Imperial County Arrest Records

Imperial County recent arrest records are managed by the Imperial County Sheriff's Office. Sitting at the far southeast corner of California along the Mexican border, Imperial County processes all jail bookings through its corrections division in El Centro. The sheriff's website provides information about jail operations, booking procedures, and records requests. If you need to look up a recent arrest in Imperial County, the sheriff's corrections unit is your first stop. The county also has a records division that handles formal requests for arrest reports and background check documents.

Imperial County Sheriff Corrections Division

The Imperial County Sheriff's corrections page covers jail operations and booking procedures. The corrections division runs the Imperial County Jail where all local bookings take place. When someone is arrested in the county, whether by the sheriff's deputies, El Centro Police, Brawley Police, or another local agency, they get processed at this facility. The booking creates a record that includes the person's name, date of birth, charges, and bail amount. Imperial County sits in the Imperial Valley, a region with unique law enforcement challenges given its location along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The county handles a mix of local arrests and cases tied to border enforcement. Federal agencies like the Border Patrol also operate in the area, but people arrested by federal officers go through a different system. The Imperial County Jail holds people arrested on state and local charges. If you are looking for someone arrested by a federal agency, you would need to check with the federal courts or detention facilities instead.

The Imperial County Sheriff's Office provides jail and corrections information through its website.

This page covers booking procedures and jail operations at the Imperial County Sheriff's corrections division in El Centro.

Imperial County Records Division

For formal records requests, the Imperial County Sheriff's support services division handles public records. You can request copies of arrest reports, incident reports, and other documents through this office. California's Public Records Act gives you the right to request these records. The agency has ten days to respond to your request. Some documents may have fees, typically ten cents per page for copies. Imperial County uses the same rules as every other California county for what can and cannot be released.

Arrest reports in Imperial County contain the details of the arrest itself. They are different from the basic booking log information. An arrest report may include the officer's narrative, witness statements, and more detailed information about what happened. Under California law, certain parts of arrest reports are exempt from release, especially if the case is still under investigation.

Note: Imperial County may charge a small fee for copies of arrest reports, but basic booking information lookups are free.

Searching Imperial County Arrest Records

There are a few ways to find recent arrest records in Imperial County. The sheriff's website has jail-related information, but for a direct name search you may need to contact the jail or records office by phone. Calling is sometimes the fastest route in counties that do not have a full online inmate search portal. Ask for the corrections division. Give them the person's name and approximate arrest date. They can tell you if the person is in custody and provide the booking number and charges.

For older Imperial County arrest records, a written request to the records division may be needed. Include the person's name, date of birth if known, and the approximate date of arrest. You can submit the request by mail or in person at the sheriff's office in El Centro. The records division will pull what they have and let you know what can be released. Processing takes a few days in most cases, though complex requests may take longer. California law requires a response within ten days.

VINE is also available in Imperial County. Call 877-411-5588 to register for alerts when an inmate's custody status changes. This free service works for all California counties.

California Laws on Imperial County Arrests

Government Code Section 7923.610 requires Imperial County to make booking information public. The law lists nine specific categories of information that must be disclosed: the person's full name, occupation, physical description, date of birth, arrest date and time, booking date and time, arrest location, circumstances of the arrest, bail amount, and all charges. The only exception is when releasing specific information would endanger someone's safety or compromise an investigation. Imperial County, like all California counties, follows these rules for every booking at the county jail.

If an arrest does not lead to a conviction, the arrested person may be able to seal the record. Penal Code Section 851.87 describes the petition process for sealing arrest records in California. The state also runs an automatic arrest relief program that reviews records monthly. Eligible Imperial County arrests that did not result in conviction may be sealed without the person having to do anything.

State Tools for Imperial County Searches

California runs two statewide databases that can help when searching for someone with ties to Imperial County. The DOJ Record Review is for people who want their own criminal history. It costs $25 and requires Live Scan fingerprints. The Imperial County Sheriff's Office or local police departments can do the Live Scan for you. After processing, the DOJ mails you a copy of your complete arrest record from across California.

The CIRIS database from CDCR tracks people in state prison. If someone arrested in Imperial County was sentenced to prison, CIRIS shows where they are held, when they were admitted, and their parole hearing schedule. This tool is free and open to the public. Search by last name or CDCR number. It does not cover county jail inmates, so for people still held at the Imperial County Jail, use the sheriff's resources instead.

What Imperial County Arrest Records Contain

Booking records from the Imperial County Jail include standard information:

• Full name and date of birth
• Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
• Date and time of arrest
• Date and time of booking
• Charges and applicable code sections
• Bail amount
• Arresting agency

This is the same set of data that California law requires every county to make public. An arrest record is not proof of guilt. Charges can change after the initial booking. Some charges get dropped during the court process. Others may be added as the investigation continues. The booking record reflects what was known at the time the person was processed into the jail.

Nearby Counties

Imperial County shares borders with two other California counties. Check their arrest records here:

• Riverside County
• San Diego County