Sierra County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Sierra County come from one of the smallest court systems in all of California. With roughly 3,000 residents, Sierra County is the least populated county in the state. The county seat is Downieville, a former Gold Rush town tucked into the northern Sierra Nevada mountains. The Superior Court handles all criminal filings here, and the volume is extremely low. There is no local jail. Sierra County shares correctional facilities with Plumas County. For background checks and statewide criminal history data, the California Department of Justice serves as the primary resource.

Sierra County Court Records

The Sierra County Superior Court is in Downieville. It handles all criminal cases filed in the county. Given the tiny population, the court's criminal caseload is among the smallest in the state. The court website at sierra.courts.ca.gov has general court information, but there is no online case search portal. To look up a criminal case, you need to call or visit the clerk's office.

Under California law, criminal court records are public. Anyone can ask to see them unless a judge has sealed the record. Provide the clerk with a defendant name, and ideally a case number or rough date. Copies are 50 cents per page. Certified copies cost $40. Clerk searches taking more than 10 minutes come with a $15 fee. With so few cases filed each year in Sierra County, most searches should be quick.

The courthouse is at 100 Courthouse Square in Downieville. Getting there requires driving mountain roads, and winter weather can make the trip difficult. Call the clerk first to see if your request can be handled by phone or mail. That is often easier than making the drive.

Jail and Arrest Records

Sierra County does not have its own jail. Inmates arrested in Sierra County are held at the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility in Nevada County. You can reach that facility at (530) 265-1291. This shared arrangement means booking records for Sierra County arrests may be in the Nevada County system rather than a Sierra County database.

The Sierra County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement throughout the county. Contact the sheriff for information about arrests and incident reports. Because the county is so small, the sheriff's office is a one-stop source for most law enforcement records generated locally. There is no online tool for searching Sierra County arrest records or bookings.

For people transferred to the California state prison system after a Sierra County conviction, use the CDCR's CIRIS inmate search. That system covers all state prison inmates regardless of which county handled the original case.

Note: Because Sierra County shares jail space with other counties, you may need to check more than one agency to find a specific booking record.

Statewide Criminal Record Tools

The California Department of Justice is the go-to source for formal criminal history records that go beyond what the local court and sheriff keep. The DOJ maintains RAP sheets based on fingerprint submissions from law enforcement agencies across the state. You can request your own RAP sheet through Live Scan. The fee is $25. Finding a Live Scan provider near Sierra County may require driving to Grass Valley or Nevada City in Nevada County, or to a town in Butte County. The DOJ Live Scan locator lists all available locations.

Once fingerprints are submitted, the DOJ compares them against every set in the state database. Results come back in 48 to 72 hours if no record exists. A match takes longer because a person has to review it. Check the status at applicantstatus.doj.ca.gov. The DOJ handles about 2 million background checks per year statewide, so some processing delay is normal.

The sex offender registry at meganslaw.ca.gov covers all of California, including Sierra County. Given the county's population of about 3,000, the number of registrants here is minimal. But the tool is still worth checking if you have concerns about a specific person or address.

Clearing Sierra County Records

California record relief laws apply in Sierra County the same as everywhere else. Penal Code Section 1203.4 allows people who completed probation to petition for their conviction to be dismissed. The petition goes to the Sierra County Superior Court. A dismissed conviction still shows on a RAP sheet, but it is marked accordingly. This can remove barriers when looking for work.

Arrest record sealing is available under Penal Code Section 851.87 when no conviction resulted. Proposition 47 covers resentencing for certain nonviolent offenses. Proposition 64 provides marijuana-related record relief. All of these require filing a petition with the court.

Legal resources are extremely limited in Sierra County. The nearest legal aid offices are likely in the Grass Valley or Chico area. Self-help resources through the California courts website at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov can help you understand the process even if you cannot find a local attorney.

How to Access Criminal Records

Criminal records from Sierra County are spread across a few different agencies. Which one you contact depends on the type of record. Court records, arrest data, and statewide criminal histories each have their own source.

• Call the Sierra County Superior Court clerk for case records and hearing information
• Contact the sheriff for local arrest and incident reports
• Call Wayne Brown Correctional Facility at (530) 265-1291 for current inmate info
• Get your own RAP sheet through Live Scan and the DOJ ($25 fee)
• Search CIRIS for inmates in the California state prison system

Given Sierra County's isolation, mail and phone requests are the most practical way to get records for many people. The courthouse in Downieville is not easy to reach, especially in winter months. Call ahead to confirm what the clerk needs. Include your contact information, the defendant's name, any case number, and payment for copy fees. Staff in a court this small tend to be responsive when they can be.

Note: Downieville is at an elevation above 2,800 feet. Highway 49, the main route in, can close or become hazardous during winter storms. Plan accordingly if you intend to visit in person.

Nearby Counties

Sierra County is surrounded by other mountain and foothill counties. Check these pages for criminal record information in the surrounding area.