Search San Benito County Arrest Records

San Benito County arrest records are maintained by the San Benito County Sheriff's Office in Hollister. This small county sits south of the Bay Area with a population of about 65,000 people. The sheriff handles law enforcement for unincorporated areas and runs the county jail. Hollister has its own police department for city limits. Arrest data from both agencies feeds into the county system. You can contact the sheriff for booking info and jail custody status. Records requests go through the sheriff's records unit.

San Benito County Sheriff Arrest Information

The San Benito County Sheriff's Office manages all jail operations. The jail is in Hollister. Call them to check if someone is in custody. They can tell you basic details like booking date and charges.

For arrest record copies, contact the records unit. They handle public requests under the California Public Records Act. Not everything is public. California law protects some police records from release. Under Government Code 6254(f), investigative files and some personal info can be held back. But booking data and basic arrest info is usually available.

The Fair Chance Act helps people with arrest histories find work. Employers cannot ask about criminal records on job applications in California. This rule applies to companies with five or more employees. The law took effect in 2018. It gives people a fair shot at jobs before background checks happen.

Contact the San Benito County Sheriff's Office:

• Address: 2301 Technology Parkway, Hollister, CA 95023
• Phone: (831) 636-4080
• Jail: (831) 636-4050

San Benito Superior Court Criminal Records

San Benito Superior Court processes criminal cases in the county. When an arrest leads to charges, the case goes to court. Court records show what happened next. Convictions, dismissals, and pleas are all there. This connects arrest data to outcomes.

The courthouse is in Hollister on Fourth Street. You can look up case info there. For complex searches, visit the clerk's office in person. They can pull files and make copies. Some basic case data may be online through the California courts system. Small counties often have limited online access though.

A single arrest can turn into multiple court cases. Felonies and misdemeanors are handled separately from traffic matters. Check with the clerk if you need to find all cases tied to one person.

Contact the San Benito Superior Court:

• Address: 450 Fourth Street, Hollister, CA 95023
• Phone: (831) 636-4057

Note: Court records and jail records are kept by different agencies in San Benito County.

California State Arrest Record Access

The California Department of Justice keeps statewide criminal history records. This includes arrests from all 58 counties. If you need your own record, the DOJ is the source.

To get your California criminal record, submit fingerprints through Live Scan. The fee is $25 paid to the DOJ. You fill out form BCIA 8016RR and take it to a Live Scan location. Many sheriff offices and police stations offer this service. Rolling fees at the Live Scan site vary from $20 to $65 depending on where you go.

People living outside California can send ink fingerprint cards by mail. Use form FD-258 along with form BCIA 8705. Mail them with the $25 fee to the DOJ in Sacramento. This takes longer than Live Scan. Results arrive by mail in several weeks. Call (916) 227-3849 if you need help.

VINE California tracks custody changes statewide. Register at vinelink.vineapps.com to get alerts when an offender is released or transferred. This free service covers San Benito County. Phone registration is also available at 1-877-411-5588.

Seal San Benito County Arrest Records

Old arrests in San Benito County may be sealed if you were not convicted. California Penal Code 851.91 allows this. You file a petition with the Superior Court. A judge reviews your case and decides.

The rules depend on how the case ended. If charges were never filed, you may petition right away. If charges were dismissed, there may be a waiting period. The petition must explain why sealing is appropriate. If granted, the record is hidden from most background checks. Law enforcement can still see it. Employers cannot.

Automatic record relief also exists. Under Penal Code 851.93, the DOJ reviews records monthly. Some arrests get flagged for relief without any action from you. This does not erase records. It adds a note saying relief was granted. Background check companies should not report those arrests.

Note: Sealing and expungement are different processes with different outcomes.

Hollister Arrest Records

Hollister is the only incorporated city in San Benito County. It has its own police department. Arrests made by Hollister PD go through that agency. The sheriff handles everything outside city limits.

Hollister has about 42,000 residents. The city is growing fast. The police department handles local crimes. For arrests made by Hollister PD, contact them directly. The sheriff's jail holds inmates from both agencies. So jail custody questions go to the sheriff. But arrest report copies come from whoever made the arrest.

There are no cities in San Benito County over 50,000 people. Hollister is the largest by far. San Juan Bautista is the only other incorporated city. It has fewer than 2,000 people. Most of the county is rural farmland and open space.

Nearby California Counties

San Benito County borders several other counties in central California. For arrest records in those areas, check these nearby counties. Each has separate law enforcement agencies.