Lake County Arrest Records

In Lake County, arrests are legal procedures for restricting the movement of suspected offenders. Law enforcement officers mostly conduct arrests when there’s sufficient evidence that an individual violated state or federal statutes. Officers may arrest offenders with or without an arrest warrant. Arrested persons in Lake County are temporarily detained at the county detention center.

Law enforcement agencies are mostly responsible for generating Lake County arrests records. Citizens may access the record by submitting a request to such agencies. In addition to this, citizens may find arrest information in Lake County court records, criminal records history, and incarceration data.

Note: Some persons may be arrested to prevent potential harm to property or lives.

Are Arrest Records Public in Lake County?

Yes, most arrest records are publicly accessible in Lake County. Under the California Public Records Act, the public can legally inspect and obtain records from designated public entities. In turn, the entities must allow inspection of public records during office hours. The agencies may also provide online avenues for accessing such records.

However, state laws restrict access to certain arrest information. Per Government Code Section 6255, public entities have the right to withhold arrest information that may violate an individual’s right to privacy or safety. Exempt records in this category include the following:

• Law enforcement personnel’s information
• Crime victims’ and witnesses’ data.
• Medical-related files and information that were collated during investigations.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Citizens may find the following information in Lake County’s public arrest records:

• Arrestee’s name, aliases, and physical features like sex, age, ethnicity, eye color, and height.
• Arresting agency
• Arrest location and date.
• Arrest charges
• Bail amount
• Booking information.

Lake County Arrest Statistics

Lake County’s law enforcement agencies conducted 2,691 arrests in 2023, according to California’s Department of Justice. Misdemeanor and felony arrests were 2,000 and 691, respectively.

According to the Lake County sheriff’s office, the county detention center has an average daily population of 828 inmates.

Find Lake County Arrest Records

Interested parties can find Lake County arrest information in public documents like inmate records. The records contain arrest details, such as the arrestee’s name, charges, booking date, and arresting agency. Furthermore, the records are publicly accessible through local, state, and federal agencies.

At the local level, the Lake County Sheriff’s office maintains an online database of arrestees and current detainees in the detention center. To use the database, users must type in the record subject’s first and last name.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Center also features an online search portal for accessing inmate records. Inquirers using the portal must provide the inmate’s name or prison-identifying number.

Likewise, online inmate information is obtainable through the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ inmate locator. The platform features information on inmates incarcerated in federal penal institutions. To access Lake County arrest information, inquirers may use the name or prison number search option.

The Lake County sheriff’s office also allows in-person inquiries or orders for arrest records. Record seekers must request the records in person during office hours at:

The Lake County Sheriff's Office

1220 Martin Street
P.O. Box 489
Lakeport, CA 95453
Phone: (707) 262-4200

Free Arrest Record Search in Lake County

Inquirers can conduct free searches for Lake County arrest records via government-owned search sites and other resources. The following sites provide access to free arrest records:

• Lake County Sheriff’s online inmate inquiry platform
• The CDCR’s inmate search platform
• The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ inmate locator.

Likewise, third-party search sites provide free access to arrest records generated in Lake County. Such sites may disclose arrest information in criminal and inmate records. However, inquirers must be cautious while using such sites since they are mostly unregulated and may not offer accurate data.

Lake County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

In Lake County, arrest records are not the same as criminal records. Although both records feature crime-related data, they are different in terms of content, creation process, and custodian agencies.

Lake County arrest records may include arrest details like the arrestee's name, charges, booking date, and bail amount. In contrast, criminal records comprise arrest information, court indictments, dispositions, and incarceration information.

Based on the record creation process, law enforcement agencies create arrest records after conducting an arrest. However, criminal records are generated after an arrest leads to a court conviction.

Record seekers will mostly find arrest records through local law enforcement agencies, while the California Department of Justice is the custodian of criminal records.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Lake County arrest records will remain on record unless the record subject expunges or seals them. Note that there are legal requirements and procedures for sealing or expunging such records.

Expunge Lake County Arrest Records

In Lake County, arrestees can expunge or seal arrest records by filing a petition with a court of competent jurisdiction. Upon receiving the petition, the court will determine if the petitioner is eligible to expunge the records. The court may grant the petition after reviewing the circumstances about the arrests.

Who can expunge arrest records in California?

Under Penal Code Section 851.91, you are eligible to expunge arrest records if:

• You were arrested, but no charges were filed.
• You were arrested and charged but later acquitted by the courts.
• The statute of limitation for the arrest has elapsed.
• You went to trial but were not found guilty.

However, you are not eligible for arrest records in the following circumstances:

• You may still be charged with any of the offenses.
• You intentionally evaded arrests.
• You evaded arrests by committing identity fraud.

How to expunge arrest records in Lake County?

You can expunge Lake County arrest records via these procedures:

1. Fill out a Petition to Seal Arrest and Related Records (CR-409) form.
2. File the petition in person with the Lake County superior court at:

95 North Park Place
Painesville, OH 44077
Phone: (440) 350-2222

1. File a copy of the petition with the Lake County prosecuting attorney’s office and the law enforcement agency that created the record.
2. The court will review the petition and consider the following factors:

• How the arrest record has caused hardship to the petitioner.
• Evidence or declarations about the petitioner’s moral conduct.
• The petitioner’s conviction record.

The court may grant the petition if the petitioner fulfills the set requirements. Within 30 days after the hearing, the court will issue an expungement order to the prosecuting attorney and law enforcement agency.

Lake County Arrest Warrants

Lake County arrest warrants are court orders that authorize the arrest of persons suspected of violating the law. Magistrates may issue arrest warrants after receiving a complaint from law enforcement officers. Note that the magistrate will only issue warrants if there’s sufficient evidence that a crime was committed.

Under Penal Code Section 813-8829, arrest warrants issued in Lake County may include the following details:

• The defendant’s name and identifying features.
• Arrest warrant issuance date and location.
• Date and time when the warrant was issued
• The county and court that issued the warrant.
• Arrest charges and description.

Do Lake County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Lake County arrest warrants do not have an expiration date. Instead, the warrant will remain active until the offender gets arrested or the court clears the warrant. Note that the statute of limitations does not affect the validity of an arrest warrant.