Monterey County Busted Mugshots

Monterey County busted mugshots are maintained by the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, headquartered in Salinas. The county has a population of about 439,000 and stretches from the Pacific Coast to the Salinas Valley. The sheriff operates the Monterey County Jail and handles bookings for all local law enforcement agencies. Arrests by the Salinas Police Department, Seaside Police, Marina Police, and sheriff's deputies all get processed through the same system. This page covers how to search for busted mugshots in Monterey County using local and state resources.

Monterey County Sheriff Inmate Search

The Monterey County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail and is the primary source for busted mugshots. Call (831) 755-3700 for general inquiries or (831) 755-3851 for the jail directly. The Monterey County Jail is in Salinas and handles all bookings for the county. Every arrest made by any agency in the county goes through this facility.

The sheriff's office provides inmate information through their website. You can search for current inmates by name. The results show booking details including charges, bail amount, and facility location. The booking photo is taken during intake and is part of the record. If you are looking for someone currently in custody, this online tool is the fastest way to find them.

Monterey County is a mid-sized county with a significant agricultural industry in the Salinas Valley. The Salinas Police Department handles a large share of the county's arrests within city limits. But the booking goes through the county jail. So the sheriff has booking records for everyone, regardless of which agency arrested them. You do not need to contact both the sheriff and the city police for the same booking record.

How to Find Busted Mugshots in Monterey County

Start with the sheriff's inmate search online. Enter the person's first and last name. If there is a match, the system will show the booking details. Click through to see the full record. This covers people who are currently in the Monterey County Jail.

For people no longer in custody, you need to file a public records request. Write to the Monterey County Sheriff's Office at 1414 Natividad Road, Salinas, CA 93906. Include the person's full name and the approximate date of arrest. The office must respond within 10 days under the California Public Records Act. They can extend that by 14 days if needed. Booking records are generally public, and the mugshot is part of the booking file.

The California DOJ also holds records from Monterey County. Submit a CPRA request through the DOJ online form for state-level criminal history data. For your own record, use the Live Scan fingerprint process with form BCIA 8016RR and a $25 fee. The DOJ database goes back further than most local agencies keep records readily accessible.

The California DOJ public records request form lets you access state-level criminal history information.

Submit a request through this form to get criminal history data from the state.

State Resources for Monterey County

The CDCR CIRIS database covers people in California state prison. If someone was convicted in Monterey County and received a state prison sentence, they will show up in CIRIS but not in the county jail search. Salinas Valley State Prison is located in Monterey County. However, the inmates there come from all over California, not just from local cases. The county jail holds people awaiting trial or serving short sentences. State prison is for longer terms.

Under SB 1027, no website can charge a fee to remove a booking photo. Third-party mugshot sites that scrape Monterey County data are subject to this ban. Penal Code section 13665 restricts law enforcement from posting booking photos to social media for nonviolent arrests unless the person is a fugitive or poses a danger. These protections apply across California.

For registered sex offender information, the Megan's Law website has photos and registration details for all of California, including Monterey County. This is a separate state database from the county booking system and is maintained by the California DOJ.

Monterey County Court Records

The Monterey County Superior Court handles all criminal cases in the county. The main courthouse is in Salinas, with additional locations in Marina and King City. Court records provide the information that booking records do not, like case outcomes, plea agreements, and sentencing details. If you found a busted mugshot and want to know what happened with the case, the court records have that answer.

The court clerk's office handles record requests. Some case information may be available online through the court's website. Standard copy fees apply at all California Superior Courts. Certified copies cost more. Criminal records are public unless the case involves a juvenile or has been sealed by court order. Having multiple courthouse locations is helpful for this geographically large county. King City residents and anyone in the southern part of the county do not have to drive all the way to Salinas for court matters.

Clearing Monterey County Arrest Records

Penal Code section 1203.4 lets you petition to dismiss a conviction after completing probation. This updates the case status but does not erase the arrest or booking record. The mugshot remains in the system, just with an updated note. For arrests that never resulted in charges, Penal Code section 851.87 allows you to seal the arrest record completely. Once sealed, the mugshot and booking details are restricted from public view.

The Clean Slate Act under SB 731 provides automatic sealing for certain records. Misdemeanor arrests with no charges filed are sealed after one year. Felony arrests with no charges are sealed after three years. This happens without you filing anything. For petitions that require court approval, file with the Monterey County Superior Court. Legal Aid for Monterey County and other legal assistance organizations serve the area and can help with expungement and record sealing if you meet their income guidelines.

Cities in Monterey County

Salinas is the only city in Monterey County with a population over 100,000. It is the county seat and the largest city by far. Other cities include Seaside, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, and King City. All arrests across these cities are booked through the Monterey County Jail in Salinas.

Nearby Counties

Monterey County borders several other counties. Arrests near the county line could be processed in a neighboring jurisdiction depending on the exact location.