Tulare County Arrest Records

Tulare County arrest records give insight into one’s criminal history. Such records are sometimes included in criminal records maintained by the California Department of Justice (DOJ). They may also be included in criminal court records and federal/state agency records. The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office is the primary custodian of Tulare County arrest records. Arrest information may also be featured in Tulare County Court Records.

Under the California Penal Code, law enforcement officers are authorized to arrest individuals found or suspected of committing a crime in Tulare County. After arrest, the arrested individuals undergo a process called “booking”. Booking involves documenting an arrested individual's personal information, alleged crime, fingerprints, and mugshots. It can also be referred to as the creation of an arrest record. After booking, the arrestee is detained in the Tulare County Pre-trial facility until the court trial. The arrestee may be transferred to a detention facility or released depending on the trial's outcome.

Are Arrest Records Public in Tulare County?

According to the California Public Records Act, arrest records are public in Tulare County. However, some Tulare arrest records are exempted from public disclosure per the California Government Code. They include:

• Information that may endanger the safety of parties involved in the investigation
• Information that would compromise an investigation
• Information on the current address of all arrestees
• Information that is withheld due to the victim’s request
• Criminal offender/juvenile record information
• Information that may deprive a suspect of a fair trial
• Information that may showcase an investigating officer's analysis or conclusion
• Medical reports of the victim

Note: Exempted records may be released to the record subject, an attorney, or a government organization if necessary.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Per the California Government Code, public arrest records should contain the following details:

• The arrestee’s personal information (name, date of birth, and occupation)
• The arrestee’s physical description (sex, height, weight, and color of eyes)
• The time, date, and location of the arrest
• The time and date of booking
• Details of incidents that preceded the arrest
• Detention facility where the arrestee is held or the time of release
• Charges the arrestee is currently being tried or investigated for
• The bail amount, if granted
• Other outstanding warrants and probations.

The California Government Code exempts public disclosure of any information listed above if its release would compromise an ongoing investigation or the safety of any party involved in the case.

Tulare County Crime Rate

Crime statistics compiled by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) on the Open Justice portal state that 12,154 crimes were reported in Tulare County in 2022. The most common offense was property crime, with up to 9,876 reported cases (81.26%).

The most prevalent property crime was larceny theft, accounting for 6,228 crime reports (63.1% of property crimes). With 2,136 reports, motor vehicle thefts accounted for 21.6% of property crimes, while burglary accounted for up to 15.3% of property crime reports.

With only 151 reported cases, arson comprised 1.6% of reported crimes in Tulare County in 2022. Violent crimes, on the other hand, accounted for 17.2% of crime reports received by Tulare police departments. Aggravated assault was the most prevalent violent crime in 2022, with up to 1,476 reports, followed by robbery with 383 reports.

Tulare County Arrest Statistics

According to crime statistics compiled by the California Department of Justice, Tulare police departments incarcerated 16,499 people in 2022. Of this number, 10,770 (65.28%) arrests were due to misdemeanors. Up to 33.1% of arrests were made for felonies, including violent offenses (2,390), property crimes (1,231), and drug offenses (592). Tulare police departments made 184 incarcerations for status offenses by juveniles, including habitual truancy and curfew breaking.

Find Tulare County Arrest Records

Tulare County Sheriff’s Office works with six police departments and other law enforcement agencies to maintain law and order. While local law enforcement agencies make the most arrests in the county, federal/state agencies also arrest violators of federal/state laws in Tulare County.

Individuals arrested by Tulare police departments and other local agencies are detained in the pre-trial facility before court hearings. If the judge orders a longer detention period, the arrestee is transferred to one of Tulare County jails. To find arrested individuals or arrest records, one can approach the Sheriff’s Office or the arresting agency as most law enforcement agencies maintain records of all arrests made. It is pertinent to provide the following information when making a request:

• The arrestee’s full name
• The date and time of arrest
• The requester’s name and contact information
• A valid ID card

Individuals arrested by federal/state agencies may not be detained in Tulare County jails. However, one can find them through any of the following means:

• You can visit the county sheriff’s office, which is where booking is made for state arrests.
• You can search the Federal Bureau of Prison (BOP) online portal to know where the arrestee is being held.
• You can search for the arrestee on the California Incarcerated Records and Information Search (CIRIS) portal if the arrest was made by a state agency.
• You can also use the inmate locator tool of the arresting agency if it is available.

Free Arrest Record Search in Tulare County

Per the California Public Records Act, anyone can approach law enforcement agencies to request Tulare arrest records. A request for arrest records in Tulare County does not attract any cost. However, a requester may be charged a fee if extra copies of the records are made.

Anyone can approach the Sheriff’s office or the arresting agency to request Tulare public arrest records. You can also conduct a free arrest records search on The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Search portal. This online portal provides free access to public arrest records of inmates held in Tulare County jails. Notably, some details may not be released to third parties if the arrestee is a juvenile or has already been released.

Apart from the sheriff’s office, you can conduct an arrest records search on third-party websites. Though these websites are managed by private parties, they tend to compile arrest records from different counties for requesters. However, their services may not be free, and you may be required to subscribe or pay a fee before arrest records are released.

Get Tulare County Criminal Records

Tulare County criminal records or criminal history records contain a history of all of an individual’s contact with the criminal justice system in Tulare County. They provide details of arrests, court dispositions, probations, and pending warrants. Per the California Penal Code, Tulare criminal records are not public records. Hence, they are only disclosable to the record subject, individuals with the subject’s consent, law enforcement agencies, and certain employers.

Record subjects can obtain their local criminal history records from the Tulare sheriff’s office. To do this, you must submit a completed Criminal History Request Form to the sheriff’s office via email. You must also include a check or payment of the $20 application fee. Notably, the sheriff’s office will request to see a valid ID before the records are released to requesters.

Residents can approach the California Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain state criminal history records. The DOJ requires California residents to submit a Live Scan fingerprint before requests are processed. Non-residents are also required to submit manual fingerprint cards (Form FD258). Further information on submitting the required fingerprints and obtaining criminal records from the DOJ is available on the DOJ website.

Alternatively, inquirers can forward a written request to the Criminal Justice Information Services Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Requests can be submitted online or via mail and should include proof of payment of the application fee ($18).

Tulare County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Though some individuals use the terms “arrest records” and “criminal records” interchangeably, they are dissimilar.

Tulare arrest records are maintained by arresting law enforcement agencies. They contain details of a subject’s current information, reasons for arrest, incident reports, and the outcome of the arrest. Arrest records are public records, and they can be accessed by the public at no cost.

On the other hand, Tulare criminal records provide a list of all crimes an individual has been suspected or convicted of. This includes details of the subject’s background, arrest records, court dispositions, active arrest warrants, and jail records. Criminal records are not public records. Therefore, they are only released to record subjects and authorized parties.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

California laws do not have a specific expiration date for arrests on one’s records. However, law enforcement agencies in California have record retention schedules that vary among them. The California DOJ holds custody of the state’s criminal files and retains these records until a subject turns 100 years old. In Tulare County, the best way to remove an arrest from one's record is to obtain an expungement or sealing.

Expunge Tulare County Arrest Records

Tulare arrest records can be sealed or expunged. However, both processes are distinct. Record sealing refers to withdrawing a record from public access. Expungement, on the other hand, refers to deleting a record.

Per the California Penal Code, individuals arrested but not convicted can file a Petition to Seal Arrest and Related Records using Form CR-409. Similarly, the DOJ can seal the arrest records of factually innocent individuals or individuals whose charges were dismissed. Interested individuals are required to complete Form BCIA 8270 and follow the instructions on the DOJ website.

Subjects who have completed their probation can file a petition for the case to be reopened using Form CR-180. When granted, the individual can withdraw their plea, the conviction will be dismissed, and the record expunged.

You can petition the Tulare Juvenile Court to seal juvenile records using the Juvenile Expungement Form. You should note that you can only petition when you turn 18, and the records will be expunged after five years of sealing. You can get more information on records sealing on the California Judiciary Clean Your Records page.

Tulare County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is an official document a judge/magistrate issues to authorize a peace officer to arrest an individual. Arrest warrants are often issued before a peace officer makes an arrest. However, the California Penal Code authorizes a peace officer to make a warrantless arrest if there is probable cause.

According to the California Penal Code, all Tulare arrest warrants must contain the following information:

• The name of the arrestee
• The time of issuance
• The location of issuance
• The signature and title of the judge/magistrate
• The name of the issuing court

Tulare County Arrest Warrant Search

Members of the public can search for pending warrants in Tulare County using various options. For instance, residents can approach the Tulare County Sheriff’s office with a name, and a warrant search will be conducted. You can also check the sheriff’s Most Wanted List to determine if the subject is wanted by the police departments.

Alternatively, you can request criminal court records from the Tulare County Superior Court. Criminal court records often contain details of court dispositions, including active warrants related to a case.

You can also request criminal history records from the California DOJ to get a list of all pending warrants.

Do Tulare County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Tulare arrest warrants do not expire until the subject dies, is apprehended, or the warrant is recalled.