California Arrest Records and Booking Photo Law
California arrest records are kept by the sheriffs and police departments of the 58 California counties, and court records are kept by the superior court of each county. California law bans charging a fee to remove a booking photo and limits when police may post booking photos on social media. This page lists the official California sources and explains those laws.
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California
- Booking photo rule
- Restricted
- Statute
- Civ. Code 1798.91.1; Penal Code 13665
- Verified on
- 2026-10-01
How arrest and booking records are kept in California
California law requires agencies to release basic arrest information, such as the name of the person, the charges, and the time and place of the arrest. Release of the booking photo itself is left to the agency, so practice differs from county to county. Each county has one superior court that keeps all of its court records. People sentenced to state prison are recorded by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
An arrest is not a conviction. Charges may have been dropped, dismissed or resulted in acquittal.
Official California record sources
These are the official statewide sources. Each link opens the site of the agency.
| Source | Agency | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| California Incarcerated Records and Information Search | California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation | People in California state prisons |
| County superior court case search | Superior court in each of the 58 counties | Criminal and civil cases filed in the county |
| County inmate or custody search | County sheriff | People booked into the county jail |
California has no statewide court case search. The superior court of each county keeps its own records and most offer an online case search.
California booking photo law
California has two laws on booking photos, one for publishers and one for law enforcement agencies.
| Question | California |
|---|---|
| Statute for publishers | California Civil Code 1798.91.1 |
| Fee for removal | It is unlawful to solicit or accept a fee to remove, correct or refrain from publishing a booking photo |
| Statute for agencies | California Penal Code 13665 |
| Social media | Police and sheriffs may not post booking photos on social media for an arrest for a nonviolent crime, with limited exceptions, and must remove a posted photo within 14 days unless an exception applies |
| Are booking photos public | Release is at the discretion of the agency |
| Booking photo rule on file | Restricted |
Reports for California carry no booking photos.
Removing or correcting your own record on MugshotLookup is free. Use the opt-out page.
Statewide criminal history checks in California
California does not offer a public name search of its criminal history repository. The California Department of Justice lets a person request their own record. For another person, use the superior court case search of the county.
California counties
California has 58 counties, and each sheriff or county jail keeps its own booking records. A search by name covers the statewide sources for California and every county in it.
Using California records
MugshotLookup is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). You may not use this site or any information from it to make decisions about employment, tenant screening, consumer credit, insurance or any other purpose covered by the FCRA.
California questions
Are mugshots public record in California?
Basic arrest information is public, but release of the booking photo is at the discretion of the agency. Penal Code 13665 limits posting booking photos on social media.
How do I look up California arrest records?
Check the inmate or custody search of the county sheriff, then the case search of the superior court of the county. A search by name with the state set to California covers the statewide sources.
Can a website charge me to remove a booking photo in California?
No. Civil Code 1798.91.1 makes it unlawful to solicit or accept a fee to remove, correct or refrain from publishing a booking photo.
Other states
- ALAlabama
- AKAlaska
- AZArizona
- ARArkansas
- COColorado
- CTConnecticut
- DEDelaware
- DCDistrict of Columbia
- FLFlorida
- GAGeorgia
- HIHawaii
- IDIdaho
- ILIllinois
- INIndiana
- IAIowa
- KSKansas
- KYKentucky
- LALouisiana
- MEMaine
- MDMaryland
- MAMassachusetts
- MIMichigan
- MNMinnesota
- MSMississippi
- MOMissouri
- MTMontana
- NENebraska
- NVNevada
- NHNew Hampshire
- NJNew Jersey
- NMNew Mexico
- NYNew York
- NCNorth Carolina
- NDNorth Dakota
- OHOhio
- OKOklahoma
- OROregon
- PAPennsylvania
- RIRhode Island
- SCSouth Carolina
- SDSouth Dakota
- TNTennessee
- TXTexas
- UTUtah
- VTVermont
- VAVirginia
- WAWashington
- WVWest Virginia
- WIWisconsin
- WYWyoming
Search California records by name
The state is set to California. Add a city to narrow the search to one county.
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Official sources for this jurisdiction
| Source | Type | Jurisdiction | Booking photo rule | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open the official site |
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An arrest is not a conviction. Charges may have been dropped, dismissed or resulted in acquittal.
MugshotLookup is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). You may not use this site or any information from it to make decisions about employment, tenant screening, consumer credit, insurance or any other purpose covered by the FCRA.
Is this your own record? Remove or correct it for free.