Colusa County Arrest Records

In California, a person may be lawfully arrested by a law enforcement officer when the officer either witnesses them commit a criminal act or has probable cause to believe that the person has committed or is committing a felony.

A person may also be arrested in obedience to a bench or arrest warrant. A warrant is a legal document issued by a judge commanding or authorizing the police to detain the named individual (California Penal Code § 836 PC). A person arrested with a warrant must be presented before a judge or a magistrate within 48 hours.

Following an arrest, the arresting officer officially documents the arrest, the charges, the date and time of the arrest, an incident report, information about the arrestee, their photograph, fingerprint, and DNA. All of the above information makes up the arrest record.

The Colusa County Sheriff's Office is responsible for recording and reporting all arrest records to the courts and State Law Enforcement Agencies. If the case progresses to trial, the county court clerk will file this information as part of the Colusa County Court Records. Records of arrest and prosecution make up a person's criminal history record in California.

Are Arrest Records Public in Colusa County?

Yes. The California Public Records Act provides the right of the public to access the records of the California Government. This Act applies to all state, city, county, and municipal agencies. The CPRA advocates for public examination of law enforcement records, including arrest records, criminal records, and court records in the custody of county and state criminal justice agencies.

The California Public Records Act also addresses the exceptions and the categories of records exempt from the public records law. It explains that where a record is confidential, sealed, or exempt from public disclosure, the custodian shall refuse all requests to access such records. However, when a record request is denied, the custodian must inform the requester of the reason for the denial in writing within a reasonable time.

Records that are exempt from the provisions of CPRA include:

• Information on juvenile offenders
• Records where such disclosure may endanger a confidential informant, witness, or other person's safety
• Records where such disclosure may interfere with law enforcement investigations
• Records where such disclosure may impede an individual's right to a fair trial

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Members of the public may find the following information in the Colusa County public arrest records:

• Arrestee's Identifying Information: The arrestee's full name (first, middle, and last), alias, age, and date of birth.
• Arrestee's Physical Description: Sex, race, height, weight, and color of hair and eyes, mugshot
• Description of the Offense: The offense category (felony, misdemeanor, or traffic) and charge count
• The arrest date, time, and location of the arrest.
• Name of the arresting officer and agency
• Booking ID,
• Holding Facility
• Release date
• Bond amount
• Outstanding warrants

Colusa County Arrest Statistics

Based on arrest statistics obtained from the FBI Crime Data Explorer, Law enforcement agencies in Colusa County, Oklahoma, arrested a total of 479 arrests in 2023, including 382 male offenders and 97 female offenders. The most common crimes in Colusa County in 2023 were drug/narcotic offenses, drug possession, aggravated assault, simple assault, disorderly conduct, and driving under the influence.

Find Colusa County Arrest Records

Researchers and other interested persons can find information about inmates in custody of the state using the California Incarcerated Records and Information Search (CIRIS) site. The CIRIS site provides information on inmates, including their names, CDCR number, age, place of incarceration, date of admission, parole dates, and status (in custody or released). Likewise, information on federal inmates is available online at the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator.

Alternatively, the Colusa County Sheriff's Office has a Records Unit that maintains all required crime and arrest reports and files and prioritizes assisting the public. To find Colusa County arrest records, simply contact or visit the sheriff's office. Inmates arrested in Colusa County are held in the Colusa County Jail. Depending on the offense, they may be transferred to state or federal prison facilities afterward.

Colusa County Sheriff's Office
929 Bridge Street
Colusa, CA 95932
Phone: (530) 458-0200
Fax: (530) 458-4697

Free Arrest Record Search in Colusa County

Members of the public can visit the Colusa Sheriff's Office Records and Reporting Department to request or inspect inmate records and arrest reports. Moreover, the Colusa County Superior Court's website is another way to look up arrest information contained in criminal case court records.

Third-party record search websites are also a good way to find arrest records online. These websites can be accessed online and outside Colusa County, eliminating long waiting and processing times. One downside of using these private sites is the risk of getting incomplete or unreliable information.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In California, arrests remain on a person's record forever. Unless the record owner takes positive steps to expunge the record, it remains public information.

Expunge Colusa County Arrest Records

Per Chapter 5 of the California Penal Code, the following persons are eligible to petition the court to have records of their arrest-related records sealed: A person whose arrest did not result in a conviction because the statute of limitation had lapsed, the charge was dismissed, the arrestee was acquitted, or the conviction occurred but has been vacated or reversed on appeal and all appellate remedies have been exhausted (CA Penal Code § 851.91).

Where a person has been arrested and was not indicted, they may petition the law enforcement agency that executed the arrest and booking process to destroy the records of the arrest (CA Penal Code § 851.8). A copy of the petition shall be served on the prosecuting attorney of the county or city with jurisdiction over the case. If the person is found factually innocent, the law enforcement agency shall seal its records.

Likewise, where a person is charged and found factually innocent in court and acquitted, the judge may order the records in that case to be sealed, with notice to all the parties (CA Penal Code § 851.85). The Department of Justice and any other law enforcement agency shall be notified and thereafter seal their records. They may also request the destruction of copies of the records they have given to any other local, state, or federal body or any organization within California.

Colusa County Arrest Warrants

Per Section 814-829 of the California Penal Code, a magistrate shall issue a warrant for the arrest of the defendant where they are satisfied from the complaint that there are reasonable grounds to believe that an offense has been committed and the defendant committed it.

The law provides that a warrant shall contain the following information: the name of the defendant, the date and time the warrant was issued, the city or county where the warrant was issued, the signature of the magistrate, judge, justice, or other issuing authority, with their title and name of the court or other issuing agency.

A warrant is often issued in place of a summons where the offense charged involves violence or a firearm, where the defendant previously resisted arrest, has one or more outstanding warrants, and there is a reasonable chance that the criminal act will persist and endanger the safety and security of other persons and property.

Do Colusa County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Arrest warrants in California generally do not expire. Colusa County arrest warrants remain active and can be executed years after they are issued. If an individual has a warrant issued, they may be arrested at any time and place. A bench warrant also functions like an arrest warrant. When a person fails to show up at a scheduled court hearing, breaches the terms of their parole, or fails to pay court-mandated fines, the judge may issue a warrant for their arrest. Once a person becomes aware or suspects that a warrant has been issued for their arrest, they are advised to contact an attorney for advice on the most favorable ways to resolve the warrant.