Search San Joaquin County Mugshots

San Joaquin County busted mugshots are managed through the county sheriff's department, which operates the main jail in the county seat of Stockton. With a population near 789,000, San Joaquin County sits in the heart of the Central Valley. Stockton is the largest city and sees the majority of arrests in the county. The sheriff handles bookings for unincorporated areas and contract cities, while Stockton and Tracy have their own police departments. All bookings flow through the county jail. This page explains where to find busted mugshots and booking records in San Joaquin County.

San Joaquin County Sheriff's Department

The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Department runs the county jail and handles booking operations. The main jail is located in French Camp, just south of Stockton. When someone is arrested anywhere in San Joaquin County, they are brought to this facility for booking. The mugshot is taken during the intake process along with fingerprints and other identifying information.

The sheriff's main phone line is (209) 468-4400. For jail-specific questions, call (209) 468-4800. The department provides law enforcement services to the unincorporated areas of the county and has contracts with some smaller cities. Stockton and Tracy run their own police departments, but their arrests still go through the county jail for booking.

San Joaquin County does not always offer a fully open online inmate search in the way that larger counties like Los Angeles or San Diego do. Availability of online booking data can change over time as the county updates its technology and policies. Contact the sheriff's records unit directly if you cannot find what you need online.

Finding Busted Mugshots in San Joaquin County

Start by checking the sheriff's website for any available inmate search tools. If an online search is available, enter the person's name to pull up current inmates. Results should include the booking photo, charges, bail amount, and other details. The system only shows people currently in custody in most cases.

If the person is no longer in jail or the online tool is not available, you need to contact the sheriff directly. Call (209) 468-4400 and ask to speak with the records division. You can also file a California Public Records Act request in writing. Include the person's full name and any other details you have, like a date of birth or approximate arrest date. The department has 10 days to respond under state law.

For records going back further, check with the San Joaquin County courts. Criminal case files contain charge information, dispositions, and sentencing details that supplement what you find in the booking record. Court records do not typically include the mugshot itself, but they give you the context around the arrest.

San Joaquin County Court Records

The San Joaquin Superior Court handles all criminal cases in the county. The main courthouse is in Stockton. Court records are public unless sealed by a judge. You can look up cases by defendant name or case number. The court's online system may offer access to case indexes and some documents.

If you need records tied to a specific busted mugshot, the court case tells you what charges were filed and how the case ended. This is useful for background checks or for understanding the full picture of an arrest. The court clerk's office can help with certified copies of case documents for a fee. Call the court or visit in person during business hours for assistance.

State Resources for San Joaquin County

The California Department of Justice maintains statewide criminal records that include San Joaquin County data. File a request through the DOJ public records form for state-level records. To get your own criminal history, submit Live Scan fingerprints with form BCIA 8016RR and pay a $25 fee at any authorized Live Scan location.

The DOJ's record review process lets individuals check and challenge their own criminal history for accuracy. The record review page explains how to dispute errors in your state rap sheet.

Use this process if you believe your state criminal history contains incorrect information from a San Joaquin County arrest.

The CDCR CIRIS tool covers California state prison inmates. This is only useful for people who were sentenced to state prison from San Joaquin County. It does not cover county jail inmates. For local custody, use the sheriff's resources.

Clearing Records in San Joaquin County

You have options to clear your record in California. Under Penal Code section 851.87, arrests that did not lead to conviction can be sealed. This includes cases where charges were never filed, were dismissed, or ended in acquittal. Once the arrest is sealed, the associated mugshot is no longer available to the public. The process requires filing a petition with the San Joaquin Superior Court.

Expungement under Penal Code section 1203.4 applies to convictions. It withdraws the guilty plea and dismisses the case after you have completed your sentence and probation. Expungement helps with employment and other practical matters, but it does not seal the arrest record or mugshot by itself. You may need additional petitions to fully clear your record.

The Clean Slate Act under SB 731 provides automatic sealing for certain older arrests. If charges were never filed, misdemeanor arrests are automatically sealed after one year and felony arrests after three years. This happens without a petition in many cases. Check with the San Joaquin County public defender's office or a legal aid group if you need help understanding your options.

California Mugshot Laws

Several state laws affect how busted mugshots from San Joaquin County can be shared and used. Under SB 1027, third-party websites cannot charge fees to remove your booking photo. This law was a direct response to the mugshot exploitation industry that targeted people across California.

Penal Code section 13665 prevents law enforcement agencies from posting booking photos on social media for most nonviolent arrests. Exceptions exist for fugitives and people who are an imminent threat. Under AB 1475, law enforcement faces additional rules about how mugshots are shared with third parties. These protections apply to all California counties including San Joaquin.

Cities in San Joaquin County

San Joaquin County has several incorporated cities. These are the two cities with populations over 100,000 that have dedicated pages on this site. Arrests made by city police are booked through the county jail system.

Other cities in the county include Lodi, Manteca, Ripon, Escalon, and Lathrop. These smaller cities do not have separate pages on this site, but arrests there are booked through the same county sheriff system in French Camp.

Nearby Counties

San Joaquin County sits in the northern Central Valley. Arrests near county borders may be handled by a neighboring jurisdiction.