Search Santa Cruz County Mugshots

Santa Cruz County busted mugshots come through the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office, which operates the county jail and handles bookings for the area. The county sits on the central California coast with a population near 270,000. It covers the city of Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Scotts Valley, and Capitola, along with large unincorporated areas in the Santa Cruz Mountains. All arrests in the county end up processed through the sheriff's jail system. This page walks through how to search for busted mugshots and arrest records in Santa Cruz County using local databases, public records requests, and state resources.

Santa Cruz County Sheriff Booking Records

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail and processes all bookings. The main facility is the Santa Cruz County Jail on Water Street in the city of Santa Cruz. You can call (831) 454-2311 to ask about current inmates or recent bookings. The jail staff can confirm if someone is in custody and give you basic booking information over the phone.

The sheriff's website provides access to booking logs and inmate information. These logs show recent arrests, including names, charges, and booking dates. Mugshot photos may or may not be included in the online logs depending on the format. For the actual booking photo, you may need to file a formal records request. The jail has a capacity of roughly 300 inmates, which is relatively small compared to larger California counties. Because of limited space, the county sometimes releases low-level offenders early.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office website has information about custody operations and how to contact the jail for booking details.

The California DOJ record review process lets you check your own criminal history for records that may include Santa Cruz County arrests.

How to Find Busted Mugshots in Santa Cruz County

Start by checking the sheriff's online booking log if it is available. This shows recent arrests in the county. If the person you are looking for is not on the current list, they may have been released or the arrest may be older. In that case, file a public records request with the sheriff's office.

Send your CPRA request to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office at 701 Ocean Street, Suite 340, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Include the person's full name, date of birth if known, and the approximate date or range of dates for the arrest. Ask specifically for the booking record and booking photo. The agency must respond within 10 days under California law. They can get a 14-day extension for complex requests. Fees are usually 10 to 25 cents per page for copies.

The Santa Cruz Police Department handles arrests within city limits. They have their own records unit. The Watsonville Police Department covers the city of Watsonville. Scotts Valley Police handles Scotts Valley. All of these departments book through the county jail, so the mugshot data ends up with the sheriff. If you need the police report rather than the booking record, contact the specific department that made the arrest. The booking photo itself is held by the sheriff's office.

For University of California Santa Cruz arrests, the UC Santa Cruz Police Department is a separate law enforcement agency. They handle incidents on campus. Bookings still go through the county system.

Santa Cruz County Court Records

The Santa Cruz County Superior Court handles criminal cases filed in the county. Court records contain charging documents, plea deals, trial outcomes, and sentencing information. These go well beyond what a booking record provides. If you want the full story behind busted mugshots from Santa Cruz County, court records fill in the gaps.

The courthouse is located on Ocean Street in Santa Cruz. You can search for case information through the court's website or visit the clerk's office in person. Criminal case records are public unless sealed by court order. There are small fees for copies of documents. The clerk can help you find a case by name or case number. Some records may also be available through the state court system's online portals.

State Tools for Santa Cruz County Mugshots

The California Department of Justice keeps criminal history records from agencies statewide. Submit a CPRA request through the DOJ online form for state-level data. To get your own criminal record, send Live Scan fingerprints with form BCIA 8016RR and pay $25. The DOJ RAP sheet shows arrest history from all California agencies, including Santa Cruz County.

The CDCR CIRIS tool covers state prison inmates only. It does not include people in the Santa Cruz County Jail. Use CIRIS when someone has been convicted and sentenced to state prison. The free search shows the inmate's name, CDCR number, current facility, and admission date.

The CDCR inmate search tool covers state prison inmates across California, which is separate from the county jail system used in Santa Cruz County.

AB 1475 restricts how California law enforcement agencies can share booking photos on social media for nonviolent arrests.

Removing Santa Cruz County Busted Mugshots

California law gives you ways to clear your record. Penal Code section 851.87 lets you petition to seal an arrest if charges were never filed, dismissed, or you were acquitted. Once sealed, the booking photo is no longer public. The Clean Slate Act under SB 731 automates sealing for some arrests. Misdemeanor arrests seal after one year with no charges. Felony arrests seal after three years.

Expungement under Penal Code section 1203.4 clears a conviction from your record but does not seal the arrest or mugshot. The booking data can still be in the system. File your petition with the Santa Cruz County Superior Court. Legal aid organizations in the area can help. SB 1027 makes it illegal for websites to charge you to remove a mugshot. If a site demands payment, report them to the California Attorney General's office.

Penal Code section 13665 stops law enforcement from posting booking photos on social media for nonviolent arrests unless the person is a fugitive or a safety risk.

Cities in Santa Cruz County

Santa Cruz County has four incorporated cities. None of them have populations over 100,000. The city of Santa Cruz is the county seat with around 65,000 residents. Watsonville has about 52,000. Scotts Valley and Capitola are smaller communities. All city police departments book through the county jail system run by the sheriff's office.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Santa Cruz County. Arrests near the border may be handled by a neighboring jurisdiction.