Modesto Booking Records

Modesto booking reports are processed through the Stanislaus County jail system. As the county seat and largest city in Stanislaus County, Modesto sees a steady stream of arrests and bookings throughout the year. The Modesto Police Department handles arrests in the city, while the county sheriff runs the jail and booking process. You can search for Modesto booking reports through the sheriff's online inmates list or contact the police department's records unit for arrest reports. This page covers the details of how to find, request, and understand Modesto booking records.

Stanislaus County Manages Modesto Bookings

Stanislaus County operates the jail where people arrested in Modesto get booked. The sheriff's department processes each booking and creates the official record. When the Modesto Police Department makes an arrest, the person is taken to the county facility. The sheriff's staff records the name, date of birth, charges, bail amount, and all other booking details. This data enters the county system and becomes available through the sheriff's search tools.

The Stanislaus County Sheriff runs a Who's in Jail list on its website. This shows everyone currently in county custody. The report updates about every 10 minutes so the data stays fresh. You can see who was booked in Modesto or anywhere else in Stanislaus County. The online list only shows people currently in custody at the time you check it. Once someone is released, they drop off the list. For historical Modesto booking reports, you need to submit a records request directly to the sheriff's office.

Call the main detention line at (209) 525-5630 for phone inquiries about Modesto bookings.

Modesto Police Department Records Unit

The Modesto Police Department has its own records division. Call (209) 572-9580 to request copies of arrest reports, incident reports, or other police records from within city limits. The arrest report is the police department's document. It covers what the officer saw and did. The booking report is the county's document. It covers the jail intake process. These are two separate records from two separate agencies.

Most people looking for Modesto booking data start with the county sheriff's online tool. It is free and instant. If the online list does not have what you need, the next step is to call the police department's records unit or visit in person. The Modesto Police can point you in the right direction if you are not sure which agency holds the record you need. They deal with these kinds of requests regularly.

Legal Access to Modesto Booking Reports

California's Public Records Act protects your right to see Modesto booking reports. Under Government Code Section 7920.000, the public can request records from any government agency. The Stanislaus County Sheriff must respond within 10 days. Government Code Section 7923.600 specifically requires release of booking data: name, physical description, date of birth, arrest time, booking time, charges, bail, and custody location. None of this can be withheld for Modesto bookings under normal circumstances.

Penal Code Section 13300 defines local criminal history information maintained by agencies like the Stanislaus County Sheriff. Basic booking data from Modesto is public. Full criminal histories that cover all of a person's past arrests are restricted. If you want your own complete criminal record, you must submit fingerprints through the California DOJ and pay $25. For a single Modesto booking report, the county sheriff's resources are all you need.

Note: The 10-day response window applies to formal written requests, not necessarily to online searches which are available immediately.

Statewide Resources for Modesto Booking Data

California's legislature sets the rules that govern booking report access across the state. The laws that apply to Modesto booking reports are the same ones that cover every other city and county in California.

You can look up the exact text of any California statute on the state legislature's website. This is useful if you need to cite the law when making a records request for Modesto booking data.

The California VINE system covers Stanislaus County. You can register for free custody alerts on anyone booked in Modesto. VINE sends notifications by phone, email, or text when the person's status changes. The CDCR Inmate Search covers anyone who went from county jail to state prison. Both tools work at the state level and supplement the county sheriff's local search for Modesto bookings.

Sealing Modesto Arrest Records

Modesto arrests that did not result in conviction can be sealed under Penal Code Section 851.91. File a petition with the Stanislaus County Superior Court. If the court grants it, the booking report from Modesto will be sealed and removed from public view. People found factually innocent can seek record destruction under Penal Code Section 851.8 after a three-year seal period.

Sealing a Modesto booking record means it will not show up in the county sheriff's inmate search or in standard background checks. The process is not automatic. You must file the petition and the judge must approve it. Legal aid organizations in Stanislaus County may be able to help with the paperwork if you cannot afford a private attorney.

Modesto Booking Photos and Social Media

Penal Code Section 13665 limits how police departments and sheriff's offices can share booking photos on social media. For nonviolent crimes, booking photos from Modesto arrests cannot be posted to social media unless there is a public safety reason. If a photo does go up, the agency must take it down within 14 days. This law does not prevent you from requesting a booking photo through official channels. It only limits social media posting by the agencies themselves.

Nearby City Booking Reports

Modesto sits between the Bay Area and the rest of the Central Valley. If the arrest you are looking for happened in a neighboring city, check these pages.