Tulare County Busted Mugshots

Tulare County busted mugshots are processed through the sheriff's office in Visalia. This large Central Valley county has a population of about 477,000 and stretches from the valley floor up into the Sierra Nevada mountains. The Tulare County Sheriff runs the main jail and handles bookings for the county. Several cities have their own police departments, but all jail bookings go through the sheriff's facility. This page covers how to search for busted mugshots in Tulare County using local and state resources.

Tulare County Sheriff Inmate Search

The Tulare County Sheriff's Office manages the county jail system and processes all bookings. The main detention facility is in Visalia. When someone is arrested in Tulare County, they get brought to the jail for booking. That is where the mugshot is taken along with fingerprints and charge information. This data becomes a public record under California law.

The sheriff's website may have an online inmate search tool. Check the sheriff's site for a current inmate roster or jail lookup feature. If the online tool is available, you can search by name to find people currently in custody. Each result typically shows the booking photo, charges, bail amount, and housing location. This is the fastest way to find a recent busted mugshot in Tulare County.

If you cannot find the person online, call the sheriff's office at (559) 733-6218. The jail staff can confirm whether someone is in custody and share basic booking information over the phone. For a written copy of the booking record or mugshot, submit a Public Records Act request to the sheriff's records division. Include the full name and approximate date of arrest. The office has 10 days to respond under state law.

How to Find Arrest Records in Tulare County

The sheriff's jail is your first stop. For current inmates, the online tool or a phone call gets you the answer fast. For people who have been released or for older records, the process takes more effort. Here is what to do in each case.

Recent releases may still show up in the online system for a short time after the person leaves custody. Check the sheriff's website first. If the record is no longer there, send a written request. The records division can pull booking files going back years. Older records may take longer to locate since they could be in archived storage. Give as much detail as you can, including a date of birth or booking number if you have it.

Local police departments in Visalia, Porterville, Tulare, and other cities handle their own arrest reports. But the booking record and mugshot are at the county jail. So even if the Visalia Police Department made the arrest, the mugshot is with the sheriff. You can get the arrest report from the city PD and the booking record from the sheriff's office to get the full picture.

The California DOJ provides a record review process for people who want to check their own criminal history on file with the state.

Use this state resource if you need to verify what records the state has connected to your name.

Tulare County Court Records

The Tulare County Superior Court handles all criminal cases in the county. The main courthouse is in Visalia, with additional locations serving other parts of the county. Court records are public and show what happened after an arrest. You can find the complaint, arraignment details, plea records, trial information, and sentencing in the court file.

Court records add context to a busted mugshot. A booking record tells you someone was arrested and what the initial charges were. The court record tells you the rest. Did the DA file charges? Was the case dismissed? Did it go to trial? What was the sentence? If you are doing a background check on someone in Tulare County, you want both the booking record and the court record for the full story.

The court clerk can help you find case files. Visit the courthouse in Visalia or call the clerk's office. You will need the defendant's name or case number to look up records. Certified copies cost a fee per page. For basic case information, the clerk may be able to look it up at the counter while you wait.

State Tools for Tulare County Records

The California DOJ maintains statewide criminal records from all 58 counties. You can file a CPRA request through the DOJ request form for state-level criminal history. For your own record, submit a Live Scan fingerprint request with form BCIA 8016RR and a $25 fee. The state will send back what they have on file.

The CDCR CIRIS database covers inmates in state prison. If someone from Tulare County was sentenced to state prison, you can find their photo and custody details in CIRIS. This does not cover county jail inmates. It is only for people serving time in state facilities.

California law restricts how mugshots can be used. SB 1027 makes it illegal for websites to charge for removing booking photos. Penal Code section 13665 limits law enforcement from posting arrest photos on social media for most nonviolent offenses. These rules apply in Tulare County and throughout the state. The booking photo remains a public record, but these laws prevent certain forms of exploitation by third-party websites and social media accounts.

Removing Busted Mugshots in Tulare County

Penal Code section 851.87 allows you to petition to seal an arrest record. This applies when charges were never filed, the case was dismissed, or you were found not guilty. Once sealed, the mugshot becomes unavailable to the public. The Clean Slate Act under SB 731 provides automatic sealing for some arrests. Misdemeanor arrests with no charges seal after one year. Felony arrests with no charges seal after three years.

Expungement under Penal Code section 1203.4 clears a conviction from your record. File the petition with Tulare County Superior Court in Visalia. The record updates to show the case was dismissed after the court grants the petition. This is not the same as sealing. The arrest record may still be visible, but the conviction is cleared. Legal aid organizations in the Central Valley may help with the process if you qualify based on income.

Cities in Tulare County

Tulare County includes several cities in the San Joaquin Valley. Visalia is the largest and serves as the county seat. Porterville and Tulare are also significant population centers but fall under the 100,000 mark. Each city has its own police department, but all bookings go through the county sheriff's jail facility in Visalia.

Nearby Counties

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