Sierra County Booking Records

Sierra County operates only a Temporary Housing Facility and does not maintain a full jail. Inmates arrested in Sierra County are typically housed at Nevada County's Wayne Brown Correctional Facility or Plumas County Jail. The Sheriff's Office is located at 100 Courthouse Square in Downieville, California 95936. You can search for jail mugshots and booking information by contacting neighboring county facilities where Sierra County inmates are held. Call the Sheriff's Office at (530) 289-3700 to find out where a specific person is in custody. Public access to inmate records follows California law and the policies of the holding facility in Nevada or Plumas counties.

Where Sierra County Inmates Are Held

Sierra County does not operate a full jail facility. The county has a Temporary Housing Facility for very short-term custody. Most inmates arrested in Sierra County get transferred to Nevada County or Plumas County jails. Visit the Sierra County Sheriff's page for information about their temporary facility and custody arrangements.

To find someone arrested in Sierra County, you need to check the jails where they might be held. Nevada County's Wayne Brown Correctional Facility is a common destination. You can search for inmates at Nevada County by visiting their in-custody inmate report online. This database shows everyone currently held at Nevada County facilities.

Plumas County also houses some Sierra County inmates. Check the Plumas County Jail page for contact information. You can call their jail directly to ask if they are holding someone from Sierra County. Each facility maintains its own custody records and inmate database.

When calling to locate an inmate, tell staff the person was arrested in Sierra County. They can search their system for transfers from Sierra County Sheriff. Have the person's full name and approximate arrest date ready when you call to help staff find the right record.

Sierra County Sheriff's Office

The Sierra County Sheriff's Office is at 100 Courthouse Square in Downieville. Call (530) 289-3700 to reach the Sheriff. The office handles arrests and initial processing in Sierra County. They operate a Temporary Housing Facility for very short stays before transferring inmates to other counties.

The temporary facility cannot hold inmates for extended periods. Sierra County lacks the resources and staff to run a full jail. This is common in small California counties with low populations. They contract with larger neighboring counties for long-term custody needs in the region.

When someone is arrested in Sierra County, deputies book them and determine where to house them. Most go to Nevada County's Wayne Brown Correctional Facility. Some may go to Plumas County depending on capacity and the specific situation. The Sheriff's Office coordinates these transfers with the receiving facilities.

You can call the Sierra County Sheriff to find out where a specific person is being held. Staff can tell you which county has custody. They can also provide the phone number and address for that facility so you can get more information directly from the holding jail.

Finding Inmate Information

Start by calling Sierra County Sheriff's Office at (530) 289-3700. Tell them the name of the person you are looking for. They can check if that person was arrested in Sierra County. Staff will tell you which facility is holding the inmate. Write down that information so you can contact the right jail.

Once you know which county has custody, search their inmate database. Nevada County has an online system you can use. Go to their in-custody report website. Enter the person's last name to search. Results show all inmates currently held at Nevada County facilities including those transferred from Sierra County.

For Plumas County, call their jail directly. The phone number is available on their website. Ask if they have anyone from Sierra County in custody. Provide the person's full name. Jail staff can search their system and tell you if they are holding that individual.

To get booking records or mugshots, contact the jail where the person is held. Each facility handles public records requests according to their own procedures. Some information is available over the phone. Other records might require written requests and fees for copies from the holding county.

Public Records Access Laws

California law requires disclosure of basic arrest information. Government Code 6254(f) says booking records are public. Agencies must provide name, description, birth date, arrest time and date, booking time and date, location of arrest, charges, and bail amount. This applies to Sierra County arrests even when inmates are held in other counties.

Booking photos are generally public records in California. Most mugshots can be released unless a specific exemption applies. The jail holding the inmate follows state guidelines on what can and cannot be disclosed. Nevada County and Plumas County comply with public records laws for inmates in their custody.

Some limits exist on social media use of mugshots. Penal Code 13665 restricts law enforcement from posting booking photos on social platforms for nonviolent crimes. They must remove such posts within 14 days. This does not affect official inmate databases. Those remain public for Sierra County arrests.

Commercial websites cannot charge fees to remove booking photos. Civil Code 1798.91.1 bans this practice throughout California. If a company demands payment to take down your mugshot, they break state law. You can sue and get the photo removed without paying regardless of which county holds your record.

Inmate Services and Communication

Inmate services depend on which facility is holding the person. If they are at Nevada County, you use Nevada County's phone and deposit systems. If they are at Plumas County, you use Plumas County's services. Each jail has its own approved vendors for these functions.

To send money to an inmate from Sierra County, first find out where they are held. Then go to that facility's website or call them for deposit instructions. You will need the inmate's full name and booking number. Online deposit services charge processing fees at most jails.

Phone calls from inmates come through the holding facility's phone provider. You may need to set up an account to receive calls. Video visitation might be available depending on the jail's policies. Contact the specific facility for details on their communication systems.

For release notifications, register with VINE at no cost. Enter the inmate's information to get alerts when they are released or transferred. Call 877-411-5588 to sign up by phone. This service tracks inmates across all California counties including those arrested in Sierra County.

Court and Bail Procedures

Sierra County Superior Court handles criminal cases after arrest. The courthouse is in Downieville. Court dates are set during booking or at first appearance before a judge. Even though inmates are held in other counties, they return to Sierra County for court hearings.

Bail amounts are determined by a bail schedule or set by a judge. You can find out someone's bail by calling the jail where they are held. To post bail, you can pay the full amount to the court or use a bail bond company. The jail releases the inmate once bail is posted and processed.

Public defenders represent people who cannot afford private attorneys. The public defender serves Sierra County clients facing criminal charges. Contact them through the county for legal assistance even if the person is housed in another county's jail.

Legal aid organizations may provide additional help. These groups offer advice and assistance with legal matters. Check local resources for support services available to people dealing with arrests and court cases in Sierra County.

Communities in Sierra County

Sierra County is one of the smallest counties in California by population. It includes several small communities and unincorporated areas. The Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement throughout the county. Anyone arrested in Sierra County gets processed through the Sheriff's Office before being transferred to a jail in a neighboring county.

Communities include Downieville, Loyalton, Sierra City, and Sierraville. The county has no cities over 100,000 population. All arrests are handled by the Sheriff's Office. There are no separate city police departments in Sierra County.

Despite the small population, Sierra County follows the same legal procedures as larger counties. Arrests, bookings, and court cases all follow California law. The main difference is where inmates are housed during the custody period before trial or sentencing.

Nearby Counties

Sierra County borders several other counties where inmates might be held. Nevada County and Plumas County are the most common destinations for custody. Yuba County is also nearby and might house some inmates depending on the situation in California.

Nevada County Plumas County Yuba County Lassen County

Each county operates its own jail system with separate databases. You need to search each one individually. VINE can search across multiple counties at once if you are unsure where someone is being held after a Sierra County arrest.