Access Mono County Police Records

Mono County police records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office Records Division in Bridgeport. You can request arrest reports, incident files, and crash documents by phone, mail, or email. Each copy costs $10 per report. Processing usually takes up to three business days once your request is accepted. Reports for active cases cannot be released until the investigation closes. Suspects and investigative leads may not get copies from the Sheriff's Office. Mono County sits in the Eastern Sierra with about 14,000 residents. The Sheriff provides law enforcement across this mountainous county including popular areas like Mammoth Lakes.

Sheriff Records Division

The Records Division at the Mono County Sheriff's Office processes all police records requests. You can call, email, or mail your request to the office. Phone requests work best for simple matters. Call 760-932-7549 and press option 3 to reach Records staff. They can tell you if your report is ready and how much it costs in Mono County.

Email requests go to records@monosheriff.org. Include your name, contact information, and details about what records you want. State the date of the incident, location, names of involved parties, and your case number if you have one. Explain your relationship to the case. Are you a victim, driver, witness, or attorney? This helps staff determine if they can release the records to you in Mono County.

For mail requests, send a letter to the address below. Include all the same information as email requests. Add your mailing address where you want the records sent. Most people prefer email because it is faster and staff can respond right away with questions or updates. Allow up to three days for processing once your request is accepted in Mono County.

Types of Police Records

Arrest records document when someone is booked into custody. These show the person's name, booking date, charges, and bail amount. The Sheriff maintains booking logs that are public under California law. You can request arrest records through the Records Division. Only certain people can get copies. The arrested person, their attorney, and sometimes family members qualify. Third parties without legal standing usually cannot get these files in Mono County.

Incident reports cover crimes, accidents, and calls for service that deputies respond to. Each report shows what happened, who was involved, and what the deputy found. These include victim statements, witness information, and evidence collected. Access is limited to people with legal rights. Victims and parties to the case can request copies. Witnesses cannot get reports unless they have a legal reason. Suspects cannot get reports for active investigations in Mono County.

Traffic collision reports are created when deputies investigate crashes on county roads. The reports document date, time, location, vehicles involved, drivers, passengers, and any damage or injuries. California law requires release to parties of interest. This includes drivers, passengers, vehicle owners, and insurance companies with valid claims. Provide your driver license or claim number when requesting collision reports in Mono County.

The California Highway Patrol handles crashes on state highways. For collisions on Highway 395 and other state routes, contact CHP instead of the Sheriff. CHP crash reports can be requested online at crashes.chp.ca.gov. This system serves the whole state including Mono County.

How to Request Records

Gather information before contacting the Records Division. You need the date of the incident. Get the location or general area where it happened. Write down names of involved parties. Find your case number if a deputy gave you one at the scene. All this helps staff locate your file quickly in Mono County.

Contact the Records Division by phone, email, or mail. Explain what records you want. Be specific. Say whether you need an arrest record, incident report, or collision report. Give all the details you collected. State your connection to the case clearly. The Sheriff needs to know why you are entitled to the records in Mono County.

Wait for staff to locate and review your request. They will check if the records exist and if they can be released. Some files are exempt from disclosure. Reports for active cases cannot be released until investigations close. Suspects and investigative leads do not get copies even after cases close. This is Sheriff's Office policy in Mono County.

If your request is approved, staff will tell you the cost. Each copy is $10. Payment must be received before records are released. The office accepts checks and money orders. They may also take credit cards by phone. Ask about payment options when staff notify you that records are ready in Mono County.

Fees and Processing

Mono County charges $10 per copy for police reports. This flat fee applies to all types of records including arrest reports, incident reports, and collision reports. The fee covers staff time to locate, review, and copy the file. Digital copies cost the same as printed copies in Mono County.

Most requests process within three business days. This timeline starts when staff receive your request and verify you have the right to access the records. Simple requests for a single report usually take less time. Complex requests or files needing redactions take longer. Active investigations delay release until cases close in Mono County.

Some people may qualify for free records under California law. Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking get free copies of their incident reports. The agency must provide these within five days at no charge. Ask about waivers when you submit your request if you think you qualify in Mono County.

Note: Fees and processing times are subject to change, so verify current information with the Records Division before submitting your request.

California Public Records Act

The Public Records Act gives you the right to access police records in California. This law is in Government Code Sections 7920-7931. Any person can make a request. You do not need to be a California resident. The agency must respond within ten days. They can extend this by 14 days if they need more time to search records or consult with legal counsel in Mono County.

Some police records are exempt from disclosure. Active criminal investigations can be withheld to protect case integrity. Personnel files for deputies are confidential except for certain misconduct records. Penal Code Section 832.7 was amended by SB 1421 to require release of records involving officer shootings, serious use of force, sexual assault by officers, or officer dishonesty. These must be provided within 45 days unless an active investigation requires delay in California.

Body camera footage is generally exempt from public release. Government Code Section 7923.625 requires release only for critical incidents. This includes officer-involved shootings and use of force causing serious injury or death. Agencies have 45 days to provide this footage. They can take 30-day extensions for ongoing investigations. Regular body cam video from routine calls remains confidential in Mono County.

State Resources

The California Department of Justice provides guidance on public records 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 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 system. Only law enforcement can access criminal records for third parties in most cases throughout California.

Mono County uses the Citizen RIMS system for some public information. This online portal may have booking logs and other data. Check with the Sheriff's Office about what information is available through this system. For official certified copies of police reports, you still need to submit a formal request to the Records Division in Mono County.

Cities in Mono County

Mono County is largely rural with small communities. The town of Mammoth Lakes is the largest with about 8,000 residents during peak season. Bridgeport is the county seat with about 500 residents. No cities in Mono County have separate police departments. The Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement throughout the entire county. All police records requests go through the Sheriff regardless of where in the county the incident occurred in Mono County.

Nearby California Counties

Adjacent counties have their own police records systems: