Search Tuolumne County Arrest Records

Tuolumne County arrest records are managed by the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office. The county seat is Sonora, a Gold Rush era town in the Sierra Nevada foothills. About 55,000 people live in the county. The sheriff patrols unincorporated areas and runs the jail. Sonora has its own police. Tuolumne stands out because it has an online inmate search through CitizenRIMS. You can look up people in custody without calling the jail. This makes it easier than many rural counties to find arrest information.

Tuolumne County Online Inmate Search

Tuolumne County has an online inmate search tool. The sheriff uses CitizenRIMS software. You can access it at tcso.citizenrims.com. Search for people currently in the county jail.

The database shows who is in custody. You can search by name. Results include booking dates, charges, and bail amounts. The system updates as bookings happen. This is free to use. No account needed.

Having online access sets Tuolumne apart from many small counties. Rural areas often lack the budget for web tools. Tuolumne invested in CitizenRIMS to make jail data public. This transparency helps families find loved ones. It also lets the public see who has been booked.

Note: The online system shows current inmates only, not historical arrest records.

Tuolumne County Sheriff Arrest Records

The Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency. They patrol most of the county. The jail is in Sonora. Call them for inmate questions the website does not answer.

For arrest record copies, contact the records unit. The California Public Records Act covers what can be released. Some files are exempt under Government Code 6254(f). Basic booking data is usually public. Investigation details may be withheld.

The Fair Chance Act affects employers in Tuolumne County. They cannot ask about criminal history on job applications. This state law applies to businesses with five or more employees. It gives people with arrests a fairer shot at jobs.

Contact the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office:

• Address: 28 N. Lower Sunset Drive, Sonora, CA 95370
• Phone: (209) 533-5815
• Jail: (209) 533-7270

Tuolumne Superior Court Criminal Cases

Tuolumne Superior Court handles criminal cases in the county. The courthouse is in Sonora. When an arrest leads to charges, the case goes there. Court records show what happened after booking.

Did the DA file charges? What were the charges? How did the case end? Court files have answers. You can look up convictions, dismissals, and pleas. Sentencing info is there too. This connects arrest data to legal outcomes.

Visit the clerk's office to search cases. Some records may be online through California courts. In person visits give you access to full files. The clerk can make copies. Fees apply for certified copies.

Contact the Tuolumne Superior Court:

• Address: 41 W. Yaney Avenue, Sonora, CA 95370
• Phone: (209) 533-5555

California State Criminal History

The California Department of Justice maintains statewide records. This includes arrest data from all 58 counties. Tuolumne reports to the DOJ. For a complete criminal history, the state database is the best source.

To get your own record, do Live Scan fingerprinting. The DOJ fee is $25. Fill out form BCIA 8016RR. Bring it to a Live Scan site. The sheriff may offer this service. Or find one in a larger town nearby. Rolling fees at Live Scan sites run $20 to $65 extra.

Not in California? Mail ink fingerprint cards. Use form FD-258 and form BCIA 8705. Include the $25 fee. Mail to the DOJ in Sacramento. Processing takes weeks. Results come by mail. Questions? Call (916) 227-3849.

VINE California tracks inmates statewide. Register at vinelink.vineapps.com for custody change alerts. The service is free. It works for Tuolumne County and all California counties. Phone registration is available at 1-877-411-5588.

Seal Tuolumne County Arrest Records

Arrests without convictions may be sealed. California Penal Code 851.91 allows petitions to seal. File with Tuolumne Superior Court. A judge reviews your case.

Rules depend on how your case ended. No charges ever filed? Petition right away. Charges dismissed? Wait periods may apply. The judge considers the circumstances. If granted, the arrest gets sealed from most views. Background checks will not show it. Law enforcement keeps access.

Automatic relief is another path. Under Penal Code 851.93, the DOJ reviews records monthly. Some old arrests qualify for relief without petitions. The record stays but gets flagged. Employers should not be told about flagged arrests.

Note: Sealing does not equal expungement. They are different legal processes.

Sonora Arrest Records

Sonora is the county seat and largest town. About 5,000 people live there. It has its own police department. Arrests by Sonora PD go through that agency. The sheriff handles the rest of the county.

Both agencies book inmates into the county jail. Custody questions go to the sheriff. But arrest report copies come from whoever made the arrest. If Sonora PD arrested someone, contact them for the report. If the sheriff made the arrest, contact the sheriff.

No cities in Tuolumne County have over 50,000 population. Sonora is the largest but still small. Other communities like Groveland and Twain Harte are even smaller. Most areas are unincorporated and served by the sheriff.

Nearby California Counties

Tuolumne County sits in the central Sierra Nevada foothills. For arrest records in surrounding areas, check these nearby counties. Each has its own jail and records system.