Orange County Busted Mugshots

Orange County busted mugshots come from the OC Sheriff's Department, which runs one of the largest jail systems in California. With about 3.2 million residents, Orange County processes thousands of bookings each year across multiple jail facilities. The sheriff's department operates the Inmate Information System online, though recent changes now require account creation to search. Santa Ana serves as the county seat. This page covers all the ways to find busted mugshots in Orange County, from the sheriff's online database to public records requests and state tools.

OC Sheriff Inmate Information System

The Orange County Sheriff's Department runs the Inmate Information System online. This is the main tool for finding busted mugshots in Orange County. The system lets you search by name, booking number, or other identifiers. It shows current inmates held in OC jails along with booking photos, charges, bail amounts, and housing information.

A recent change to the system now requires users to create an account before searching. You need to provide an email address and set up a password. This was put in place to reduce automated scraping by third-party mugshot sites. Once you have an account, you can search freely. The database covers people currently in custody at OC jail facilities, including the Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana, the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange, the James A. Musick Facility in Irvine, and the Intake Release Center.

The OC Sheriff's website is the starting point for accessing inmate records and booking information in Orange County.

Navigate to the Inmate Information section from the main sheriff's page to begin your search.

Results show the booking photo if one is available. You can see the full charge list, next court date, and facility location. The system is updated regularly as new bookings come in and inmates are released. If someone was booked in the last few days, they should show up in the database. For people who have already been released, the system may not show their record.

Public Records Requests in Orange County

For older busted mugshots or records of people no longer in custody, file a public records request. The OC Sheriff accepts requests under the California Public Records Act through their Public Records page. You can submit your request online, by mail, or in person. Include the person's full name, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest. The department has 10 days to respond.

The Inmate Information System page shows the search interface where you can look up current inmates in Orange County custody.

Remember that you need to create an account before the search function will work on this page.

Orange County has 34 incorporated cities and many have their own police departments. Cities like Anaheim, Irvine, Huntington Beach, and Santa Ana run their own police forces. But when any of these agencies make an arrest, the booking happens at an OC Sheriff jail facility. So the mugshot ends up in the sheriff's system no matter which agency made the arrest. You do not need to contact each city police department separately to find a booking photo.

Finding Busted Mugshots in OC

Start with the Inmate Information System. Create your account and search by the person's name. If you get no results, the person may have already been released from custody. In that case, try calling the sheriff's records division at (714) 647-7000. They can look up older booking records that are no longer in the online system. The jail information line at (714) 647-4666 handles current custody questions.

For court records connected to Orange County arrests, the Orange County Superior Court maintains case files for all criminal matters in the county. The court has locations in Santa Ana, Fullerton, Newport Beach, and Westminster. You can visit the clerk's office to search case records by defendant name. Court records show charges, plea entries, sentencing, and case outcomes. They give you the full story beyond what a booking record provides.

Phone the main courthouse in Santa Ana for questions about locating a case. The clerk can tell you which court location handled a specific case and how to get copies of the records. Criminal case files are public in California unless sealed by court order.

State Resources for OC Mugshots

The California DOJ maintains statewide criminal history records that include arrests from Orange County. You can file a CPRA request through the DOJ online form for state-level records. For checking your own record, submit Live Scan fingerprints with form BCIA 8016RR and a $25 fee. The CDCR CIRIS tool covers state prison inmates, including those sentenced from Orange County cases.

Under Penal Code section 13665, law enforcement in California cannot post booking photos on social media for nonviolent arrests unless the person is a fugitive or public safety threat. The OC Sheriff's Department follows this rule. SB 1027 prevents third-party mugshot websites from charging fees to remove booking photos. If a site demands payment to take down your Orange County mugshot, they are breaking the law.

Clearing Orange County Records

Penal Code section 851.87 lets you petition to seal an arrest record if charges were never filed, dismissed, or you were acquitted. Once sealed, the mugshot is no longer public. File your petition with the Orange County Superior Court. Expungement under section 1203.4 dismisses a conviction but does not automatically seal the arrest or mugshot. You need both actions for full relief.

The Clean Slate Act under SB 731 provides automatic sealing for some qualifying arrests and convictions. Not all cases qualify. Talk to an attorney or legal aid provider in Orange County about your specific situation. The Public Law Center in Santa Ana offers free legal help to low-income Orange County residents. The Orange County Bar Association also runs a lawyer referral service if you need to find a private attorney.

Cities in Orange County

Orange County has many large cities. Arrests made by city police departments are booked at OC Sheriff facilities. Below are major cities with their own pages on this site.

Nearby Counties

Orange County shares borders with several counties in Southern California. Arrests near county lines may be processed in a neighboring jurisdiction.