Fort Bragg Arrest Records
Are Arrest Records Public in Fort Bragg, California?
Arrest records are public documents in Fort Bragg, California, pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Government Code § 6250-6270). This legislation establishes that records created, maintained, or possessed by government agencies shall be accessible to the public, with certain statutory exceptions. The California Public Records Act serves to promote governmental transparency and accountability by ensuring citizens have access to various types of records, including those pertaining to arrests made within the jurisdiction of Fort Bragg. Exceptions to disclosure typically involve ongoing investigations, juvenile records, or cases where privacy interests substantially outweigh the public interest in disclosure as determined by relevant judicial authorities.
How to Look Up Fort Bragg Arrest Records in 2025
Multiple official channels exist through which members of the public may access arrest records for Fort Bragg. These records are maintained by various law enforcement and judicial entities serving the Fort Bragg community. Interested parties may utilize any of the following methods to obtain arrest record information:
Submit a records request in person at the Fort Bragg Police Department located at 250 Cypress Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437. Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Contact: (707) 961-2800.
File a request with the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office, which maintains county-wide arrest data, at 951 Low Gap Road, Ukiah, CA 95482. Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Contact: (707) 463-4411.
Access judicial records related to arrests through the Mendocino County Superior Court at their Fort Bragg - Ten Mile Branch, located at 700 South Franklin Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437. Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Utilize the Court Case Information Portal provided by the Superior Court of California, County of Mendocino, which offers online access to court case information without requiring registration.
Submit a written request for court case records by mail to the Mendocino County Superior Court Records Division.
Pursuant to Government Code § 6253(b), agencies may charge reasonable fees to cover the direct costs of duplication or a statutory fee, if applicable. Requestors should be prepared to provide identifying information such as the full name of the subject, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest to facilitate record retrieval.
Contents of a Fort Bragg Arrest Record
Arrest records maintained by Fort Bragg law enforcement agencies typically contain comprehensive information regarding the circumstances and details of an arrest. Standard components of an arrest record include:
- Full legal name of the arrested individual and any documented aliases or known pseudonyms
- Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
- Identifying information of the arresting agency and officer(s)
- Enumeration of all charges filed, including applicable California Penal Code sections
- Booking photographs (mugshots) taken during the processing procedure
- Fingerprint impressions collected during booking
- Demographic information including date of birth, gender, height, weight, eye and hair color
- Residential address at time of arrest
- Booking number and case identification references
- Custody status information
- Bail amount, if applicable
- Court appearance dates and locations
The Traffic Division of the Mendocino County Superior Court handles all adult traffic and other infraction citations issued in Mendocino County, including those from Fort Bragg. Juvenile traffic citations are processed separately through the juvenile justice system.
Expungement of Arrest Records in Fort Bragg
Under California Penal Code § 1203.4, eligible individuals may petition for expungement of arrest records in Fort Bragg. Expungement is a legal process that effectively seals arrest records from public view, though the records remain accessible to law enforcement agencies and may be considered in certain circumstances such as subsequent offenses or applications for specific types of employment.
Eligibility criteria for expungement in Fort Bragg include:
- Successful completion of all terms of probation
- Payment of all fines, restitution, and court-ordered fees
- No current charges pending for any criminal offense
- No current service of sentence for any offense
- Satisfaction of waiting periods as prescribed by statute
The expungement process requires filing a Petition for Dismissal with the Mendocino County Superior Court. Petitioners must submit the appropriate forms, pay applicable filing fees, and may need to appear at a hearing where a judge will determine whether to grant the petition. If granted, the court will issue an order directing all relevant agencies to update their records to reflect the expungement.
Individuals seeking expungement may obtain assistance through:
Mendocino County Public Defender's Office
175 South School Street
Ukiah, CA 95482
(707) 234-6950
Official Website
Legal Services of Northern California
421 North Oak Street
Ukiah, CA 95482
(707) 462-1471
Official Website
Pursuant to California Labor Code § 432.7, employers are generally prohibited from asking about arrests that did not result in conviction or convictions that have been expunged when making hiring decisions, with certain exceptions for law enforcement positions, health care facilities, and positions requiring security clearances.
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