Modoc County Arrest Record Search
Recent arrest records in Modoc County require a different approach than most California counties. Modoc County is the most remote county in the far northeast corner of California. It has the smallest population of almost any county in the state. The Modoc County Sheriff's Office does not run an online booking log or inmate search tool like larger counties do. Instead, you can submit a records request through the county's NextRequest portal or contact the sheriff's office by phone. This page covers every way to find recent arrests in Modoc County, including state databases that cover the county and the California laws that make arrest records public.
Modoc County Arrest Records Quick Facts
How to Check Modoc County Arrests
Modoc County does not have a live online booking log. This makes it one of only a few counties in California without a real-time inmate search. But that does not mean arrest records are hidden. You can get them. The county uses NextRequest as its public records portal. You create a free account and submit your request there. Describe the records you want. Be specific about dates and names if you have them. The county is required to respond within 10 days under California's Public Records Act.
You can also call the Modoc County Sheriff's Office in Alturas. Ask for the records division. They can tell you if someone was recently booked into the Modoc County Jail. This is the fastest way to check. Modoc County is small. The jail handles very few bookings compared to larger California counties. Staff may be able to give you the information right over the phone if it is basic arrest booking data that is public under California law.
Note: NextRequest is a free portal, but the county may charge small copying fees for extensive records requests.
Arrest Processing in Modoc County
The Modoc County Sheriff is the primary law enforcement agency for the entire county. There is one small incorporated city, Alturas, but the sheriff handles most law enforcement duties across the whole area. When someone is arrested in Modoc County, they go to the Modoc County Jail in Alturas for booking. The booking record includes their name, charges, physical description, bail amount, and arrest details.
California Government Code Section 7923.610 requires every law enforcement agency in the state to release arrest booking information. The law applies to Modoc County the same as it does to Los Angeles or San Francisco. The information that must be made public includes the person's full name, physical description with date of birth, time and date of the arrest and booking, where it happened, the circumstances, bail, custody status, and charges. The only exception is if releasing the data would endanger someone or compromise an investigation.
Because Modoc County is so small and remote, arrests there are relatively rare. The jail has limited capacity. Some arrestees may be transported to other facilities. In those cases, the booking record would still originate with the Modoc County Sheriff but the person might be held in a neighboring county's jail.
Modoc County Records Portal Screenshot
The Modoc County NextRequest portal is the main way to submit public records requests, including arrest records.
Create a free account on NextRequest to submit your Modoc County arrest records request and track its status online.
State Databases for Modoc County Arrests
Since Modoc County lacks a live booking search, statewide tools become more important. The California DOJ Record Review lets you get your own criminal history. It costs $25 and requires Live Scan fingerprints. If you were arrested in Modoc County at any time, the DOJ database would have that record. You can submit fingerprints at a Live Scan site in a larger nearby city if there is not one in Alturas. The DOJ mails back your complete California arrest history within about four weeks.
The CDCR CIRIS inmate search covers people in California state prisons. If someone from Modoc County went to state prison, CIRIS will show their name, location, and admission details. This does not cover the Modoc County Jail. It is only for state inmates. Still, it is a useful tool when the local county does not have an online booking search.
VINE, the Victim Information and Notification system, is available statewide at 877-411-5588. You can register to get alerts when an inmate's custody status changes. This works for Modoc County jail inmates as well as people held in other California facilities.
Note: The DOJ will not release your arrest record to a third party without your written permission.
Modoc County Arrest Record Laws
California law gives the public a right to arrest information from Modoc County. Penal Code Section 13300 defines local criminal history. It includes names, arrest dates, charges, and dispositions. The Modoc County Sheriff keeps these records for every person booked into the jail. Even though there is no online search tool, the records exist and can be requested.
If someone was arrested in Modoc County but never convicted, they may qualify for record sealing. Penal Code 851.87 lets people petition to seal arrest records when charges were not filed or were dismissed. California's AB 1076 also provides automatic relief. The DOJ reviews records monthly and clears qualifying arrests without anyone having to file paperwork. This covers Modoc County arrests from January 2021 forward where no conviction resulted.
Booking photo protections apply too. SB 1027 makes it illegal for websites to charge a fee to take down booking photos. AB 1475 limits when law enforcement can post booking photos on social media.
Getting Records from Modoc County
For any Modoc County arrest records, your best bet is the NextRequest portal or a direct call to the sheriff. The California Public Records Act guarantees a response within 10 days. Be specific in your request. Include the person's name, approximate arrest date, and the type of record you want. That helps the small staff in Modoc County find what you need faster.
For your own complete arrest history that includes Modoc County, the DOJ Record Review at $25 gives you everything the state has on file. It covers arrests from Modoc County and every other California jurisdiction.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Modoc County in the far northeast corner of California.