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  2. Stanislaus County Arrest Records

Stanislaus County, California Arrest Records

Stanislaus County arrest records are official documents that provide comprehensive details about local arrests by local law enforcement agencies. Examples of these agencies include the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office and municipal police departments, such as the Modesto Police Department, Oakdale Police Department, e.t.c. 

Stanislaus County arrest records are crucial components used in creating specific offical records, such as a subject’s local and state criminal history records, compiled by government entities. However, the California Public Records Act (CPRA) governs the release of arrest records. In contrast, the release of local and state criminal history records is strictly controlled by the California Penal Code (PEN) § 11105. 

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Stanislaus, California?

The California Government Code (GC) §§ 7920.000 - 7931.000 establishes the public’s right to access government records unless there is a privacy or public safety exemption. GC §§ 7923.600 to 7923.805 specifically cover public access to law enforcement agencies' records, including arrest records. As a result, most arrest records in Stanislaus County are considered public. 

The CPRA applies to every person and imposes no residency requirements for requesting public records. Additionally, there are no identification requirements. Thus, record seekers are typically not required to show any form of identification to access public arrest records. However, requests for confidential records are subject to identification requirements.     

What Do Public County Arrest Records Contain?

Public Stanislaus County arrest records usually feature the following information: 

  • The arrestee’s full name and physical description
  • Arrest details, including the arrest date, time, and arresting agency
  • Booking date, time, and number 
  • Arrest location
  • Charges 
  • The set bail amount (if applicable)

Notwithstanding, state and local law enforcement agencies are permitted to restrict public access to arrest information and records under the CPRA. If disclosing the record would endanger the safety of a person involved in an active investigation or compromise its completion. Certain arrest records may also be completely exempted from public access under specific laws or court orders. These include, but are not limited to: 

Stanislaus County, California Arrest Search

Interested persons may obtain criminal history records from the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and review them to find Stanislaus County arrest information. Criminal history records, also known as Rap Sheets, contain arrests and corresponding disposition information on individuals that criminal justice agencies and officials across California, including Stanislaus County, have submitted to the DOJ. Individuals may conduct a fingerprint-based background check through the DOJ to request a criminal history record. However, these records are considered confidential and releasable only to eligible parties, such as the record’s subject, and for law enforcement and regulatory purposes (i.e., employment and license screenings). 

Individuals may request a copy of their criminal history records from the DOJ by submitting their fingerprint card and paying a $25 proceessing fee. However, the general process of making these requests differs depending on whether the applicant is a California resident or an out-of-state resident.  

California Residents

California Residents must submit Live Scan fingerprints using the BCIA 8016RR (also available in Spanish). Fortunately, the DOJ provides instructions (also available in Spanish) detailing how to complete the Live Scan Form. Applicants must complete the personal information section of the form and take it to any Live Scan site for fingerprinting services. They may utilise the DOJ’s Live Scan Locations directory to find providers in Stanislaus County. There are 25 Live Scan fingerprinting locations in Stanislaus County alone, including those operated by local law enforcement agencies. Note that applicants are usually charged a fee for fingerprinting services, which varies by provider. 

Out of State Residents

Out-of-state residents may submit their requests using the application to obtain a copy of the State Summary Criminal History Record (Form BCIA 8705), which is also available in Spanish. They may contact the local law enforcement agencies for fingerprinting services. Their fingerprint card must contain their personal information, including full name, date of birth, sex, and return mailing address. After obtaining their fingerprint card, they must manually submit it along with other required items to the DOJ. Completed application, fingerprint card, and processing fee must be mailed to: 

California Department of Justice 

Bureau of Criminal Identification and Analysis 

Record Review & Challenge Section 

PO BOX 160207 

Sacramento, CA 95816-0207

Another way to find Stanislaus County arrest information is through online resources provided by certain state and federal agencies. This is generally applicable if an individual was arrested in Stanislaus County but held in state or federal custody. For instance, interested persons may use the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Incarcerated Records and Information Search (CIRIS) website to search for public information about state inmates, including arrest information. Similarly, individuals may use the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator portal to search for a federal inmate’s arrest information. 

Stanislaus County Inmate Locator

Interested persons may use the Who's in Jail portal provided by the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office to search and access public information about local adult detention facilities. It is a free portal searchable by an inmate’s name, date of birth, or 7-digit booking number. Results may also be filtered down by facility and booking date. Typical public information about county inmates that is accessible through the Who’s in Jail portal includes, but is not limited to: 

  • The inmate’s full name
  • Booking number
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Arresting agency 
  • Arresting time
  • Detention facility
  • Booking date
  • Release date
  • Charges 

Further inquiries about county inmates may be directed to the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office at: 

250 E. Hackett Rd., 

Modesto, CA 95358

Phone: (209) 552-2468

Active Warrant Search in Stanislaus County

An arrest warrant is a court order that directs a peace officer(s) to apprehend a specific individual. In Stanislaus County, an arrest warrant may be issued by a judge, magistrate, or justice after a police officer or an investigator files a complaint showing sufficient probable cause that a defendant has committed an offense. An arrest warrant may also be issued pursuant to a grand jury indictment. According to California Penal Code § 815, a legally valid arrest warrant must contain the following information:

  • The defendant’s name or any name if their name is unknown
  • The defendant’s alleged offense
  • The issuance date and time
  • The city or county of issuance
  • The issuing authority’s signature and their office title
  • The name of the court or other issuing agency

There are no official dedicated portals provided by relevant agencies in Stanislaus County that allow users to look up active warrants. Nonetheless, interested persons may find information about active warrants by contacting local law enforcement agencies, such as the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office. Alternatively, they use the Stanislaus County Superior Court's Case Search portal or visit the local courthouse to review court records for information about an arrest warrant that may have been issued in a case.

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Stanislaus County

Record seekers may use the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s office Who’s in jail portal to find arrest information for free. The portal is searchable by subject’s name, date of birth, or 7-digit booking number. However, it only provides information about current county inmates. 

Notwithstanding, some municipal police departments also provide free online resources containing information about arrests they conducted. These resources are usually accessible through the agency’s official website. An example is the Oakdale Police Department’s Media Releases. 

Note: free resources only provide basic arrest information, and confidential arrest records are generally unavailable through them. To access comprehensive or confidential arrest records, interested individuals must submit a written or in-person request to the appropriate agency. Such requests are typically subject to a nominal fee, and requesters must provide a valid photo ID for proper identification. 

Stanislaus County Arrest Report

In Stanislaus County, arrest records and arrest reports are separate yet related offical documents, each serving a different purpose. An arrest record is a brief entry logged in a criminal justice database that documents basic details about an arrest. These details include, but are not limited to, an arrestee’s name, arrest date and time, charge(s), and arresting agency information. 

On the other hand, an arrest report is a detailed narrative prepared by an arresting officer following an arrest. It generally contains the officer's factual account of the circumstances surrounding an arrest, from its inception to the arrestee’s booking.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Stanislaus County

Under California state laws, arrest records in Stanislaus County may be eligible for expungement or sealing. Expungement is a legal process that removes and destroys a criminal record. Sealing a record, by contract, hides and restricts public access to a criminal record without destroying it. Although sealed records are inaccessible to the public, they remain available to criminal justice agencies.

In Stanislaus County, an individual may petition for arrest record expungement under California Penal Code §§ 1203.4 or 17. These codes outline the statutory requirement for a record to qualify for expungement. Individuals with eligible records may utilize the Stanislaus County Superior Court’s Expungement Packet to petition for a record expungement. The packet contains the required expungement petition form(s) and detailed filing instructions.  

On the other hand, an arrest record may be eligible for sealing under California Penal Code §§ 851.8 or 851.91. Generally, arrests that resulted in an adult defendant being found “factually innocent” may be eligible for sealing under Cal. Pen. Code § 851.8. A defendant may be deemed "factually innocent” if they were arrested but never charged, acquitted at trial, or had their charge(s) withdrawn by the prosecutor. Eligible individuals may use the Form BCIA 8270 to petition to seal their arrest record under Cal. Pen. Code § 851.8. The form must be completed and submitted to the following places: 

  • The arresting law enforcement agency provided that no charges were filed
  • The city or district attorney’s office of the place where the defendant was arrested 
  • The Stanislaus County Superior Court provided that the defendant was charged but later acquitted or had their charges dismissed.     

Meanwhile, arrests that never resulted in a conviction may be eligible for sealing under Cal. Pen. Code § 851.91. In this case, eligible defendants may file a petition to seal records using Form CR-409. The accompanying Form CR-409 INFO contains detailed instructions on completing and filing the petition form.

Note: There are no filing fees for submitting a petition to seal or expunge an arrest record. The California Judiciary provides a Guide to Sealing Juvenile Court Records.

How Do You Remove Stanislaus County Arrest Records From the Internet?

A foolproof way for record holders to ensure their Stanislaus County arrest records are removed from the internet is to petition to seal or expunge the records. After successfully petitioning, those who have eligible arrest records may be issued a court order expunging or sealing their records. This court order may be provided when necessary to government or private entities to compel them to remove their affected records from their online databases. These entities are legally required to comply with the court order. 

California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) also grants California residents and consumers the right to opt out of businesses that expose their personal records online. As a result,  most third-party aggregator websites provide opt-out request forms that interested persons can complete and submit to request the removal of their records from their online database.