Monterey County Recent Arrest Records
Recent arrest records in Monterey County are tracked through the sheriff's in-custody log and jail search tools. The Monterey County Sheriff's Office posts booking data online so the public can check who has been arrested. The system is free to use. Monterey County includes major cities like Salinas, the county seat, along with Monterey and Seaside on the coast. The sheriff processes all jail bookings at the county level. This guide explains how to search for recent arrests in Monterey County, what state resources exist, and which California laws apply to these public records.
Monterey County Arrest Records Quick Facts
Monterey County In-Custody Log
The Monterey County Sheriff runs an in-custody log on the county website. This tool shows who is currently held at the Monterey County Jail. The log lists names, booking dates, charges, and bail amounts. It updates regularly. You can view it from any device for free. No login is required. This is the fastest way to check for recent arrests in Monterey County.
The in-custody log covers people who are currently in jail. Once someone posts bail or gets released, they may drop off the list. So the log works best for checking recent arrests where the person is still being held. If you need to confirm a booking that already ended, you would contact the jail information line at (831) 755-3782 or the sheriff's Central Station at 1414 Natividad Road in Salinas at (831) 755-3700.
The Monterey County Sheriff also offers criminal history checks. These are separate from the free in-custody log. A criminal history check costs $92 and is non-refundable. LiveScan fingerprinting costs $28 plus DOJ and FBI fees. These are for formal background checks, not for looking up recent arrests in Monterey County.
Note: The in-custody log only shows people currently in the Monterey County Jail, not those who have already been released.
How Monterey County Processes Arrests
Several agencies make arrests in Monterey County. The sheriff patrols rural areas and unincorporated communities. The Salinas Police Department handles arrests in the city of Salinas. Police in Monterey, Seaside, Marina, King City, and other cities make their own arrests too. The CHP covers highways in the county. But every arrested person who gets booked into jail goes through the Monterey County Jail. The sheriff's staff creates the booking record there. All these arrests feed into the same in-custody log the public can search.
Government Code Section 7923.610 requires California law enforcement to make arrest booking information available to the public. For Monterey County, this means every person booked into the jail has their name, charges, physical description, arrest date and time, booking date, bail amount, and custody status disclosed. The law lists nine specific data points that must be released after any arrest in the state.
Monterey County Custody Log Screenshot
The Monterey County Sheriff's in-custody log page is the main portal for checking recent arrests in the county.
The page links to the current custody roster showing all inmates at the Monterey County Jail with their booking details and charges.
State Databases for Monterey County
The California DOJ Record Review lets any person get their own statewide arrest history. It costs $25 and requires Live Scan fingerprints. The DOJ covers all arrests across California, not just Monterey County. If you were arrested in Monterey County years ago and want to see your full record, this is the most thorough option. The DOJ processes requests in about four weeks. You cannot request another person's record through this system. It is for your own history only.
For state prison inmates, the CDCR CIRIS search tool is available. It covers people currently in California state prisons. If someone from Monterey County was sentenced to state time, CIRIS will show them. You can search by name or CDCR number. CIRIS does not cover people in the Monterey County Jail. For local jail bookings and recent arrests in the county, use the sheriff's in-custody log.
Monterey County Arrest Laws
Penal Code Section 13300 defines local criminal history in California. It covers names, arrest dates, booking numbers, charges, and case outcomes. The Monterey County Sheriff maintains this data for every booking. The California Public Records Act gives anyone the right to request these records from the sheriff's office.
People arrested in Monterey County who are never convicted can seek to seal their records. Penal Code 851.87 allows petitions to seal arrest records when charges are dropped. AB 1076 created automatic relief where the DOJ reviews records monthly and clears qualifying cases. This helps people with Monterey County arrests that never resulted in a conviction. Booking photo protections exist too. SB 1027 bans websites from charging to remove booking photos. And AB 1475 limits when police can post booking photos on social media for nonviolent crimes.
Note: Automatic arrest relief under AB 1076 covers eligible Monterey County arrests from January 1, 2021 forward.
Older Monterey County Records
The in-custody log covers current inmates. For past arrest records, contact the Monterey County Sheriff's Central Station at (831) 755-3700. You can file a public records request under the California Public Records Act. The sheriff has 10 days to respond. You may also check the Monterey County Superior Court for case records tied to older arrests. Court records are separate from jail booking records but they connect through case numbers and dates.
Cities in Monterey County
Salinas is the largest city in Monterey County with a population over 100,000.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Monterey County along the central California coast and inland valleys.