Search Mendocino County Busted Mugshots

Mendocino County busted mugshots are managed by the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office based in Ukiah. The county has about 91,000 residents spread across a large area along the Northern California coast and inland valleys. One notable feature of this sheriff's office is that it publishes a booking log, making recent arrest data more accessible than in many other counties. The sheriff runs the county jail and handles all bookings. This page covers how to find busted mugshots in Mendocino County using the booking log, records requests, and state databases.

Mendocino County Sheriff Booking Log

The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office publishes a booking log. This is a valuable resource for finding recent busted mugshots. The booking log shows who has been booked into the Mendocino County Jail, along with charges, dates, and other details. Not all California counties publish this information so openly. Mendocino makes it easier to check on recent arrests without having to file a formal request.

Call (707) 463-4411 to reach the sheriff's office. The jail is in Ukiah. The booking log typically covers recent entries, which means you can check it for arrests within the last several days or weeks. Older records that have rolled off the log still exist in the sheriff's system but require a different approach to access. You would need to submit a written public records request for those.

The sheriff's office handles bookings for all law enforcement agencies in the county. This includes the Ukiah Police Department, Fort Bragg Police, Willits Police, and tribal police agencies. Regardless of which agency made the arrest, the booking goes through the Mendocino County Jail in Ukiah. The mugshot and booking record are in the sheriff's system.

How to Find Busted Mugshots in Mendocino County

Check the booking log first. If the arrest is recent, you should find the person's information there. The log shows names, charges, and booking dates. For the actual mugshot photo, you may need to contact the sheriff's office directly. Some booking logs include photos. Others show just the text data.

For older records, submit a public records request. Write to the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office at 951 Low Gap Road, Ukiah, CA 95482. Include the person's full name and the approximate date of arrest. The agency has 10 days to respond under the California Public Records Act. They may take up to 14 extra days for complex requests, but a single booking record should not take that long.

You can also use the California DOJ public records form to request state-level criminal history data. The DOJ collects arrest records from all counties, including Mendocino. For your own record, submit Live Scan fingerprints with form BCIA 8016RR and a $25 fee. The state keeps records that go back further than most local agencies.

State Resources for Mendocino County

California AB 1475 changed how booking photos are handled by law enforcement agencies statewide.

This legislation affects how agencies like the Mendocino County Sheriff manage and release booking photos.

The CDCR CIRIS database covers state prison inmates. If someone was convicted in Mendocino County and sent to state prison, they would show up in CIRIS. The county jail in Ukiah holds people awaiting trial or serving short sentences. Once someone is sentenced to state prison, their records move to the CDCR system. Mendocino County does not have a state prison within its borders, so sentenced inmates transfer to facilities elsewhere in California.

SB 1027 bans websites from charging fees to remove mugshot photos. This covers Mendocino County records that appear on third-party sites. Penal Code section 13665 restricts law enforcement from posting booking photos on social media for nonviolent arrests. These protections apply across California. The Megan's Law website provides sex offender registration photos statewide, including for Mendocino County.

Mendocino County Court Records

The Mendocino County Superior Court handles criminal cases in the county. The main courthouse is in Ukiah with a branch in Fort Bragg. Court records include charging documents, hearing dates, plea deals, and sentencing details. When a busted mugshot only shows the initial booking charges, court records can tell you what happened after that.

Visit the court clerk's office to request copies of records. Some case information may be available through the court's website. Standard copy fees apply. Certified copies cost more. Criminal case records are public unless they involve juveniles or have been sealed by court order. Having two courthouse locations is convenient since Mendocino County is geographically spread out. The coast and inland areas are quite different from each other, but the court system serves them both.

Clearing Mendocino County Records

California law offers multiple paths to address old records. Penal Code section 1203.4 allows you to petition to dismiss a conviction after probation. This changes the record status but does not erase the arrest. For arrests that never led to charges, Penal Code section 851.87 lets you seal the arrest record entirely. Once sealed, the mugshot and booking data are restricted from public view.

The Clean Slate Act under SB 731 provides automatic sealing for some records. Misdemeanor arrests with no charges get sealed after one year. Felony arrests with no charges get sealed after three years. For petitions requiring court action, file with the Mendocino County Superior Court in Ukiah. Legal aid groups serving Northern California can help with the paperwork. Legal Services of Northern California covers the Mendocino County area and assists with record clearing cases for qualifying individuals.

Cities in Mendocino County

Mendocino County has no cities with a population over 100,000. Ukiah is the county seat and largest city at around 16,000 people. Fort Bragg and Willits are the other main cities. All arrests in these cities are booked through the Mendocino County Jail in Ukiah. The sheriff handles the booking process for every agency in the county.

Nearby Counties

Mendocino County borders several Northern California counties. An arrest near the county line could be processed by a different jurisdiction.