Butte County Public Records / Butte County Arrest Records

Butte County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Butte County

Arrest records in Butte County are generally considered public records under California law. Pursuant to California Penal Code § 13300, local law enforcement agencies are authorized to disseminate certain criminal history information to members of the public, including records of arrests. The California Public Records Act (Government Code § 7920.000 et seq.) further establishes the public's right to inspect and obtain copies of records maintained by state and local agencies, subject to specific exemptions.

It is important to distinguish between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and does not indicate guilt or a criminal conviction. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law. Under California law, individuals who are arrested but not convicted retain certain privacy protections, and agencies may restrict access to arrest records that did not result in prosecution or conviction. The Butte County official website provides general guidance on accessing county records and connecting with the appropriate departments.

What's in Butte County Arrest Records

Butte County arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking and maintained by law enforcement agencies. The specific contents of an arrest record may vary depending on the arresting agency and the nature of the incident.

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name and any known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Physical description, including height, weight, hair color, and eye color
Race and gender
Last known residential address

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and location of arrest
Name and badge number of the arresting officer
Arresting agency (e.g., Butte County Sheriff's Office, Chico Police Department)
Incident or case number

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed at the time of arrest
California Penal Code or other statutory references for each charge
Classification of charges (felony, misdemeanor, or infraction)

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Date warrant was issued
Jurisdiction of the warrant

Booking Information:

Booking number assigned by the detention facility
Date and time of booking
Facility where the individual was booked

Bond/Bail Information:

Bail amount set by the court or arresting agency
Type of bail (cash, surety bond, own recognizance release)
Bail bondsman information, if applicable

Court Information:

Scheduled arraignment or court appearance date
Court case number, if assigned
Assigned courtroom or judicial officer

Custody Status:

Current custody status (in custody, released, transferred)
Release date and conditions of release, if applicable

Additional Information May Include:

Fingerprint records and biometric data
Booking photograph (mugshot)
Probation or parole status at time of arrest
Prior arrest history, where permitted by law

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Butte County in 2026

Members of the public seeking arrest records in Butte County may submit requests through several official channels. The process is governed by the California Public Records Act, and agencies are required to respond to requests within ten calendar days of receipt.

To look up arrest records in Butte County, follow these steps:

Identify the arresting agency. Determine whether the arrest was made by the Butte County Sheriff's Office, the Chico Police Department, the Oroville Police Department, or another local law enforcement entity. Each agency maintains its own records.
Prepare a written public records request. Submit a written request identifying the subject of the record, the approximate date of arrest, and the type of records sought. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or via email, depending on the agency's procedures.
Submit the request to the appropriate agency. Direct requests to the records division of the relevant law enforcement agency. The Butte County Sheriff's Office accepts records requests at its main administrative office.
Pay applicable fees. Agencies may charge reasonable fees for duplication of records pursuant to Government Code § 7922.530. Fee schedules vary by agency.
Await agency response. The agency must respond within ten calendar days, either by providing the records, denying the request with a written explanation, or notifying the requester of an extension.

Butte County Sheriff's Office 25 County Center Drive, Oroville, CA 95965 (530) 538-7671 Butte County Sheriff-Coroner Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Chico Police Department 717 Wall Street, Chico, CA 95928 (530) 897-4900 City of Chico Police Department Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Butte County Superior Court – Records Division 1775 Concord Avenue, Chico, CA 95928 (530) 532-7002 Judicial Branch of California – Public Records Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

How To Find Butte County Arrest Records Online

Several official online platforms currently provide access to arrest-related information for Butte County residents and members of the public.

Butte County Sheriff's Office Website: The Butte County Sheriff-Coroner maintains an online presence where members of the public may access general information about law enforcement activities, press releases, and inmate locator tools for individuals held at the Butte County Jail.
City of Chico Arrests and Crime Map: The City of Chico provides an interactive online portal through which members of the public may access arrest information and crime mapping data for incidents occurring within city limits. This tool includes arrest logs, crime statistics, and a media log updated on a regular basis.
California Incarcerated Records and Information Search (CIRIS): The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation operates the California Incarcerated Records and Information Search tool, which allows members of the public to search for individuals currently incarcerated in state prison facilities. This resource is particularly useful when an individual has been transferred from county custody to state custody following sentencing.
California Courts Public Records Portal: The Judicial Branch of California provides guidance on accessing court records, including case filings and disposition information associated with criminal arrests.

How To Search Butte County Arrest Records for Free?

Members of the public may access certain Butte County arrest records at no cost through the following methods:

Online portals: The City of Chico's arrests and crime map and the Butte County Sheriff's Office website provide free access to recent arrest logs and inmate information without requiring a formal records request.
In-person inspection: Under the California Public Records Act, members of the public have the right to inspect public records in person at the agency's office during regular business hours at no charge. Fees apply only when copies are requested.
CIRIS database: The California Incarcerated Records and Information Search is a free, publicly accessible tool for locating individuals in state custody.
Superior Court case lookup: The Butte County Superior Court provides free in-person access to court case indexes and dockets. Members of the public may review case information related to criminal proceedings at the court clerk's office during business hours.
California Department of Justice – Public Access: The California DOJ maintains statewide criminal history summary information. While full RAP sheets require a fee and authorization, certain public-facing tools are available at no cost.

How To Delete Arrest Records in Butte County

California law provides two primary legal remedies for individuals seeking to limit public access to their arrest records: expungement (legal erasure or dismissal of a conviction) and sealing (restricting public access to arrest records that did not result in conviction). These remedies are distinct and governed by separate statutory provisions.

Expungement under Penal Code § 1203.4 allows individuals who have completed probation to petition the court to withdraw their guilty plea or set aside a guilty verdict and dismiss the case. Expungement does not fully erase the record but limits its use in most employment and licensing contexts.

Sealing of Arrest Records is available under Penal Code § 851.91 for individuals who were arrested but not convicted. Eligible individuals may petition the court to have their arrest record sealed and destroyed, effectively removing it from public access. Sealing is generally available when:

The arrest did not result in charges being filed
Charges were filed but subsequently dismissed
The individual was acquitted at trial
A conviction was vacated or reversed on appeal

Steps to Petition for Sealing or Expungement:

Obtain a copy of the arrest record and any associated court records from the Butte County Superior Court or the arresting agency.
Determine eligibility based on the outcome of the case and the applicable statutory criteria.
Complete the appropriate petition form (CR-180 for expungement; CR-409 for sealing under § 851.91).
File the completed petition with the Butte County Superior Court clerk and pay the applicable filing fee, or request a fee waiver if eligible.
Serve the petition on the prosecuting agency (Butte County District Attorney's Office) as required by law.
Attend the scheduled court hearing, if one is set by the judge.
If the petition is granted, provide certified copies of the court order to the arresting agency and the California Department of Justice for record update.

Butte County District Attorney's Office 25 County Center Drive, Suite 245, Oroville, CA 95965 (530) 538-7411 Butte County, CA – Official Website Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

What Happens After Arrest in Butte County?

The criminal justice process in Butte County follows a structured sequence of events from the point of arrest through final case disposition.

Arrest and Booking: Following an arrest, the individual is transported to the Butte County Jail or a local detention facility, where booking procedures are completed. Booking includes fingerprinting, photographing, and recording of personal information and charges.
Bail Determination: A bail schedule or judicial officer determines the bail amount. The individual may be released on bail, released on their own recognizance, or held without bail depending on the severity of the charges and flight risk assessment.
Arraignment: The first court appearance, known as arraignment, typically occurs within 48 hours of arrest for individuals in custody (excluding weekends and holidays). At arraignment, the defendant is formally informed of the charges and enters an initial plea.
Preliminary Hearing or Grand Jury (Felony Cases): For felony charges, a preliminary hearing is held to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to proceed to trial. Alternatively, the prosecution may seek a grand jury indictment.
Pre-Trial Proceedings: Both parties engage in discovery, motions practice, and plea negotiations. Many cases are resolved through plea agreements at this stage.
Trial: If no plea agreement is reached, the case proceeds to a jury or bench trial before the Butte County Superior Court.
Sentencing: Upon conviction, the court imposes a sentence in accordance with California law and applicable sentencing guidelines.
Appeals and Post-Conviction Relief: Convicted individuals retain the right to appeal their conviction or sentence to the California Court of Appeal and, subsequently, the California Supreme Court.

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Butte County?

Arrest records in Butte County are subject to retention schedules established under California law and applicable local agency policies. State law mandates minimum retention periods for law enforcement records to preserve evidence, ensure accountability, and support ongoing investigations.

Under California Government Code § 34090, local agencies are generally prohibited from destroying public records without authorization from the legislative body or compliance with an approved records retention schedule. For law enforcement agencies, the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) and the California Department of Justice provide guidance on minimum retention periods.

Key retention principles currently applicable to Butte County arrest records include:

Arrest records resulting in conviction are generally retained permanently or for a period of at least 75 years, as they form part of the individual's criminal history maintained by the California DOJ.
Arrest records not resulting in conviction may be subject to shorter retention periods, particularly if the record has been sealed pursuant to a court order.
Booking photographs and fingerprints are typically retained for the duration of the associated record's retention period.
Juvenile arrest records are subject to separate, more restrictive retention and access rules under the California Welfare and Institutions Code.

Different agencies within Butte County—including the Sheriff's Office, municipal police departments, and the Superior Court—maintain their own records pursuant to their respective retention schedules, which must comply with state minimums.

How to Find Mugshots in Butte County

What Mugshots Are

A mugshot is a standardized booking photograph taken by law enforcement at the time an individual is processed into custody. Mugshots are taken from the front and in profile and are maintained as part of the official arrest record.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained

In Butte County, booking photographs are maintained by the Butte County Sheriff's Office for individuals booked into the county jail. Municipal police departments maintain photographs for individuals processed at their respective facilities prior to transfer.

Finding Mugshots

Members of the public may request booking photographs through a formal public records request submitted to the Butte County Sheriff's Office or the relevant arresting agency. The Butte County Sheriff-Coroner is the primary custodian of booking photographs for individuals held at the county detention facility.

Can They Be Found Online

The Butte County Sheriff's Office and the City of Chico's online arrest portal may display recent booking photographs as part of publicly available arrest logs. The City of Chico arrests and crime map currently provides access to recent arrest information that may include booking photographs for incidents within city limits.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially

To obtain a booking photograph through official channels, members of the public should submit a written public records request to the records division of the appropriate agency, identifying the subject by full name, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest. Agencies may charge a per-page or per-image fee for copies.

Restrictions on Mugshot Access

California law places certain restrictions on the commercial use and republication of booking photographs. Under California Civil Code § 1798.91.1, operators of websites that publish mugshots for commercial purposes are required to remove photographs upon request without charging a fee. Additionally, if an arrest record has been sealed or expunged pursuant to court order, associated booking photographs are subject to the same restrictions on public access as the underlying record.