Modoc County Busted Mugshots Search

Modoc County busted mugshots are kept by the Modoc County Sheriff's Office in Alturas. This is one of the most remote and least populated counties in California, with about 9,000 residents. The sheriff is the primary law enforcement agency and runs the county jail. Arrests are rare here compared to urban areas, but the booking process works the same way. Every arrest in Modoc County goes through the sheriff's jail. This page explains how to find busted mugshots in Modoc County using the local sheriff's office, state records, and public records requests.

Modoc County Sheriff Booking Records

The Modoc County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency in this county. Call (530) 233-4416 to reach them. The county website has information about county services and departments. The sheriff runs the Modoc County Jail in Alturas, which is a small facility that handles all local bookings.

With a population under 10,000, Modoc County sees very few arrests compared to most of California. The jail has limited capacity. Some inmates may be transferred to neighboring county jails if the Modoc facility is full or if the situation requires it. Despite the small size, the sheriff's office follows the same state rules as every other California county regarding booking records and public access.

To get information about a current inmate, call the sheriff's office directly. The staff in a county this small is often able to help you right away. They can tell you if someone is in custody and what charges they face. For a copy of the booking photo, you may need to file a written request. But calling first is the easiest way to start.

Finding Busted Mugshots in Modoc County

Call the sheriff's office first. In a county with 9,000 people, the volume is low. The staff likely knows who is in the jail and can answer your questions quickly. Ask about the person by name. If they are in custody, you can get basic booking information. The mugshot is part of the booking record.

For people who are no longer in jail, submit a public records request. Write to the Modoc County Sheriff's Office in Alturas. Include the person's full name and any details about the arrest date. Under the California Public Records Act, the office has 10 days to respond. In a small county, the turnaround is often faster than that. There is no large backlog of requests to deal with.

Alturas is the only incorporated city in Modoc County. The Alturas Police Department handles city arrests, but booking goes through the county jail. So the sheriff has the booking records for everyone arrested in the county, whether the arrest was made by deputies or city police. You only need to contact one agency for booking records.

The California DOJ record review page explains the process for checking your own criminal history at the state level.

Follow these steps to get a copy of your state criminal history record through the DOJ.

State Resources for Modoc County

The California Department of Justice collects arrest data from all counties, including Modoc. You can submit a request through the DOJ online form for state-level records. This is useful for older records or when the local sheriff's database does not have what you need. The DOJ keeps a broader criminal history database that spans all of California.

The CDCR CIRIS database lets you search for state prison inmates. If someone was convicted in Modoc County and sent to state prison, they would appear in CIRIS. The county jail only holds people short-term. There are no state prisons in Modoc County. Inmates sentenced to state prison transfer to facilities elsewhere in California, and their records move to the CDCR system at that point.

Under SB 1027, no website can charge you to remove a mugshot photo. This protects people whose Modoc County booking photos end up on third-party aggregator sites. California law also limits law enforcement from posting booking photos on social media under Penal Code section 13665. Nonviolent arrest photos cannot be shared publicly unless the person is a fugitive or poses a threat. These rules apply in every county, regardless of size.

Modoc County Court Records

The Modoc County Superior Court handles criminal cases in the county. The courthouse is in Alturas. Court records provide the details that booking records lack, such as case outcomes, plea deals, and sentencing. If you want to know what happened after a booking, the court records have that information.

Visit the court clerk's office to request copies. In a small county, the staff can typically help you without a long wait. Standard copy fees apply. Certified copies cost more. Criminal records are public unless sealed by a judge or involving a juvenile. Modoc County has a single courthouse, so all records are centralized. The court handles a very small caseload compared to most California counties, which means records are easier to track down.

Clearing Modoc County Records

California provides options to address old arrest records. Penal Code section 1203.4 lets you petition to dismiss a conviction after probation. This updates the record but does not erase it entirely. For arrests that did not lead to charges, Penal Code section 851.87 allows you to seal the record. Once sealed, the mugshot and arrest details are restricted from public access.

The Clean Slate Act under SB 731 provides automatic sealing for some records. Misdemeanor arrests with no charges are sealed after one year. Felony arrests with no charges are sealed after three years. This is automatic. For petitions needing court approval, file with the Modoc County Superior Court in Alturas. Finding legal aid in this remote area can be challenging, but Legal Services of Northern California serves the region and may be able to help with record clearing if you qualify.

Cities in Modoc County

Modoc County has no cities with a population over 100,000. Alturas is the county seat and only incorporated city, with a population of about 2,500. The rest of the county is unincorporated. All arrests, whether in Alturas or the surrounding area, are booked through the Modoc County Jail. The sheriff handles everything.

Nearby Counties

Modoc County is in the far northeast corner of California, bordering Oregon and Nevada. Arrests near the county or state border could be processed in a different jurisdiction entirely.