California law enforcement agencies, including the Mariposa County Sheriff. For your own record, use the Live Scan fingerprint process with form BCIA 8016RR and a $25 fee. This gets you a copy of your state criminal history.

The CDCR CIRIS database lets you search for state prison inmates. If someone was convicted in Mariposa County and sent to state prison, they would show up in CIRIS. The county jail only holds people serving short sentences or awaiting trial. Once someone transfers to state prison, their records move to the CDCR system.

Under SB 1027, websites cannot charge money to remove mugshot photos. Third-party sites that collect Mariposa County booking data are subject to this rule. Penal Code section 13665 limits law enforcement from posting booking photos on social media for nonviolent offenses. The Megan's Law website provides sex offender registration photos for all of California, including Mariposa County.

Mariposa County Court Records

The Mariposa County Superior Court handles criminal cases in the county. The courthouse is in the town of Mariposa. Court records give you the details that booking records do not, like case outcomes, plea deals, and sentencing. If you want to know what happened after a booking, the court records have that information.

The court clerk can help you look up cases and request copies. In a small county, wait times are usually short. Copies cost a few dollars per page at standard rates. Certified copies cost more. Criminal records are public unless sealed by a judge. Mariposa County has a single courthouse that handles everything, so all records are in one place. There is no need to check multiple court locations.

Clearing Mariposa County Records

California law provides options to clean up arrest records. Penal Code section 1203.4 lets you petition for dismissal of a conviction after completing probation. This updates the record but does not erase the arrest or mugshot. For arrests without charges, Penal Code section 851.87 allows sealing the arrest record completely. Once sealed, the public cannot access the mugshot or booking details.

The Clean Slate Act under SB 731 automatically seals certain records. Misdemeanor arrests with no charges are sealed after one year. Felony arrests with no charges are sealed after three years. No petition is needed for automatic sealing. For other petitions, file with the Mariposa County Superior Court. Legal aid groups serving the Sierra foothills and Central Valley can assist if you need help with the process and qualify for free services.

Communities in Mariposa County

Mariposa County has no incorporated cities at all. The county seat is the unincorporated community of Mariposa. Other communities include El Portal, Midpines, and Coulterville. The entire county is served by the sheriff's office. All arrests go through the Mariposa County Jail. There is no city police department in the county since there are no cities.

Nearby Counties

Mariposa County is a mountain county in the central Sierra Nevada. Arrests near the county border could be processed by a neighboring county.