Butte County Arrest Records

Butte County arrest records are held by the Butte County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff runs the county jail and posts booking data online. You can look up who is in custody right now. The system shows names, charges, and booking dates. Chico is the biggest city here. It has its own police force, but all jail bookings go through the county. The sheriff also works with Cal Fire and other groups on local cases. Getting arrest info in Butte County is simple if you know where to look. This page walks you through the main sources and how to use them.

Butte County Booking Logs

The Butte County Sheriff posts booking logs on the county website. Visit buttecounty.net to see who was booked recently. The logs show booking date, name, and charges. This is the fastest way to check if someone was arrested in Butte County.

The booking log page is simple to use. You do not need to make an account. Just go to the page and scroll through the list. New bookings show up at the top. The data is fresh. It gets updated as new arrests come in. You can see the person's full name, age, and what they got booked for.

Keep in mind that booking logs only show recent arrests. If you need older records, you will have to contact the sheriff directly. Call (530) 538-7471 for help with older cases or records that are not online. The staff can tell you what is available and how to request copies.

Butte County CitizenRIMS Portal

Butte County also uses CitizenRIMS for public bulletins. This is a second system run by the sheriff. You can find it at bcso.citizenrims.com. It shows daily bulletins with arrest info and other law enforcement news.

CitizenRIMS is good for getting a quick look at what happened today or this week. The bulletins list arrests along with other sheriff activity. Some people prefer this over the booking logs because it has more context. You can see patrol updates and press releases too. The system is free and does not need a login. Just visit the site and browse the bulletins to find arrest details.

Note: Both the booking logs and CitizenRIMS are public tools, but they may not show every arrest due to legal exemptions.

Request Butte County Arrest Records

For official copies of arrest reports, you need to contact the sheriff's records unit. The California Public Records Act allows you to request many types of law enforcement records. But not everything is public. Some records are exempt under Government Code 6254(f). This section protects certain investigation files from release.

To make a request, call the Butte County Sheriff at (530) 538-7471. Ask for the records division. They will tell you what forms to fill out and what fees apply. Most reports cost money. The price depends on the length and type of record. Plan for a few weeks of processing time. Busy periods take longer.

Victims of crimes can often get free copies of reports. Just tell the staff you are a victim and they will explain the process. If you were arrested and want your own report, you have a right to that too. Bring ID to prove who you are. The rules for your own records differ from general public requests.

Butte County Superior Court Records

Arrest records tell part of the story. Court records tell the rest. After an arrest, most cases go to Butte County Superior Court. The court tracks filings, charges, hearings, and outcomes. You can look up cases to see what happened after the arrest.

The California courts have an online portal for case searches. Check the Butte County Superior Court website for access. Many criminal cases are searchable by defendant name. You can find case numbers, filing dates, and case status. The system shows whether charges were filed, dropped, or led to a conviction. Court staff can help if you have trouble finding a case. The main courthouse is in Oroville. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours.

Court records and arrest records are separate things. An arrest does not mean there was a conviction. Sometimes charges get dismissed. Sometimes people are found not guilty. Court records clear up what actually happened. If you need certified copies of court documents, there is usually a fee. Ask the clerk for current prices.

California State Arrest Record Resources

Beyond Butte County, the state of California holds a central record system. The Department of Justice keeps RAP sheets for people with arrest histories. RAP stands for Record of Arrests and Prosecutions. These records include arrests from any county in the state. They are more complete than local records alone.

You can request your own RAP sheet from the DOJ. It costs $25. You have to go through a Live Scan fingerprint process. Find a Live Scan site near you, get fingerprinted, and the DOJ will mail your record. This takes a few weeks. The form you need is BCIA 8016RR. Ask for a "Record Review" when you fill it out. This is useful if you need to check your own history or challenge errors.

For victim notification, register with VINE California at vinelink.vineapps.com. VINE sends alerts when an offender's custody status changes. You can sign up to get calls, texts, or emails. The phone number is 1-877-411-5588. This service is free and works for Butte County inmates too.

Butte County Arrest Record Laws

California law controls what arrest records you can see. Penal Code 11105 covers state criminal history records. Only certain agencies and individuals can access full RAP sheets. The general public gets limited info from local sources like booking logs.

Some arrest records can be sealed. Penal Code 851.91 lets people petition to seal arrests that did not lead to conviction. If a record is sealed, it will not show up in public searches. The person can legally say they were never arrested for that incident. Sealed records are hidden from employers and landlords. Only law enforcement can still see them.

Employers in California face limits too. The Fair Chance Act says employers with five or more workers cannot ask about convictions on job applications. They have to wait until after a conditional job offer. This helps people with old records get a fair shot at work. Learn more at calcivilrights.ca.gov.

Note: Record sealing does not happen automatically for most cases, so many old arrests still appear in searches.

Major Cities in Butte County

Butte County has several cities. The largest is Chico. It is home to Chico State University. Chico has its own police department. The Chico Police handle arrests within city limits. But all jail bookings go to the county facility in Oroville.

If you are looking for arrest records from Chico, start with the Butte County booking logs. The sheriff's jail holds everyone. For Chico-specific reports, contact Chico Police at (530) 897-4910. They handle their own records requests. Reports cost $5 each. You can also check the Chico Police website for crime maps and arrest info.

Other towns in Butte County include Oroville, Paradise, Gridley, and Biggs. These areas rely on the sheriff for law enforcement. Oroville is the county seat and has the main jail. Paradise was hit hard by the Camp Fire in 2018. The town is rebuilding. Crime patterns changed after the fire. Fewer people means fewer arrests in some areas.

Nearby California Counties

Butte County sits in Northern California. Several other counties border it. If you need records from nearby areas, check these pages for specific info.