Find Police Records Butte County

Butte County police records are managed by the Sheriff's Office Records Division at 5 Gillick Way in Oroville. You can search current jail bookings online through Citizen RIMS and CrimeGraphics systems. For formal records requests, contact the division at 530-552-5200 or email BCSOrecords@buttecounty.net. The office handles arrest reports, incident files, traffic collision reports, and civil documents. Live Scan fingerprinting is available by appointment only for background checks. Call ahead to schedule your appointment. Staff work Monday through Friday during regular business hours. They process requests under the California Public Records Act and respond within ten days. Visit the county website for forms and more information about police records in Butte County.

Sheriff Records Division

The Butte County Sheriff's Office Records Division maintains all police documents for the county. This includes arrest records, crime reports, traffic accidents, and jail bookings. Staff process public records requests from crime victims, lawyers, insurance companies, and anyone else who needs police files. The division is at the Sheriff's headquarters in Oroville. You can call, email, or visit in person to request records in Butte County.

For current jail bookings, use the Citizen RIMS system at bcso.citizenrims.com. This shows who is in jail right now. Search by name or browse all bookings. You can see charges, bail amounts, booking dates, and photos. The system updates regularly with new arrests. It also links to CrimeGraphics for additional booking details. These online tools are free to use and do not require a records request in Butte County.

To request official reports, contact the Records Division directly. Call 530-552-5200 during business hours. You can also send an email to BCSOrecords@buttecounty.net. Explain what records you need. Give names, dates, case numbers, or report numbers if you know them. Staff search the files and tell you if the records exist. Processing takes up to ten days under California law. Complex requests may take longer in Butte County.

Live Scan fingerprinting is done by appointment only. Call 530-552-5200 to schedule. The rolling fee is $37. This service is for background checks required by employers, licensing boards, or volunteer programs. Bring photo ID and any paperwork from the requesting agency. Walk-ins are not accepted for Live Scan services in Butte County.

Available Records Types

Butte County keeps several kinds of police records. Arrest reports show when someone was booked into jail. These have the person's name, charges, bail amount, and booking photo. Incident reports document crimes and calls that deputies respond to. These show what happened, who was involved, and what the deputy did. Traffic collision reports are filed when there is a crash on county roads or in areas patrolled by the Sheriff in Butte County.

Civil process records are also handled by the Sheriff. This includes restraining orders, subpoenas, and other court papers served by deputies. These files are public unless sealed by a judge. Coroner reports may be available depending on the case. The Sheriff's Coroner Division investigates deaths in the county. Some coroner records are public while others are confidential based on the circumstances of the death in Butte County.

Certain records cannot be released. Active investigations are usually exempt until the case closes. Personnel files about deputies are confidential unless they involve serious misconduct. Body camera footage is generally not released except for officer-involved shootings and critical incidents. These rules protect ongoing police work and privacy rights under California law.

Request Process Steps

Start by calling or emailing the Records Division. Tell them what records you need. Be specific. Give names, dates, case numbers, and locations. The more detail you provide, the faster staff can search. Vague requests take longer because staff have to look through more files. You can also visit in person at 5 Gillick Way in Oroville during business hours for help with your request in Butte County.

Staff review your request under the California Public Records Act. This law is in Government Code Sections 7920 to 7931. The Sheriff has ten days to respond. They tell you if the records exist and if they can be released. Some records are exempt from disclosure. If your request is denied, the Sheriff must cite the specific exemption that applies. You can appeal or narrow your request to try again.

When records are ready, you pay the fee before you get them. Fees depend on the type and size of the records. Most agencies charge per page for paper copies. Digital files may be free or have lower fees. Ask about costs when you submit your request. The Records Division takes cash, check, or money order. After payment, you pick up the records in Oroville or staff mail them to you in Butte County.

Note: Live Scan appointments must be scheduled in advance by calling the Records Division.

Online Booking Systems

Butte County uses two online systems for jail bookings. Citizen RIMS is the main portal at bcso.citizenrims.com. This shows current inmates and recent arrests. You can search by name or view all bookings. The system displays names, charges, bail amounts, booking dates, and photos. It updates several times a day as new people are booked or released from the Butte County Jail in Oroville.

CrimeGraphics provides additional booking details. This system links from Citizen RIMS. It shows mugshots and full booking history for each inmate. Both systems are free to use. You do not need an account or password. These are public records under California Government Code Section 7923.610. The online systems show current data but not historical records from years ago in Butte County.

For older arrest records, you need to submit a formal records request. The online systems only keep recent bookings. Historical data is archived and requires staff to search. Contact the Records Division for arrests that happened more than a few weeks ago. They can search old files and provide copies for a fee in Butte County.

Cities in Butte County

Butte County includes several cities. Chico is the largest with its own police department. The Chico Police Department maintains its own records division. Contact them for incidents that happened within city limits. Other cities like Oroville, Paradise, and Gridley are smaller. Some contract with the Sheriff for law enforcement while others have their own police in Butte County.

If you are not sure which agency responded to your incident, check the exact location. The Sheriff patrols unincorporated areas and some cities under contract. City police handle calls within their jurisdictions. The Records Division can help you figure out who has your report. They work with local police departments and can direct you to the right agency in Butte County.

Public Records Act Rights

California law gives you the right to access police records. The Public Records Act is in Government Code Sections 7920 through 7931. Any person can make a request. You do not have to live in California. You do not need to give a reason for wanting the records. The agency must respond within ten days. They can extend this by 14 days if the request is complex or requires legal review in Butte County.

Some records are exempt from release. These include ongoing investigations, personnel files, and confidential informant data. Body camera footage is protected except for critical incidents under Government Code Section 7923.625. Officer misconduct records must be released under Penal Code Section 832.7 as changed by SB 1421 and SB 16. These laws increased transparency for serious police misconduct in California.

If a record is denied, the agency must tell you which law exempts it. You can challenge the denial in court. Many people hire lawyers to fight for records release. Legal aid groups may help if you cannot afford an attorney. The court can order the agency to produce records if the exemption was wrongly applied under California law.

Other Law Enforcement

Multiple agencies operate in Butte County. The California Highway Patrol handles traffic enforcement on state highways. CHP investigates serious crashes and makes arrests for driving crimes. Request CHP crash reports at crashes.chp.ca.gov. This online system serves parties of interest like drivers and insurance companies in California.

California State University, Chico has its own police department for the campus. Contact them for incidents that happened on university property. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has law enforcement officers for fire-related crimes. Cal Fire responds to wildfires across Butte County. Know which agency handled your case before you request records in California.

For criminal history records, contact the California Department of Justice. The DOJ maintains statewide arrest and conviction data. You can get your own record for $25 through the Record Review Unit. Visit oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/record-review for instructions. The DOJ does not release other people's criminal history to the public under Penal Code Section 11105 in California.