Butte County Public Records /Butte County Inmate Search

Butte County Inmate Search

What Is Inmate Records In Butte County?

Inmate records are official documents created and maintained by the Butte County Sheriff's Office and its correctional facilities to document the custody status, personal history, and legal circumstances of individuals held in county detention. These records are distinct from court records: while the Butte County Superior Court maintains case files, docket entries, and judicial orders, the jail maintains custody records that track an individual's physical presence within the facility.

The record creation process begins at booking and intake, when a person is first received into custody. At that point, staff collect identifying information, document the charges, record physical descriptors, and capture a booking photograph. Records are continuously updated throughout the period of incarceration to reflect changes in housing assignment, disciplinary actions, medical notes, and court appearances. Upon release, the record is closed and archived, though it remains subject to public records laws.

Under California Penal Code § 851.8, arrest and booking records are formally recognized as official law enforcement records. The California Public Records Act (Government Code § 7920.000 et seq.) establishes the framework under which these records may be accessed by members of the public.

Butte County Sheriff's Office 25 County Center Drive, Oroville, CA 95965 (530) 538-7671 Butte County Sheriff's Office

Are Inmate Records Public In Butte County?

Inmate records in Butte County are generally accessible to the public pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Government Code § 7920.000), which establishes a presumption of openness for government-held records. California law further specifies that certain booking and custody information must be disclosed upon request, unless a specific statutory exemption applies.

The following categories of information are currently accessible to members of the public:

Current inmate roster — names of individuals presently held in Butte County Jail
Booking and arrest records — date, time, and location of arrest and booking
Charges filed — the specific criminal charges associated with each booking
Mugshots (booking photographs) — captured at intake and generally releasable
Bond and bail amounts — the amount set by the court or schedule
Expected release dates — projected or scheduled release information
Housing facility — the specific facility or unit where the individual is housed

Certain records may be withheld if disclosure would endanger a witness, compromise an ongoing investigation, or violate a court-issued protective order. Juvenile records and sealed records are not subject to public disclosure under California law.

What's Included In Inmate Records in Butte County

Inmate records maintained by the Butte County Sheriff's Office contain a comprehensive set of data fields compiled from booking through release.

Basic Identifying Information:

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth
Gender, race, and physical descriptors (height, weight, eye and hair color)
Booking photograph (mugshot)
Assigned booking number

Custody Information:

Date and time of booking
Arresting agency
Current housing facility and unit assignment
Custody status (pre-trial, sentenced, hold)

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges (statute cited)
Charge level (felony, misdemeanor, infraction)
Arresting offense narrative

Bond/Bail Information:

Bail amount set by court or bail schedule
Bond type (cash, surety, own recognizance)
Bond status

Court Information:

Next scheduled court date
Assigned court case number
Butte County Superior Court division

Sentence Information (if convicted and serving sentence):

Sentence length imposed
Sentence start date
Credits applied (time served)
Projected release date based on sentence

Release Information:

Actual release date and time
Release type (completion of sentence, bail posted, court order, transfer)
Conditions of release, if applicable

Butte County Prison System

Butte County operates a local jail system administered by the Butte County Sheriff's Office, which is responsible for the detention of individuals awaiting trial, those serving sentences of up to one year for misdemeanor or certain felony convictions, and individuals held on immigration or other agency detainers. The county jail system is distinct from California state prisons, which are operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and house individuals serving sentences exceeding one year for serious or violent felony convictions.

Under California law, county jails serve as the primary point of pre-trial detention for individuals who have not posted bail or been released on their own recognizance. The Butte County Sheriff's Office Corrections Division manages all aspects of jail operations, including intake, housing, programming, and release.

Butte County Sheriff's Office – Corrections Division 25 County Center Drive, Oroville, CA 95965 (530) 538-7671 Butte County Sheriff's Office

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation 1515 S Street, Sacramento, CA 95811 (916) 445-7682 California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Types of Correctional Facilities In Butte County

Butte County currently operates two primary detention facilities under the administration of the Sheriff's Office Corrections Division.

Butte County Jail (Main Jail) 68 County Center Drive, Oroville, CA 95965 (530) 538-7671 Butte County Sheriff's Office

The Main Jail is the primary detention facility for Butte County, housing pre-trial detainees, sentenced inmates, and individuals held on various legal holds. The facility operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and processes all new bookings for the county.

Butte County Work Center 1 Sheriffs Way, Oroville, CA 95965 (530) 538-7671 Butte County Sheriff's Office

The Work Center is a minimum-security facility that houses sentenced inmates who qualify for work release, community service, and other alternative custody programs. Placement at the Work Center is determined by classification staff based on the nature of the offense, sentence length, and behavioral history.

Who's in Prison In Butte County

The Butte County Jail system houses several distinct populations of incarcerated individuals. Members of the public seeking to understand who may be detained in county custody should be aware of the following categories:

Pre-trial detainees — individuals who have been arrested and charged but have not yet been convicted; they are held because they have not posted bail or been released on their own recognizance
Sentenced misdemeanants — individuals convicted of misdemeanor offenses and serving sentences of up to one year
Sentenced felons (AB 109) — under California's Public Safety Realignment Act (Assembly Bill 109), certain non-violent, non-serious, non-sex-offense felons serve their sentences in county jail rather than state prison
Parole and probation violators — individuals held for alleged violations of the terms of their supervision
Federal and immigration detainees — individuals held pursuant to agreements with federal agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Civil holds — individuals held under court order for civil matters, including mental health evaluations under Welfare and Institutions Code § 5150

How To Search for Inmate Records In Butte County in 2026

Members of the public may search for inmate records in Butte County through several official channels. The following steps outline the available methods:

Online Inmate Locator: The Butte County Sheriff's Office provides an online inmate search tool through its official website. Users may search by the inmate's first and last name or booking number to retrieve current custody status, charges, and bail information.

Navigate to the Butte County Sheriff's Office inmate search portal
Enter the individual's first name, last name, or booking number
Review the results for current custody status, charges, and bail information

In-Person Records Request: Members of the public may submit a California Public Records Act request in person at the Sheriff's Office Records Bureau.

Visit: 25 County Center Drive, Oroville, CA 95965
Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Telephone: (530) 538-7671

Written Public Records Act Request: Pursuant to Government Code § 7922.530, agencies must respond to written public records requests within ten calendar days. Requests may be submitted by mail or email to the Sheriff's Office Records Bureau.

Butte County Superior Court (for court case records): 25 County Center Drive, Oroville, CA 95965 (530) 532-7002 Butte County Superior Court

How To Find an Inmate in Butte County for Free?

Members of the public may locate an inmate in Butte County at no cost through the following official resources:

Butte County Sheriff's Office Online Inmate Search — The inmate search tool on the Sheriff's Office website is available at no charge, 24 hours a day. Users may search by name or booking number.
Telephone Inquiry — Members of the public may call the Butte County Jail at (530) 538-7671 during business hours to inquire about an individual's custody status.
In-Person Inquiry — Individuals may visit the Main Jail at 68 County Center Drive, Oroville, CA 95965, and request custody status information from the front desk.
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Inmate Locator — For individuals who may have been transferred to state prison, the CDCR Inmate Locator is available free of charge on the CDCR website.
Vinelink/Victim Information and Notification Everyday — The VINELink system allows victims and members of the public to register for automated notifications regarding an inmate's custody status changes, at no cost.

How To Visit an Inmate In Butte County

Visitation at Butte County correctional facilities is governed by the Sheriff's Office Corrections Division policies and applicable California law. All visitors must comply with facility rules to maintain the safety and security of the institution.

Visit Rules and Procedures: All visitors must be pre-approved and placed on the inmate's approved visitor list. Visitors are required to present a valid, government-issued photo identification at the time of the visit. Visits may be denied if the visitor is not on the approved list, is under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances, or poses a security concern.

Visit Schedule: Visitation schedules vary by housing unit and facility. Members of the public should contact the Butte County Jail directly at (530) 538-7671 or visit the Sheriff's Office website for current visitation hours, as schedules are subject to change based on operational needs.

What to Bring:

Valid, government-issued photo identification (driver's license, state ID, passport)
Any required documentation for professional visits (attorneys must present bar card)

What NOT to Bring:

Weapons of any kind
Controlled substances or alcohol
Cell phones or electronic recording devices (unless specifically authorized)
Food, beverages, or packages (unless approved through official channels)
Large amounts of cash

Dress Code: Visitors must dress appropriately. Clothing that resembles inmate uniforms (typically orange or blue), exposes excessive skin, or displays gang-affiliated symbols or colors will not be permitted. Visitors who arrive in non-compliant attire will be denied entry.

Visit Types:

In-person contact visits — available to approved visitors in designated visitation areas
Non-contact visits — conducted through a glass partition with telephone communication
Video visitation — remote video visits may be available through the facility's contracted provider
Legal visits — attorneys and their authorized representatives may visit clients during designated legal visitation hours

Visit Restrictions: Visitation privileges may be suspended or revoked for violations of facility rules, court orders, or as a result of disciplinary action against the inmate. Individuals on probation or parole may be subject to additional restrictions.

How To Send Money to a Butte County Inmate

Funds may be deposited into an inmate's trust account to allow the individual to purchase approved items from the jail commissary, make telephone calls, and cover other authorized expenses.

Methods for Sending Money:

Online deposits — Funds may be deposited electronically through the facility's contracted financial services provider. Members of the public should visit the Butte County Sheriff's Office website for the current approved vendor and deposit instructions.
Kiosk deposits — Lobby kiosks at the jail facility accept cash deposits for inmate accounts.
Money order by mail — Money orders made payable to the inmate (including full legal name and booking number) may be mailed to the facility at 68 County Center Drive, Oroville, CA 95965.

Amount Limits: Deposit limits per transaction may apply and are set by the facility's contracted financial services provider. Members of the public should verify current limits through the Sheriff's Office or the approved vendor's platform.

Fees: Transaction fees may be assessed by the third-party financial services provider. The facility itself does not charge a fee for receiving funds, but the processing vendor may apply a service charge per transaction.

What You Cannot Send:

Cash sent directly through the mail is not accepted and will be returned or confiscated
Personal checks are not accepted
Funds from unverified or flagged sources may be rejected

What the Money Can and Cannot Be Used For: Inmate trust account funds may be used for commissary purchases (hygiene items, snacks, writing materials), telephone calls, and approved correspondence postage. Funds may not be used to pay fines, restitution, or court-ordered fees directly from the trust account without a court order or facility authorization.

How To Send Jail Mail In Butte County

Members of the public may correspond with inmates at the Butte County Jail by sending written mail through the United States Postal Service. All incoming and outgoing mail is subject to inspection by facility staff pursuant to California Penal Code and facility policy, except for privileged legal mail, which is handled under separate procedures.

Mailing Address for Inmates: Inmate Full Legal Name, Booking Number Butte County Jail 68 County Center Drive Oroville, CA 95965

Rules for Sending Mail:

All envelopes must include the sender's full return address; mail without a return address may be rejected
Letters must be written on plain white paper; cards and letters with glitter, stickers, or non-standard materials will not be accepted
Photographs may be permitted subject to size and content restrictions; Polaroid photographs and photos with explicit content are prohibited
Books and magazines must be sent directly from a publisher or approved retailer (e.g., Amazon); items sent from personal addresses will not be accepted
No cash, checks, or money orders may be included in mail envelopes
No contraband of any kind, including drugs, weapons, or unauthorized items, may be included

Legal Mail: Correspondence from licensed attorneys is classified as privileged legal mail and is opened only in the presence of the inmate to verify the absence of contraband, consistent with protections established under California law.

Outgoing Mail: Inmates may send outgoing mail using funds from their trust account for postage. Outgoing mail is also subject to inspection, except for privileged legal correspondence.