Search Nevada County Busted Mugshots

Nevada County busted mugshots are managed by the Nevada County Sheriff's Office, which operates the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility in Nevada City. With a population of about 102,000, this foothill county sits in the northern Sierra Nevada region. The sheriff's office books all arrests in the county through its single jail facility. Despite sharing a name with the state of Nevada, this is a California county with its seat in the small mountain town of Nevada City. This page covers where to find booking records and mugshot photos from Nevada County sources.

Nevada County Sheriff Booking Records

The Nevada County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for the county. They operate the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility, which is the only jail in Nevada County. All bookings happen at this location. When someone is arrested anywhere in Nevada County, by any agency, they get processed through this facility. The jail takes a mugshot at booking and logs the charges, bail, and personal details into the system.

Nevada County does not have an online inmate lookup tool on the sheriff's website. This is common for smaller California counties. To check if someone is in custody or to get booking details, call the jail at (530) 265-1471. The jail staff can confirm whether a person is currently held at the facility. They can share basic booking information over the phone, like charges and bail amount.

For a copy of the mugshot itself, you need to file a records request. Send your request to the Nevada County Sheriff's Office, 950 Maidu Avenue, Nevada City, CA 95959. Cite the California Public Records Act in your request. Include the name of the person, date of birth if known, and the approximate date of arrest. The office must respond within 10 days. They may charge a small copying fee for the records.

How to Find Busted Mugshots in Nevada County

Your best bet is to contact the sheriff's office directly. The phone number is (530) 265-1471. Ask for the records or corrections division. They handle booking inquiries and records requests. If you want information on a current inmate, the jail can help right away. For older records, a written request works better because it creates a paper trail.

The Grass Valley Police Department handles law enforcement within the city of Grass Valley. The Nevada City Police Department covers Nevada City proper. Both agencies bring arrestees to the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility for booking. So regardless of which agency made the arrest, the booking record and mugshot are at the sheriff's facility. You do not need to contact multiple agencies to find a single booking record in this county.

The California DOJ request form allows you to seek records at the state level, which may include arrests logged from Nevada County agencies.

Use this state form when you need records from multiple counties or when local agencies have not responded to your request.

The Truckee Police Department serves the eastern part of Nevada County near Lake Tahoe. Arrests in the Truckee area also go through the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility in Nevada City, though the drive between the two is about an hour. Sometimes there can be a delay in getting booking records from Truckee-area arrests because of the distance and transport time involved.

Nevada County Court Records

The Nevada County Superior Court handles all criminal cases filed in the county. Court records add context to booking records by showing case outcomes, plea deals, sentencing, and whether charges were dropped. The main courthouse is at 201 Church Street in Nevada City. There is also a branch court in Truckee at 10075 Levon Avenue that handles cases from the eastern part of the county.

Visit the clerk's office at either courthouse to look up case records. Bring the defendant's name and any case numbers. Criminal case files are public unless sealed by a judge. The clerk can print copies for a fee. If you want to see the full trail of a criminal case connected to a busted mugshot, court records are where you find it. They show every hearing, motion, and ruling from start to finish.

Nevada County is part of a judicial district that covers just this one county. All local criminal matters from Grass Valley, Nevada City, Truckee, and unincorporated areas flow through this single court system.

State Resources for Nevada County

The CDCR CIRIS database lets you search for inmates in California state prisons. If someone from Nevada County was sentenced to state prison, you can find them here. The tool shows current facility, projected release date, and case details. It does not cover people in the county jail or on probation.

The DOJ Record Review page explains how to check your own criminal history or challenge errors in your record. This is useful for Nevada County residents who want to see what shows up in their state rap sheet. You need to submit Live Scan fingerprints and pay a $25 fee. The process takes a couple of weeks.

The DOJ Record Review page walks you through the steps to review your own criminal history and correct any errors in the state database.

This is especially helpful if you believe there are mistakes in your record from a Nevada County arrest.

Clearing Nevada County Arrest Records

California law provides several paths to clear arrest records. Penal Code section 851.87 allows you to petition to seal an arrest if charges were never filed, the case was dismissed, or you were found not guilty. Once sealed, the mugshot is no longer accessible to the public. File your petition with the Nevada County Superior Court.

Expungement under Penal Code section 1203.4 is available for people who completed probation. This dismisses the conviction but does not seal the arrest record or mugshot automatically. You need a separate action to seal the arrest itself. The Clean Slate Act (SB 731) provides automatic relief for some qualifying cases, but not all. Check with a local attorney or legal aid provider to figure out which options apply to your situation.

Under Penal Code section 13665, the sheriff's office cannot post booking photos on social media for nonviolent arrests unless the person is a fugitive. SB 1027 makes it illegal for third-party mugshot sites to charge for removal of booking photos.

Local Legal Resources

The Nevada County Public Defender's Office represents people who cannot afford a lawyer. They handle criminal defense cases in Nevada County Superior Court. For record-clearing petitions, Legal Services of Northern California may be able to help qualifying residents. They provide free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals in the region.

The Nevada County Law Library at the courthouse in Nevada City has self-help resources for people filing their own petitions. Staff can point you to the right forms, though they cannot give legal advice. The library is a good starting point for anyone trying to navigate the record-clearing process without an attorney. Walk-in hours are available during court business days.

Nearby Counties

Nevada County borders several other counties in the Sierra foothills. An arrest near the county line might end up processed in a neighboring jurisdiction.