Sierra County Arrest Records Lookup

Sierra County arrest records are managed by the Sierra County Sheriff's Office in Downieville. This is the smallest county in California by population. Only about 3,000 people live here. The sheriff is the only law enforcement agency in the entire county. There are no incorporated cities at all. Every arrest in Sierra County goes through the sheriff. Records requests must be made by phone or mail. Online services are very limited due to the small size of operations here.

Sierra County Sheriff Arrest Information

The Sierra County Sheriff's Office handles all law enforcement. They patrol the entire county. The office is in Downieville, a small town in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Contact them for arrest records and jail info.

Sierra County has a small jail. It holds people booked on local charges. For inmate questions, call the sheriff. They can tell you if someone is in custody. The low population means fewer arrests overall. But records still exist for all bookings.

California's Fair Chance Act applies even in small counties like Sierra. Employers with five or more workers cannot ask about criminal history on job applications. This helps people with old arrests get fair consideration. The law has been in effect since 2018.

Contact the Sierra County Sheriff's Office:

• Address: 100 Courthouse Square, Downieville, CA 95936
• Phone: (530) 289-3700

Note: Due to the small staff size, response times may vary.

Sierra Superior Court Criminal Cases

Sierra Superior Court is one of the smallest courts in California. It handles all criminal cases in the county. The courthouse is in Downieville on Nevada Street. When an arrest leads to charges, the case goes here.

Court records show what happened after the arrest. Was the person charged? Did they plead guilty or go to trial? What was the sentence? All of that is in court files. You can visit the clerk to look up cases. Phone requests may also work for simple questions. Online access is limited in this small county.

The court operates on a limited schedule. Small population means fewer cases. Staff is minimal. Plan ahead if you need records. Call first to check hours and availability.

Contact the Sierra Superior Court:

• Address: 100 Courthouse Square, Downieville, CA 95936
• Phone: (530) 289-3698

California State Criminal Records

The California Department of Justice has statewide arrest records. This is the best source for complete criminal history. The DOJ collects data from all 58 counties including Sierra.

Want your own record? Submit fingerprints through Live Scan. The DOJ charges $25 for record review. Fill out form BCIA 8016RR. Take it to a Live Scan site. The nearest one may be in a larger town like Grass Valley or Truckee. Rolling fees at the site range from $20 to $65.

People outside California can mail ink fingerprint cards. Use form FD-258 and form BCIA 8705. Send them with the $25 fee to Sacramento. Processing takes weeks. You get results by mail. Call (916) 227-3849 for questions about the process.

VINE California provides victim notification. Register at vinelink.vineapps.com for alerts about custody changes. This free service works for Sierra County inmates. You can also call 1-877-411-5588 to register by phone.

Sealing Sierra County Arrest Records

Arrests without convictions may be sealed in Sierra County. California Penal Code 851.91 allows this. You petition Sierra Superior Court. A judge reviews your case.

The rules are the same as other counties. If charges were never filed, petition right away. If charges were dismissed, wait periods may apply. Sealing hides the record from most people. Law enforcement still has access. Employers cannot see sealed arrests on background checks.

Automatic record relief under Penal Code 851.93 happens monthly. The DOJ reviews old arrests. Some get flagged for relief without you filing anything. The record stays on file but gets a notation. Background check companies should skip over those arrests.

Request Sierra County Arrest Reports

To get copies of arrest reports, contact the sheriff. The California Public Records Act governs what can be released. Not all police records are public. Government Code 6254(f) exempts some law enforcement files.

Basic booking information is usually available. Investigative details may be withheld. Active cases have more restrictions than closed ones. Each request gets reviewed individually.

Fees depend on what you ask for. Per page charges apply to copies. Some reports have flat fees. Sierra County is small so turnaround may be quick. But limited staff could mean delays during busy times. Call ahead to ask about current wait times and costs.

About Sierra County

Sierra County has no incorporated cities. Zero. This makes it unique in California. Downieville is the county seat but it is not a city. It is an unincorporated town. Same with Loyalton, Sierraville, and other communities. All law enforcement goes through the county sheriff.

The county is mostly national forest land. Population is spread thin across the mountain terrain. Tourism brings visitors in summer and winter. Arrest activity is low compared to urban areas. When arrests do happen, the sheriff handles everything from booking to transport.

Nearby California Counties

Sierra County borders several other mountain counties. For arrest records in those areas, check these counties. Each has its own sheriff and court system.