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  2. Marin County Arrest Records

Marin County, California Arrest Records

Marin County arrest records comprise official paperwork created when someone is detained, booked, or otherwise processed for an alleged offense. In practice, the Marin County Sheriff’s Office or municipal police departments may maintain arrest records, depending on who made the arrest and where the incident occurred. These records serve the public-interest purpose of documenting the government’s use of arrest power, supporting criminal justice administration, and allowing public monitoring of law enforcement activity. 

Under the California Public Records Act (CPRA), government records, including arrest information, are generally available for viewing, inspecting, or copying unless an exemption applies. The CPRA handles law enforcement records under specific provisions. These include Government Code § 7922.525, which states that public records are open to inspection unless exempt, and Government Code § 7923.610, which requires state and local law enforcement agencies to make certain arrest information public, unless disclosure of a particular item would endanger a person or the successful completion of an investigation.

California has a separate statutory scheme for criminal offender record information (CORI) that differs from the CPRA. Under Penal Codes § 11075 and  § 11076, records and data compiled by criminal justice agencies to identify criminal offenders are generally confidential and may be disseminated only as authorized by law.  

In Marin County, arrest records may be maintained by the Marin County Sheriff's Office or by city or town police departments. Some prominent municipal law enforcement agencies serving Marin County include the San Rafael Police Department and the Novato Police Department.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Marin, California?

Under California’s Public Records Act, public records are open to inspection, and “every person” has the right to inspect them unless an exemption applies. For arrest information, California law mandates local and state law enforcement agencies to make certain basic arrest details public, unless releasing a particular item would endanger someone or jeopardize an investigation.

Consequently, the public may generally obtain basic arrest information. However, this does not mean the complete investigative file or all criminal history database records are automatically available to the public. Under California law, certain arrest records must be disclosed to the public, while more comprehensive reports may be limited, redacted, or withheld depending on the circumstances.

The main statutes governing the disclosure of law enforcement information in California include California Government Code § 7922.525 (general right to inspect public records), California Government Code § 7923.610 (arrest information that law enforcement agencies are required to make public). Aside from the California Public Records Act, California’s Penal Code § 13300 governs local summary criminal history information. This is a separate criminal history record system, different from an ordinary public arrest log.  

In California, anyone may request to inspect disclosable arrest information without showing identification. However, custodian law enforcement agencies may still expect requesters to make in-person pickups, provide record-identifying information to aid the search process, or verify their identity (using a valid government ID) when receiving certain documents.  

What Do Public County Arrest Records Contain?

Under California law, typical elements of an arrest record include:

  • The person’s full name and occupation.
  • The individual's physical description, including date of birth, color of eyes and hair, sex, height, and weight
  • Arrest date, time, and location
  • Booking date and time
  • Factual circumstances surrounding the arrest
  • The set bail amount
  • Time and manner of release, or where the person is currently being held
  • Charges the person is being held on, including outstanding warrants, parole holds, and probation holds

Although the elements listed above are generally public, California law allows agencies to withhold or limit certain arrest-related items. According to Government Code § 7923.600, complaint records, intelligence information, security procedures, investigations, or inquiries by state or local agencies are generally exempt from public disclosure to prevent interference with law enforcement proceedings.

Some categories of arrest information that may be withheld in Marin County include:

  • Records that may interfere with a pending investigation
  • Records protected by privacy or safety concerns
  • Records sealed by court order
  • Investigatory files and intelligence/security materials
  • Juvenile records
  • Arrest records sealed under Penal Code § 851.91
  • Certain criminal history information that is separately maintained from ordinary public arrest logs

Marin County,  California Arrest Search

The following section discusses the state law enforcement and federal resources for locating arrest information:

State-level Pathways

California DOJ Criminal History Information: Using a fingerprint-based process, individuals may request a copy of their own criminal history record (referred to as “rap sheet”) from the California Department of Justice. This is useful when checking the completeness or accuracy of one’s criminal history record.

Under California law, criminal history summary records, maintained by the DOJ, are restricted to individuals requesting their own criminal history records, authorized law enforcement agencies, and applicant agencies.    

It is worth noting that this method applies to official background checks, not general public searches of other persons.

Judicial Branch of California's Court-Finder: Although California does not maintain a single statewide public search tool, requesters may use the state court finder to locate the relevant court when arrests result in court cases. Most superior courts operate their own online case search tools for filed cases, and inquirers may use these portals to monitor charges, hearings, and case status in court proceedings that resulted from an arrest.

Note: Court case information systems display post-arrest activity (e.g., charges filed), not the arrest event itself.

Federal Pathways

PACER: At the federal level, requesters may use the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) for federal court case and docket information. This subscription-based platform allows users to search for arrests that result in federal charges (e.g., investigated by federal agencies and prosecuted in federal court). Consequently, users may use PACER to search for federal arrests and prosecutions in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator: Those seeking arrest records for individuals incarcerated in federal facilities may use this search tool to find information on federal inmates held since 1982. The platform allows searches using criteria, such as name or BOP registry number.

Marin County Inmate Locator

Individuals seeking to find arrest information in Marin County via a county inmate locator should visit the Marin County Sheriff’s Office to access the Public Booking Log. This arrest log typically displays information on people arrested and booked into the Marin County Jail in the past 48 hours who are still in custody. The search tool also shows a complete list of inmates as of the time of searching.

To use the sheriff’s inmate locator:

  1. Go to the Marin County Sheriff’s homepage and click on “View Booking Log” to access the Public Booking Log page.
  2. Users may search by entering a person’s last name (optional), clicking on “Last 48 Hours,” or “Currently In Custody.” Using a last name returns specific matches while the other options generate a comprehensive list of inmates currently in custody.
  3. Search results typically return inmates’ personal information (e.g., date of birth, occupation, sex, height, weight, race, hair and eye colors), including booking details (date, time, location, etc.), charges at booking, bond and bail information, and custody status. 

For further inquiries, interested parties may contact the Marin County Sheriff's Office at:

Marin County Sheriff’s Office

1600 Los Gamos Drive, Suite 200

San Rafael, CA 94903

Phone: (415) 473-7250 (Non-emergency)

Active Warrant Search in Marin County

An arrest warrant is a court order directing law enforcement to arrest a specific individual and bring them before the court. In California, a judge or magistrate issues a warrant after the court is satisfied that there is reasonable ground or probable cause to believe the named defendant committed the offense described in the complaint.

A California arrest warrant typically contains:

  • The defendant’s identifying information.
  • The charged offense or offenses
  • The signature of the issuing judge or magistrate
  • The date and time of issuance
  • The amount of bail endorsed on the warrant (if the offense is bailable)

In Marin County, the Marin County Sheriff’s Office maintains a database of all warrants for the entire county. The Sheriff’s Office, through its Warrant Division, also provides warrant details to the public and verifies warrants for all arresting agencies.

To obtain warrant information, the public may search the Sheriff’s online Warrant database for current warrants or call the Warrant Division for further enquiries. Since most warrants issued by the Marin County Superior Court are available online, requesters may wish to begin their search on the portal. Users must enter the exact last name and at least the first letter of the first name to search. They may also add the year of birth to narrow the results.  

Inquirers may also choose to contact the Marin County Sheriff’s Warrant Division or the Marin County Superior Court for information on active warrants. They may call the Warrant Division (during regular business hours) through the “Call Warrants Division” feature on the Division’s page or the Marin County Superior Court at (415) 444-7070.  

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Marin County

The Marin County Sheriff’s Public Booking Log represents the best option for finding free arrest records in Marin County. The Arrest Log displays arrest and custody information for individuals detained in the Marin County Jail in the last 48 hours who are still in detention. Searches on the portal also generate a complete list at the time of search.

However, requesters should note that the online free arrest-related information primarily pertains to current or recent arrest logs. They are not complete arrest files. Furthermore, the Sheriff’s Public Booking Log focuses on arrests that resulted in booking into the county jail within the last 48 hours. This means that older arrests and arrests that did not result in county jail custody will not appear on this free search tool. 

Individuals seeking more than free arrest logs may submit a general public records request online or via an anonymous request. This suggests that ID is not typically required to make a public records request at the county level. Nonetheless, inquirers must provide enough information to assist the staff in identifying the record. If the exact record name is unknown, they are expected to describe the information they believe it contains. 

Marin County Arrest Report

In Marin County, an arrest record and an arrest report are connected,  but they are not the same.

Arrest Record

An arrest record is a summary-level entry showing that an individual was arrested, booked, or processed in a custodial or case-tracking system. In Marin County, requesters may find this type of record in the Sheriff’s booking records and public booking log. The Marin County Sheriff’s Office maintains all booking records for the county and publishes a booking log of all persons arrested and booked into the county jail. Public-facing arrest records that law enforcement agencies are expected to make public under California law include the person’s name, physical description, time and date of arrest and booking, location of arrest, factual circumstances, bail, release status, and charges.

Arrest Report

In contrast, an arrest report is the narrative or incident report prepared by the arresting officer or agency after the arrest. This is a detailed account of the events that led to an arrest. It describes what happened, observations, statements, reasons for arrest, and other investigative details. This means the arrest report is a more comprehensive law enforcement account of an arrest, while the arrest record is a shorter booking/custody-style entry.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Marin County

California offers several record-clearing options for different kinds of arrest-related records. The following section discusses most of the remedies available in Marin County for conviction and non-conviction-related arrest records.

Non- Conviction Arrests

Under Penal Code 851.91, individuals whose arrest did not result in filed charges, had their charges dismissed before trial, completed diversion or “deferred entry of judgment,” or found not guilty after a trial, may petition to seal the arrest and related records. If granted, the records become inaccessible to the public. However, some government agencies may still be able to view these sealed documents. In some instances, applicants do not need to petition the court, as some records may have been automatically sealed by the California Department of Justice under Penal Code section 851.93.

Diversion Programs

California’s specialized arrest-sealing options allow individuals to petition for the sealing of their arrest records if:

Factual Innocence

Individuals who can convince the judge that there was no reasonable basis for their arrest (factual innocence) may have their arrest records sealed and destroyed. However, proving factual innocence is difficult. Those who were found not guilty, or convicted, and had a judge set aside their conviction due to factual innocence may be able to file a request to seal and destroy the records.

Arrests Resulting in Convictions

In California, the typical remedy for arrests that resulted in convictions is a dismissal of the conviction, under Penal Code sections 1203.4, 1203.4a, 1203.41, 1203.43, and 1203.49, depending on how the case was sentenced, not record sealing.

For misdemeanor convictions, the court may grant dismissal if an individual completes probation or obtains early termination of probation. If there is no probation, the person is expected to wait at least one year from the date of conviction. Also, some misdemeanor convictions may have already been automatically dismissed by the DOJ under Penal Code section 1203.425.

For felony convictions, the sentence and current status affect the availability of relief. Potential applicants are expected not to have any new pending cases, and they must not be on probation or parole. If an individual is still on probation, they may initially request early termination of probation under Penal Code section 1203.3. In accordance with Penal Code section 17 (b), a judge may reduce certain felony offenses to misdemeanors (referred to as “wobblers”) and then dismiss them. 

In practice, someone with a Marin County case will often work through the Marin County Superior Court for court-based relief. They may also seek assistance from the Marin County Public Defender’s Clean Slate Services, which specifically offers help with “criminal record sealings and expungements.”

How Do You Remove Marin County Arrest Records From the Internet?

In Marin County, the primary method of removing an arrest record from government-run public internet access is to obtain the relevant record-clearing relief from the court. Under California law, when a judge grants a request to seal arrest records or criminal records, those records become inaccessible to the public. However, some government agencies may still be able to access them.

For an arrest that did not result in a conviction, the applicant may request that the court seal the arrest and related records. This is the standard path for most no-conviction arrests, and Marin County Superior Court’s local rules specifically provide for petitions to seal arrest and related records in the local court. This means that an asking party removes a public-facing arrest record at the source using a sealing order.

The available remedy for a conviction-based arrest differs from that of a no-conviction arrest. Since “true expungement” does not generally exist in California, individuals use remedies such as dismissal or conviction-record sealing, where authorized. 

In Marin County, the Sheriff’s Office usually provides arrest information online through official government systems, such as the public Booking Log and the Records Division-maintained booking records. Since these are official sources, an asking party cannot ask that these records be taken down individually. The preferable option is to ask a court to seal the record, meaning the record is no longer available to the public. However, government agencies may still have access to such records internally.

For incorrect records, the concerned party may submit a public records request to the county. There are also instances where one may review or correct records through state-level processes.