Search Sonoma County Mugshots

Sonoma County busted mugshots are processed through the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, which runs the county jail in Santa Rosa. The county has a population near 485,000 and sits north of San Francisco in the Wine Country region. Santa Rosa is the county seat and by far the largest city. The sheriff handles law enforcement for unincorporated areas, while Santa Rosa and other cities maintain their own police departments. All bookings in the county flow through the sheriff's jail system. This page covers how to search for busted mugshots in Sonoma County using local tools, public records requests, and state databases.

Sonoma County Sheriff Inmate Search

The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office operates the Main Adult Detention Facility and the North County Detention Facility. The main jail is in Santa Rosa. You can call (707) 565-2511 for information about current inmates or recent bookings. The sheriff's website includes access to inmate search tools and booking logs that show recent arrest activity.

The online search lets you look up inmates by name. Results show the person's charges, booking date, bail amount, and facility location. Mugshot photos may be available depending on the search tool's format. The two jail facilities have a combined capacity of about 1,100 inmates. Sonoma County processes a steady volume of arrests, with the Santa Rosa Police Department generating a large share of the bookings that come through the system.

The Sonoma County Sheriff's inmate search provides booking information for people held in the county jail system.

County sheriff inmate search tools across California follow a similar format for looking up booking records and jail information.

How to Find Busted Mugshots in Sonoma County

Start with the sheriff's online inmate search. Enter a first and last name. The system pulls up matches from the current jail population. Click on a name to see the full booking details. This covers people currently held in the Sonoma County jails. If the person has been released, the record may not show in the active search.

For older records, file a California Public Records Act request with the sheriff's office. Send it to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office at 2796 Ventura Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. You can also call (707) 565-2511. Put the request in writing. Include the person's full name, date of birth if known, and the approximate arrest date or date range. Ask for the booking record and booking photo. The agency must respond within 10 days. They can take up to 14 more days for complex requests. Copy fees are usually 10 to 25 cents per page.

The Santa Rosa Police Department handles a large number of arrests in the county because Santa Rosa is the biggest city. They have their own records division. But even for Santa Rosa PD arrests, the actual booking happens at the county jail. The mugshot is in the sheriff's system. Petaluma Police, Rohnert Park Public Safety, and other city agencies follow the same pattern. They arrest, and the sheriff books.

Sonoma County Court Records

The Sonoma County Superior Court handles criminal cases filed in the county. Court records contain charging documents, pleas, trial outcomes, and sentencing information. These go well beyond what a booking record shows. If you want the complete picture on a case tied to busted mugshots in Sonoma County, the court file fills in the gaps that booking data does not cover.

The main courthouse is in Santa Rosa. You can search case information through the court's website or visit the clerk's office. Criminal case records are public unless sealed by court order. Fees apply for copies. The clerk can help you find a specific case by name or case number. Some records are available through online portals.

State Resources for Sonoma County Mugshots

The California DOJ maintains criminal history records from all agencies statewide. File a CPRA request through the DOJ online form for state-level data. To get your own criminal record, submit Live Scan fingerprints with form BCIA 8016RR and pay $25. The RAP sheet shows arrest history from all California agencies, including Sonoma County law enforcement.

The DOJ's website explains the Public Records Act process and how to submit requests for criminal history information.

Review the FAQ section for answers to common questions about requesting records from the California DOJ.

The CDCR CIRIS tool covers state prison inmates only. It does not include people in the Sonoma County jails. Use CIRIS only if someone has been convicted and sentenced to state prison. The free search shows the inmate's name, CDCR number, current facility, and admission date. For county jail inmates, use the sheriff's inmate search instead.

Removing Sonoma County Busted Mugshots

California law gives you options to clear your record. Under Penal Code section 851.87, you can petition to seal an arrest if charges were never filed, dismissed, or you were found not guilty. Once sealed, the booking photo becomes closed to the public. The Clean Slate Act under SB 731 provides automatic sealing for some arrest records. Misdemeanor arrests seal after one year with no charges. Felony arrests seal after three years.

Expungement under Penal Code section 1203.4 dismisses a conviction but does not seal the arrest record or mugshot. The booking data can still exist in the system. For Sonoma County cases, file your petition with the Superior Court in Santa Rosa. Legal aid resources are available for people who cannot afford a lawyer. Third-party mugshot sites cannot charge to remove your photo under SB 1027. If a site demands money, report them to the California Attorney General.

Penal Code section 13665 stops law enforcement agencies from posting booking photos on social media for nonviolent arrests. Exceptions exist for fugitives and people who threaten public safety.

Cities in Sonoma County

Sonoma County has nine incorporated cities. Santa Rosa is the county seat and the only city with a population over 100,000.

Other cities in the county include Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Windsor, Healdsburg, Sebastopol, Cloverdale, Cotati, and Sonoma. Arrests in all of these cities are booked through the county jail system operated by the sheriff's office.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Sonoma County. Arrests near county lines may be processed in a neighboring jurisdiction.