Modesto Police Records Search

Modesto police records are maintained by the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department Records Division. Modesto has about 220,000 residents and is the county seat of Stanislaus County. The records division keeps incident reports, arrest records, and traffic collision files for the entire county. You can request copies by contacting the office at 250 E. Hackett Road, Modesto, CA 95358. Most agencies respond within ten days under California law. The Sheriff charges $5 for the first four pages and $1 for each additional page. Domestic violence victims receive free copies. Call (209) 525-7117 with questions about your police records request in Modesto.

Stanislaus County Records Division

The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department Records Division is at 250 E. Hackett Road, Modesto, CA 95358. This is the main office for all police records in Stanislaus County. Call them at (209) 525-7117 for questions about records requests. The office handles requests from Modesto and other cities in the county. Staff can tell you if a report is available and how long it will take to process your request.

Per California Government Code Section 6256, each agency must determine within ten days whether it will release the records you requested. This is the initial response time. Production of the actual records may take additional time depending on the complexity of your request. The Sheriff will tell you an estimated date when you submit your request in Modesto. Most simple requests for crime reports take one to two weeks if you were the victim or involved party.

You must be an authorized person to get a copy of a police report from Modesto. This includes victims, witnesses in some cases, parties involved in traffic crashes, and legal representatives. The Sheriff will not release arrest reports to the person arrested. Investigation records are exempt from disclosure under California law. You can request reports for cases where you were the victim or reporting party in Modesto.

How to Request Police Reports in Modesto

To request a police report from Modesto, contact the records division by phone, mail, or in person. Provide the date of the incident, location, names of people involved, and the report number if you have it. The more details you give, the faster staff can locate your report. If you do not know the report number, call the Sheriff non-emergency line at (209) 552-2468 to get it. They can look up reports by name and date.

Include your contact information with every request. The Sheriff needs your name, phone number, and mailing address. If you want the report emailed, provide an email address. Some agencies charge less for digital copies than printed ones. Ask about electronic delivery when you submit your request. This can save money and get you the report faster in Modesto.

The Stanislaus County Sheriff charges $5 for the first four pages of a report. Each page after that costs $1. A ten-page report would cost $11 total. Payment is due when you pick up the report or before it is mailed. The Sheriff accepts cash, checks, and money orders. Make checks payable to Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department. Include your name and case number on the check.

Note: Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking get free reports under California law.

Police Records Available in Modesto

Crime reports cover incidents like theft, burglary, assault, vandalism, and fraud in Modesto. A deputy writes a report after responding to a call. The report includes what happened, who was involved, and what the deputy observed. You can request a copy if you were the victim. These reports are kept in the county system for many years. Older reports may take longer to locate and produce.

Traffic collision reports show the details of crashes in Modesto. California Vehicle Code Section 20012 requires release of collision reports to involved parties. This includes drivers, passengers, vehicle owners, and insurance companies with a claim number. Most collision reports are ready within one to two weeks. The Sheriff needs time to complete the investigation and finalize the report before releasing it.

Arrest records show when someone was booked into custody in Stanislaus County. The Sheriff posts some booking information online as required by California Government Code Section 7923.610. This includes name, booking date, charges, and bail amount. Full arrest reports with investigation details are not available to the arrested person. These are exempt under California law as active investigation records in Modesto.

Public Records Act in Modesto

The California Public Records Act applies to all police records in Modesto. This law is in California Government Code Sections 7920-7931. Any person can request public records. You do not need to live in Modesto or California. You do not have to explain why you want the records. The Sheriff has ten calendar days to respond to your request. This is just the acknowledgment. They may need more time to search and produce the records.

Some police records are exempt from release. Active investigations are withheld until the case closes. Personnel files are confidential. Body camera footage is exempt except for critical incidents. The Sheriff must cite the specific exemption when denying a request. You can challenge a denial in court if you believe the records should be public under California law.

California Penal Code Section 832.7 covers peace officer personnel records. SB 1421 and SB 16 changed this law to require more transparency. Agencies must now release records of officer-involved shootings, serious use of force, sexual assault by an officer, and dishonesty findings. The Sheriff has 45 days to provide these records. A delay of up to 180 days is allowed if there is an ongoing investigation in Modesto or elsewhere in Stanislaus County.

California Government Code Section 7923.625 covers body camera footage. Agencies must release footage from critical incidents within 45 days. A critical incident includes any shooting or use of force causing serious injury or death. The Sheriff can take 30-day extensions. Other body cam video is not subject to release under the Public Records Act. The Sheriff will likely deny requests for routine body cam footage from Modesto.

Other Record Resources for Modesto

If you need your California criminal history, contact the California Department of Justice. You can request your own record for a $25 fee. This shows all arrests and convictions statewide. It includes Modesto cases and records from other jurisdictions. The DOJ requires fingerprints and a completed application form. Mail your request to PO BOX 160207, Sacramento, CA 95816-0207. More information is at oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/record-review.

For traffic collision reports from the California Highway Patrol, use the online system at crashes.chp.ca.gov. CHP handles crashes on Highway 99 and other state roads in the Modesto area. If your crash was on a city street, the local police or Sheriff has the report. Check your insurance documents to see which agency responded to your crash.

Legal aid services in Stanislaus County can help with records requests and appeals. Contact the Central California Legal Services at (209) 529-0400. They serve low-income residents in Modesto and surrounding areas. They can advise you on your rights under the California Public Records Act. They also help with expungements and record sealing if you qualify under California law.

Police Records in Nearby Cities

Other cities in Stanislaus County and nearby areas maintain police records through local departments or the Sheriff. Each has its own procedures for public records requests.

You can also view Stanislaus County Police Records for more information about Sheriff services across the county.