Search San Mateo Recent Arrests

San Mateo recent arrest records are managed by the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. The city has its own police department that handles arrests within city limits, but booking and jail operations run through the county system. You can look up people arrested in San Mateo through the sheriff's criminal records bureau. The county operates Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City, which is where most arrested individuals in San Mateo County end up. Searching for someone who was recently booked is straightforward once you know where to look and who to contact. Several options exist for getting this information quickly.

San Mateo Arrest Records Through the County

When someone is arrested in San Mateo, the booking happens through the San Mateo County jail system. The San Mateo Police Department makes the arrest, but the county sheriff runs the detention facility. Maguire Correctional Facility at 300 Bradford Street in Redwood City is the main jail for the county. That is where booking records are created and stored. The facility phone number is (650) 599-3000. You can call to ask about someone in custody.

The San Mateo County Criminal Records Bureau serves as the custodian of records for the county. All counter services, including report requests, vehicle releases, and clearance letters, are available remotely through fax, email, or mail around the clock. You can email the bureau at sheriffs_recordsrequest@smcgov.org or fax requests to (650) 365-9884. The main phone number is (650) 363-4525. This is the office that handles formal records requests for San Mateo arrests.

Note: Counter services are currently available remotely, so you can submit requests without visiting in person.

How to Find San Mateo Booking Information

There are several ways to get arrest and booking information for San Mateo. The method depends on what you need and how fast you need it. For a quick check on someone currently in custody, calling the jail is the most direct route. For formal records, the email or fax approach works well. Here are your main options for searching San Mateo arrest records.

• Call Maguire Correctional Facility at (650) 599-3000 to ask about current inmates
• Email the Criminal Records Bureau at sheriffs_recordsrequest@smcgov.org
• Fax a records request to (650) 365-9884
• Call the sheriff's records line at (650) 363-4525
• Use the statewide VINE system at 877-411-5588 for custody status updates

The records bureau handles requests for the entire county. San Mateo arrests are included in their database alongside bookings from every other jurisdiction in the county. Response times depend on the type of request. Simple inquiries about current inmates are usually answered the same day. Formal records requests may take longer based on the volume of work the bureau is processing.

San Mateo Arrest Record Disclosure Laws

California requires law enforcement to release certain arrest information to the public. Government Code 7923.610 lists what must be disclosed. This includes the arrested person's full name, occupation, physical description, date of birth, the time and date of the arrest and booking, the arrest location, what happened, the bail amount, release details, and all charges. San Mateo police and the county sheriff must follow this rule. The only exceptions involve safety risks or active investigations.

This law took effect on January 1, 2023. For San Mateo residents looking up recent arrests, basic booking details are public record. You have a right to get this information. The Criminal Records Bureau is where you go when you want to exercise that right through an official request.

The CDCR inmate search database can help you find individuals who have been transferred to the state prison system from San Mateo County.

This tool covers the state prison population. It is separate from the county jail system but useful when someone has been sentenced and transferred out of Maguire Correctional.

Sealing San Mateo Arrest Records

Arrested in San Mateo but never convicted? You may be able to seal that record. Penal Code 851.87 lets people petition the court when an arrest did not lead to a conviction. The San Mateo County Superior Court handles these petitions. Once granted, the record is hidden from most background checks. You can state that you were not arrested for that charge.

California also has an automatic relief process. Under AB 1076, the DOJ reviews records each month. Qualifying arrests from January 1, 2021, onward get relief without the person doing anything. Dismissed misdemeanor charges qualify automatically. So do misdemeanor arrests where charges were never filed within a year. This system helps people with San Mateo arrest records who were never prosecuted get a fresh start.

California DOJ and San Mateo Records

The California Department of Justice maintains a statewide criminal history database. You can request a copy of your own record by submitting Live Scan fingerprints and paying a $25 fee. Fee waivers are available. The DOJ sends back a complete summary that includes arrests from San Mateo and everywhere else in California. This is a personal review tool. You cannot look up other people through it.

For inmates in state prison, the CDCR Incarcerated Records and Information Search covers anyone in CDCR custody. Search by name or CDCR number. This database does not include people held at Maguire Correctional or any other county facility. It only covers the state prison population.

Note: The DOJ record review process takes several weeks from fingerprint submission to receiving your criminal history summary.

Booking Photo Laws for San Mateo

Booking photos taken during San Mateo arrests are subject to California law. Civil Code 1798.91.1 prohibits websites from charging fees to remove booking photographs. If someone demands payment to take down your San Mateo booking photo, they are breaking the law. You can bring a civil action and recover at least $1,000 per violation plus attorney fees and court costs.

On the law enforcement side, Penal Code 13665 restricts police departments and sheriff's offices from sharing booking photos on social media for nonviolent offenses. Exceptions exist for fugitives, imminent safety threats, and court-ordered releases. This means routine posting of San Mateo booking photos on department social media accounts is limited to specific situations that meet the statutory criteria.

San Mateo Arrest Records County Info

San Mateo arrests are booked through the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. The county jail and criminal records bureau handle all booking data for the city.

Nearby California Cities

These cities are near San Mateo and have their own arrest records pages with local search details.