Find Booking Reports in Sierra County

Sierra County booking reports are handled differently from most California counties because there is no jail here. Sierra County does not run its own detention facility. Instead, the county contracts with Nevada County and El Dorado County for jail services. When someone gets arrested in Sierra County, they are transported to one of those partner jails for booking. To search for Sierra County booking records, you may need to check with multiple agencies depending on where the person was held after the arrest.

How Sierra County Booking Records Work

Sierra County is one of the least populated counties in California. The county cannot justify running a full jail, so it pays neighboring counties to hold people who get arrested here. Nevada County and El Dorado County are the two main contract partners. When someone gets arrested by the Sierra County Sheriff's Office, deputies transport the person to one of these contract jails. The booking process happens at the receiving facility. That means the booking report may technically be held by Nevada County or El Dorado County, even though the arrest happened in Sierra County.

This setup can make things confusing if you are trying to find a Sierra County booking report. Start by calling the Sierra County Sheriff's Office at (530) 289-3700. They keep records of arrests made by their deputies. They can tell you where the person was taken for booking. From there you may need to contact the holding facility directly for detailed booking data.

The Sierra County Sheriff-Coroner page has contact information and basic department details.

This is the main web presence for the Sierra County Sheriff's Office where you can find phone numbers and department information.

Where Sierra County Arrestees Are Booked

Nevada County runs the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility in Nevada City. Call (530) 265-1291 to check if someone arrested in Sierra County is held there. Nevada County has an online in-custody list where you can search by name. Keep in mind that the Nevada County system will not show booking numbers or release dates to the public.

El Dorado County is the other option. Their jail in Placerville can be reached at (530) 621-6000. El Dorado County also has a South Lake Tahoe jail at (530) 573-3030. Either facility might hold someone arrested in Sierra County. Ask the Sierra County Sheriff's Office first to narrow down the location. They will know which contract facility received the person after the arrest.

Sierra County Booking Report Laws

Even though Sierra County does not run its own jail, California public records laws still apply to arrests made here. The Public Records Act requires government agencies to provide access to public records upon request. Government Code Section 7923.600 specifically lists the booking information that must be released to the public: full name, charges, bail amount, arrest time, booking time, and custody location. Whether the booking happened in a Sierra County facility or a contract jail, this data is public.

The Sierra County Sheriff's Office keeps its own arrest records even when the booking takes place elsewhere. If you file a records request with the sheriff, they must respond within 10 days under state law. The contracting jail also maintains booking records and is subject to the same rules. You can request information from either agency. For a written copy, expect to pay standard copying fees of about 10 cents per page.

Note: Penal Code Section 13300 restricts full criminal histories, but basic Sierra County booking data remains public.

Track Sierra County Custody Status

The California VINE system covers all 58 California counties, including Sierra County. You can register for free alerts when an offender's custody status changes. VINE sends notifications by phone, email, or text. Since Sierra County contracts with other jails, VINE can be especially useful here. It tracks the offender across facilities so you don't have to call multiple jails to find out if someone has been released or transferred.

For people serving state prison time after a Sierra County conviction, the CIRIS database from CDCR shows their current prison location and parole hearing dates. This is free to use and covers all state prison inmates in California.

Getting Copies of Sierra County Arrest Records

If you need a printed copy of a Sierra County booking report, contact the sheriff's office at (530) 289-3700. Ask about their records request process. Because the actual booking might have been done at a Nevada County or El Dorado County facility, you may also need to contact that facility's records division. California agencies can charge for the cost of copying records. The standard rate is 10 cents a page. Some agencies charge more for certified copies or rush requests.

For a personal criminal history check through the state, the California DOJ Record Review costs $25 and requires Live Scan fingerprints. This gives you your own statewide criminal history, not just one booking report. For a single booking event in Sierra County, the local sheriff's office is the right place to start.

Cities in Sierra County

Sierra County is extremely small. Downieville is the county seat. No cities in Sierra County have a population anywhere close to 100,000. The entire county has fewer than 3,000 residents. All arrests in the area go through the Sierra County Sheriff's Office, with booking at a contract facility in Nevada County or El Dorado County.

Nearby County Booking Reports

Sierra County is bordered by several other northern California counties. Since Sierra County uses contract jails, you may also want to check these neighboring counties for booking records.