Mendocino County Police Records

Police records in Mendocino County are managed through the Sheriff's Office Records Division in Ukiah. The county requires all public records requests to go through its NextRequest online system. You can access arrest logs, incident reports, and crash documents this way. The system tracks your request from start to finish. Staff respond within ten days under state law. Mendocino County sits on the northern California coast with about 91,000 residents. The Sheriff serves most areas while Fort Bragg and Ukiah have city police departments for records within those city limits.

Sheriff Records Division

The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office directs all public records requests through the NextRequest system. This online portal is the only way to submit requests according to office policy. The system replaced phone and mail requests to improve tracking and response times. You need to create a free account to use the portal in Mendocino County.

Visit mendocinocounty.nextrequest.com to submit your request. Click the button to create a new request and fill out the form. Provide details about what records you want. Include names, dates, locations, case numbers, and any other information that helps staff find the right files. The more specific your request, the faster it gets processed in Mendocino County.

After you submit a request, you can log back in anytime to check its status. The system sends email notifications when staff update your request. You will get a message when records are ready or if staff need more information from you. This portal handles requests for arrest records, incident reports, booking photos, and collision reports in Mendocino County.

Police Records Available

Arrest records show who was booked into county jail. Each record has the person's name, booking date, charges, and bail amount. Booking logs are updated daily. You can request arrest records through the NextRequest portal. The Sheriff's Office determines who can receive these based on state law. Victims, attorneys, and sometimes family members can get copies in Mendocino County.

Incident reports are written by deputies after they respond to calls. These cover crimes, accidents, welfare checks, and other events. Reports include what the deputy found, who was there, and what actions were taken. You must have legal standing to get a copy. Victims and involved parties usually qualify. Suspects cannot get reports about cases where they are under investigation. Some reports stay confidential until cases close in Mendocino County.

Traffic collision reports document crashes investigated by the Sheriff's Office. These show date, time, location, vehicles, drivers, and any injuries or damage. California law requires release of collision reports to parties of interest. This includes drivers, passengers, vehicle owners, and insurance companies with valid claims. Provide your driver license or policy number when requesting these files in Mendocino County.

How to Request Police Records

Start by collecting information about the incident. Write down the date it happened. Note the location, even if it is just a general area or street name. Get names of people involved if you know them. Find your case number if a deputy gave you one at the scene. All this helps staff locate your file faster in Mendocino County.

Go to the NextRequest portal and create an account. Use a valid email address because that is how the office communicates with you. Fill out the request form completely. Describe what records you want. Explain your connection to the case. Are you a victim, witness, driver, or attorney? State that clearly so staff know whether you qualify for the records in Mendocino County.

The California Public Records Act gives the Sheriff's Office ten days to respond. They must tell you if the records exist and whether they can release them. Some files are exempt from disclosure. Active investigations, personnel matters, and certain confidential documents cannot be released. If your request is denied, the office must cite the specific law that applies in Mendocino County.

If records are approved, staff will prepare copies and calculate the cost. You receive a notification through the portal. Payment instructions will be included. Once you pay, the records are released. Digital files may be emailed. Paper copies can be picked up or mailed depending on your preference in Mendocino County.

Copy Fees and Payment

Mendocino County charges fees for police records based on the actual cost of copying and staff time. Standard photocopy fees apply for printed records. Digital records may cost less since no printing is involved. The exact fee depends on how many pages and what format you want. Staff will tell you the total cost before releasing records in Mendocino County.

Some people qualify for fee waivers under California law. Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking get free copies of their incident reports. You may need to show proof that you were a victim in the case. Ask about waivers when you submit your request if you believe you qualify in Mendocino County.

Payment must be received before records are released. The Sheriff's Office accepts checks and money orders. Some online payment options may be available through the NextRequest system. Contact the Records Division through the portal to ask about current payment methods if you are not sure what they accept in Mendocino County.

California Public Records Act

The Public Records Act is in Government Code Sections 7920-7931. This law gives you the right to see records held by government agencies in California. Police departments and sheriff offices must follow these rules. You can request any record. The agency has ten days to respond. They can extend this by 14 days if they need more time to search or consult with others in Mendocino County.

Not all police records are public. Some are exempt from disclosure. Examples include active investigations, certain personnel files, and records that would compromise ongoing cases. Penal Code Section 832.7 was changed by SB 1421 to require release of records about officer shootings, serious use of force, and officer misconduct. These must be provided within 45 days unless an active investigation requires a delay in California.

Body camera footage is generally exempt from release. Government Code Section 7923.625 requires agencies to release footage from critical incidents. This includes officer-involved shootings and cases where force caused serious injury or death. Agencies have 45 days to provide this footage. They can extend the deadline if there is an ongoing investigation. Regular body cam video from routine calls stays confidential in Mendocino County.

State and Local Resources

The California Department of Justice provides guidance on public records law at oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/pra. This page explains your rights under the Public Records Act. It covers what you can request, how agencies must respond, and what to do if a request is denied. The Attorney General's office does not handle individual requests but offers general information for California residents.

You can request your own criminal history from the DOJ. This requires fingerprints and a $25 fee. The record shows all arrests and convictions on file in California. Visit oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/record-review for instructions. You cannot get someone else's criminal history through this process. Only law enforcement can access criminal records for third parties in most cases.

For crashes on state highways, contact the California Highway Patrol. CHP investigates collisions on state routes in Mendocino County. You can request CHP crash reports online at crashes.chp.ca.gov. This system lets you search by date and location. Parties of interest can order official copies for insurance and legal purposes throughout California.

Legal aid may be available if you need help with records requests. California Rural Legal Assistance serves low-income residents in Mendocino County. They can provide guidance on public records law and help if your request is wrongly denied. Contact them for assistance with complex records issues in Mendocino County.

Cities in Mendocino County

Ukiah and Fort Bragg have their own police departments. For incidents within these city limits, contact the city police records division instead of the Sheriff. The Sheriff serves unincorporated areas and smaller communities. No cities in Mendocino County have populations over 100,000. Ukiah is the largest with about 16,000 residents and serves as the county seat in Mendocino County.

Nearby California Counties

Surrounding counties have their own police records systems: