Monterey County Arrest Records

In Monterey County, California, arrests are made when law enforcement officers have probable cause to believe that an individual has committed a crime or when an arrest warrant is issued by one of the county's courts. Individuals arrested in Monterey County are usually held at the Monterey County Jail, operated by the Monterey County Sheriff's Office.

The Monterey County Sheriff's Office is responsible for generating arrest records. These records are part of the public record system and can be accessed in conjunction with Monterey County Court Records, which can be used for various purposes, including legal proceedings, background checks, and public safety.

Are Arrest Records Public in Monterey County?

Yes, under California’s Public Records Act, arrest records are generally available to the public. However, some records are exempt from public disclosure, such as those related to ongoing investigations, juvenile cases, and sensitive information cases. Arrest records can be requested based on the California Public Records Act Requests, which gives every person the right to access public records in the physical custody of the Secretary of State.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The following information may be found in arrest records in Monterey County.

• First & Last Name
• Date of Birth, Sex
• Current Address, Date of Arrest
• List of Charges (this may include the Indictment, Complaint, and particular statutes violated)
• Current Disposition of the Case & Brief Explanation
• Sentence Length (if applicable), Attorney of Record
• Appeals & Motions and Bail (including amount).

Monterey County Arrest Statistics

In 2021, Monterey County recorded daily incarceration of 800 people in county jail and 1380 in the state prison system. In 2021, law enforcement agencies made 9,511 arrests and 9,408 county jail admissions and sentenced 474 people to State Prison.

Find Monterey County Arrest Records

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Records Division is the repository, retrieval, and records management center for all booking records and official incident reports for the County’s unincorporated areas. All booking records for Monterey County are maintained in the Records Division. Release of booking records is limited. For any questions, please call (831) 755-3700.

Inquirers will find Monterey County arrest records through local law enforcement agencies. For instance, the county sheriff’s office hosts an online daily arrest patrol log. Inquirers can also obtain Monterey arrest records in person by visiting the county sheriff’s office at:

1414 Natividad Road
Salinas, CA 93906
Phone: (831) 755-3700

Monterey County criminal records provide information on criminal convictions and charges. However, some criminal records may not be accessible to the general public. Only the record subject and authorized entities can access the records.

Inquirers will find criminal records under the purview of the California Department of Justice. As the record custodian, the agency allows fingerprint-based requests for criminal records. In-state requesters can access the records by taking these steps:

1. Print and fill out the criminal record request form in English or Spanish.
2. Present the form and get fingerprinted at the nearest Livescan location or law enforcement agency.

The agency will forward the fingerprint and completed form to the DOJ. Upon processing the request, the DOJ will send the criminal record to the applicant’s provided mailing address.

In contrast, out-of-state requesters can obtain the records by sending a mail request to the DOJ at:

California Department of Justice
Bureau of Criminal Identification and Analysis
Record Review & Challenge Section
P.O. Box 160207
Sacramento, CA 95816-0207

The mail request must include a completed fingerprint card and a Form BCIA 8705 in English or Spanish. In addition, the request must include the required fee as a money order or check made payable to the California Department of Justice.

Free Arrest Record Search in Monterey County

Law enforcement agencies allow individuals to view arrest information online for free. Many of these resources are inmate search databases that do not provide official or in-depth arrest records. Individuals may be restricted to viewing basic arrest details, such as the name and description of the arrestee, charges, and incarceration status. It is important to note that people seeking arrest information on individuals who were not charged or convicted may have to contact the police department that made the arrest. That is because details of such arrests may have been expunged or do not exist online.

Free arrest records in Monterey County can be found through local law enforcement agencies like the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Records Division and can also be accessed from the Criminal Court records in Monterey County.

If the applicant has relevant information on the records, Monterey County also provides an online source to search for such records for free. Other third-party websites can also be used to access arrest records from Monterey County.

Monterey County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Criminal records are official documents on individuals' criminal histories within the county. They encompass arrest records and documents relating to the prosecution, conviction, and incarceration of individuals for criminal offenses. However, Monterey County arrest records are law enforcement documents containing information on the arrest of persons who commit arrestable offenses. Genesee County criminal records are public documents. However, the law exempts public access to some criminal records.

Monterey County criminal records provide information on criminal convictions and charges. Criminal records are not accessible to the general public; only the record subject and authorized entities can access the records. Inquirers will find criminal records under the purview of the California Department of Justice. As the record custodian, the agency allows fingerprint-based requests for criminal records.

Monterey County arrest records can be found through local law enforcement agencies. For instance, the county sheriff’s office hosts an online daily arrest patrol log. Inquirers can also obtain Monterey arrest records in person by visiting the county sheriff’s office at:

1414 Natividad Road
Salinas, CA 93906
Phone: (831) 755-3700

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrests can remain on your record forever unless you get the record expunged. However, A recently updated 2018 law, Senate Bill 393, The CARE Act, now makes it easier to get your record sealed in California.

Expunge Monterey County Arrest Records

An expungement is a dismissal of a previous conviction. Under Penal Code §1203.4, an expungement may be granted if a person was granted and successfully completed probation and all classes if mandated. This includes payment in full of all fines and restitution.

Penal Code §1203.4a provides similar relief to a person convicted of a misdemeanor but wasn’t granted probation. Relief is available under this section at any time after the lapse of one year from the date of sentencing, provided the person (i) fully complied with and performed the sentence of the court, (ii) is not presently serving a sentence, (iii) is not presently charged with any crime, and (iv) has, since being sentenced, lived an honest and upright life.

Felonies deemed wobblers (offenses that may be charged as misdemeanors or felonies) may be reduced to misdemeanors in conjunction with a motion for expungement. Penal Code §17(b) provides such relief in certain cases.

Monterey County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a court order that authorizes law enforcement agents to detain an individual suspected to be a criminal offender. To obtain an arrest warrant, law enforcement agents present evidence to show probable cause to apprehend the suspect. After reviewing the evidence before the court, a judge will grant an arrest warrant if the judge finds reasonable grounds for its issuance.

Do Monterey County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Once issued, Monterey County arrest warrants remain active until executed or recalled by the issuing court. A warrant is typically in writing and contains the nature of the offense, the suspect's name or a reasonable description of the subject of the warrant, the date the warrant was issued, and the judge's signature.