Marin County Arrest Records

An arrest record is a collection of information on a suspect's detainment and interrogation by a law enforcement agency due to an offense committed. This file may contain the individual's personal and contact details, criminal charges, time, place, and date of the arrest. In Marin County, an arrest happens when the police officer has probable cause that an individual has gone against the California State Penal Code.

After the arrest, the suspect will be booked and held in the Marin County Jail until court arraignment or bail release. During this process, the suspect will be questioned, and their fingerprints, pictures, and other important details will be kept on record. However, depending on the offense committed, a suspect may be allowed to leave the jail facility on bail and reappear on the trial date.

When someone is arrested, authorized law enforcement agencies will generate arrest records based on the information gathered. The Marin County Sheriff's Office is responsible for storing and managing arrest or booking logs in the county. While individuals may need to reach out to law enforcement agencies for arrest records, they may also be part of public documents like Marin County Court Records or criminal records in the state.

Are Arrest Records Public in Marin County?

Yes. According to California Government Code Section 6254(f), under the California Public Records Act (CPRA), arrest records are public in Marin County. The law requires law enforcement agencies to allow the public access to certain information in public records. This means that some information included in the arrest record may be available for the public to obtain and inspect for lawful purposes.

However, certain parts of arrest files are private and may be withheld from the public. The California Government Code (section 792.100-7922.210) specifies several exemptions to access these records, including:

• Personal identification details
• Information that may pose a risk to the individual or witness in the record
• Information that may hinder the progress of an ongoing investigation
• All local criminal history information from law enforcement
• Information that may interrupt an individual's fair trial
• Confidential identification details on an informant
• Juvenile identifying information
• Sealed or expunged arrest records

It is possible to access exempt arrest records in Marin County, however, this is with written permission from the subject of the record or under a court order. Note that individuals are only eligible to access non-exempt arrest records upon request from the right law enforcement agency.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

An arrest record in Marin County may contain information about arrests on felonies and misdemeanors, including the following:

• The individual's name, contact details, date of birth, sex, race, height, weight, and hair and body marks
• The type of offense, the statute of law violated, and the circumstances surrounding the arrest
• The arrest date, time, and location, and any other active warrants involved
• The photograph, fingerprints, and physical description of the arrestee
• Any past indictment and conviction information on the record.

Marin County Crime Rate

The Marin County Sheriff's Office publishes reported crime data and a data point map representing all reported crimes in the county from January 1, 2018, to date. Each reported crime includes its date/time, approximate location, crime type, and crime classification.

The Marin County District Attorney's Office provides 2021 analytical statistics on adult criminal cases in the county. The data shows that 54% of charges are misdemeanors, 66% are felonies, and 41% are filed misdemeanors.

California law enforcement agencies report crime data to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) as part of the Federal Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCR). This data tracks all violent and property crimes from 2014 to 2023 in all counties, including Marin County. In 2023, the total number of violent crimes recorded was 639, and that of property crimes was 4,047. The most frequent crimes were aggravated assault (428) and larceny theft (2,789).

Marin County Arrest Statistics

In 2022, the county jail booked 5,454 individuals and housed an average of 245 inmates per day. The California Department of Justice also provides arrest statistics for felony, misdemeanor, and juvenile offenses at the county level. In 2023, the total number of arrests for felonies was 1,182, for misdemeanors was 3,416, and for status offenses was 17.

Find Marin County Arrest Records

Individuals interested in finding Marin County arrest records will have to access the Marin County Sheriff's Office in person or online. Upon request, interested individuals can obtain copies of booking logs, mugshots, and other arrest information from the agency, provided they are by the CPRA, 6254 f (1).

The Detention Bureau staff can confirm an arrest, provide details about the charges, and provide bail information. Requesters can also review the Marin County Jail's booking log to find people who have been arrested and booked into the jail in the last 48 hours. The booking log also includes a list of all inmates as of the time of the search.

Marin County Sherrif's Office
1600 Los Gamos Drive
#200 San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: (415) 473-7250

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) offers the California Incarcerated Records and Information Search (CIRIS) tool on the website. This free online tool allows the public to search for inmates in state prisons and facilities at the county level. However, the website is only informational and may not be an official record of the CDCR. Requesters can search for an inmate's personal and booking details using their name and identification CDCR number

Free Arrest Record Search in Marin County

In Marin County, individuals can find arrest records through various law enforcement agencies and resources. However, not all agencies provide these files for free; some may require the requester to pay a fee. Interested individuals can find an arrest record for free using the CDCR Inmate Locator provided by the County Sheriff's Office.

Over time, it may be difficult for individuals to access copies of Marin County arrest records for free from official record keepers. For this reason, individuals may also access Marin County arrest records for free on third-party websites. These websites are not under the state government and usually gather public arrest information from official law enforcement agency resources. Individuals may complete searches for arrest records on these sites using full names, ID numbers, and arrest details.

Get Marin County Criminal Records

A criminal record is a document containing information about criminal court cases. It contains information on both arrests and convictions, including photographs and fingerprints from a criminal investigation. Note that California criminal records do not usually include criminal histories or booking logs because they are under other facilities in the state.

The Marin County Superior Court offers a detailed record of court proceedings that may include information on arrests in the county. It has a court record and exhibits division that allows individuals to obtain public court records and pick up exhibits after a court case. Individuals may request active and disposed court records on criminal cases for public inspection through the Court Records Division. Requests for copies of criminal records are made available by completing and mailing a records request form to the superior court. There is a fee of $0.50 for copies of each court record per page.

Marin County Superior Court
P.O. Box 4988
San Rafael, CA 94913
Attn: Court Records.

The Superior Court also provides access to criminal case information filed after June 20, 2023, through the ePortal. This tool allows users to search for public case and calendar information. However, to access this online portal, users will need to create an account. The Court Records Office does not provide case information or conduct research over the telephone or through email.

County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

When a person is arrested, the law enforcement officer in charge puts down certain information about the arrest and arrestee during bookings. This information contains everything about the arrest, the offense, and the charges, generating an arrest record. However, a criminal record is a list of every crime that an individual eventually gets convicted of as a result of an arrest. In other words, a criminal record is usually formed when a person has gone through the legal system and has either been found innocent or guilty of a crime.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

There is no specific law on how long arrest records should stay on the record. According to Section 851.91 of the California Penal Code, when a person is arrested but never convicted of the crime, the arrest may be removed from their record permanently. If an arrest becomes a conviction, it may remain on a record until the conviction is dismissed. Law enforcement officers work with the schedules set by the law and the various divisions and management in the state. The duration of arrests on a record may also depend on the record retention policy of the agency in charge of the record.

Expunge Marin County Arrest Records

Under Sections 851.8 and 851.91 of the California Penal Code, individuals may file for expungement of arrest and criminal records in Marin County. Expungement or dismissal of conviction is an order that shows an individual no longer owes the criminal justice system. This means that the individual's criminal history cannot hinder them from certain opportunities.

Any individual who was convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, has completed probation, is not currently serving a sentence for any offense, and is not charged with the commission of a new offense is eligible for a record dismissal. Furthermore, any individual who, after one year, was convicted of a misdemeanor and not granted probation may apply for an expungement.

There are two forms one will need for the dismissal of conviction in Marin County. Each form can be downloaded from the California Judicial Branch's official website:

• Petition for Dismissal (CR-180)
• Order for Dismissal (CR-181).

If no charges are brought or dropped before trial, the petitioner may submit Form BCIA-8279 and a different form if acquitted or conviction becomes ineffective. According to section 851.8, the petitioner must file within two years of an arrest or the filing of charges.

Alternatively, the Marin County Public Defender can help eligible individuals clear records through a clean slate service application. Interested individuals must fill out the form to begin the Clean Slate process. If the petition is accepted, the individual must wait for at least 90 days for record clearance by the court and the California Department of Justice (DOJ). Note that ineligible persons may have to pay fees to the court for the petition to clear a record.

Marin County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a legal document that allows a law enforcement officer to arrest and detain an individual in the county. The officer must provide probable cause for requesting the warrant, which means that the officer must have concrete reason with evidence that the individual committed criminal activity. In some cases, a grand jury may be summoned to establish whether there is sufficient information to prove that a person committed the alleged offense, leading to indictment.

A judge may issue arrest warrants if a person, place, or vehicle needs to be searched. An arrest warrant is also issued to detain someone who fails to appear in court or obey court orders. A typical warrant contains information such as the suspect's full name, the type of crime involved, the date and time of issuance, and the signature of the issuing court judge.

Marin County Arrest Warrant Search

The Marin County Sheriff's Office, Warrants Division holds and processes warrant services for the law enforcement agencies in Marin County. Warrants held by the Sheriff's Office remain active until they are made ineffective by court order or are served by any California Law Enforcement community member. The types of warrants protected in the Marin County database are criminal, county parole, and Sheriff's orders to arrest.

To search for active warrants in the county, visit the County Sheriff's Official website. The online warrant search tool will require the requester to use information such as full name and birth year to search.

Do Marin County Arrest Warrants Expire?

A Marin County arrest warrant does not expire. It will stay active until either the individual does, the warrant is cleared, the individual is arrested, or the court recalls it. However, if the criminal statute of limitations expires, the case can be dismissed. For instance, in California, the statute of limitations for misdemeanors is usually one year from the time of the offense.