Modoc County Booking Report Access

Modoc County booking reports come from the county jail in Alturas, the most remote county seat in California. The jail has a total capacity of just 48 beds, making it one of the smallest in the state. There is no online inmate search tool for Modoc County at this time. If you want to find booking records here, you need to call the jail or visit the sheriff's office in person. Despite the small size, Modoc County follows the same California public records laws that apply to every county. Booking data is public and the sheriff must provide it when asked.

How to Get Modoc County Booking Records

Call the Modoc County Jail at (530) 233-4416 to check on someone in custody. Have the person's full name and date of birth ready. Jail staff can confirm whether that person is booked in Modoc County and tell you the charges and bail amount. The jail address is 102 South Court Street in Alturas. You can go in person during business hours to make a records request.

California's statewide VINE system is a helpful backup resource when checking on people in Modoc County custody.

VINE lets you register for free custody alerts in any California county, including Modoc County.

Modoc County does not have a public online booking database. You won't find a website where you type in a name and get instant jail results. The county is very small, and the low volume of bookings hasn't pushed them to build one. For people who live far away, calling the jail is the fastest and most practical way to get Modoc County booking information. If you need a formal written copy of a booking report, send a records request to the Modoc County Sheriff's Office. They must respond within 10 days under state law.

Modoc County Jail Booking Process

The Modoc County Jail processes bookings for all arrests that happen in the county. With only 48 beds, it is one of the smallest county jails in California. Deputies arrest someone, bring them to the jail, and corrections staff handle the booking. They record the person's name, date of birth, physical traits, charges, and the time of both the arrest and the booking. They take fingerprints and a photo. All of this creates the Modoc County booking report. It is a public record from the start.

Modoc County sits in the far northeastern corner of California. The population is under 10,000 for the whole county. Alturas is the only incorporated city. The jail does not deal with the volume that bigger counties do. But the same rules apply. Every person booked goes through the same process. Every report is a public record. The only difference is scale.

Legal Rules for Modoc County Bookings

The California Public Records Act applies to Modoc County the same as it does to Los Angeles or San Francisco. Government Code Section 7923.600 lists the booking data that must be made public: full name, charges, bail, arrest time, booking time, and the facility where the person is held. The Modoc County Sheriff cannot refuse a legitimate records request for this information.

A booking report from Modoc County is different from a criminal history. Under Penal Code Section 13300, full criminal histories are restricted. You need authorization or a personal request through the California DOJ with fingerprints and a $25 fee to get a full criminal record. But a single booking report showing one arrest in Modoc County is public and can be shared with anyone.

Note: Arrests that did not lead to conviction can potentially be sealed under Penal Code Section 851.91, removing the booking report from public access.

Statewide Resources for Modoc County

Register with California VINE to track custody changes in Modoc County without calling the jail. VINE sends alerts by phone, email, or text when an offender is released or moved. This is free and covers all California counties. For someone who went to state prison after a Modoc County conviction, the CIRIS search tool from CDCR will show their current prison location and hearing schedule.

For your own criminal history, the DOJ Record Review process gives you a copy of your statewide record for $25. This is separate from local Modoc County booking reports. The two serve different purposes and come from different sources.

Modoc County Record Copy Fees

Phone inquiries to the Modoc County jail cost nothing. If you want a printed copy of a booking report, the sheriff may charge a copying fee. The standard rate in California is 10 cents per page for duplicating records. Certified copies typically cost more. Contact the Modoc County Sheriff's Office at (530) 233-4416 for their specific fee schedule.

Cities in Modoc County

Alturas is the county seat and the only incorporated city in Modoc County. No cities here have a population over 100,000. The whole county has fewer than 10,000 residents. All arrests lead to booking at the county jail in Alturas. For booking data, the jail phone is (530) 233-4416.

Nearby County Booking Reports

Modoc County is in the far northeast corner of California. It borders Oregon and Nevada. If you are unsure the arrest happened in Modoc County, check these nearby counties.