Colusa County Booking Records
Colusa County 72 hour booking records are managed by the sheriff's office but online access is limited compared to many other California counties. This small rural county in the Sacramento Valley does not run a full public inmate search database on its website. Instead, Colusa County provides basic jail information online and uses VINELink for custody tracking. If you want to check on a recent booking or find out who is in custody at the Colusa County Jail, calling the sheriff's office directly is often the best approach. The booking data is still public under state law, but getting it takes a bit more effort here.
Colusa County Booking Quick Facts
Colusa County Jail Information
The Colusa County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail in the city of Colusa. You can find basic jail information on the Colusa County Jail page on the county website. The page covers visiting hours, jail rules, and general contact information. It does not include a searchable inmate database or booking log. This is a common situation in California's smallest counties where the resources for building and maintaining an online search tool are limited.
The Colusa County website provides jail information including visiting details and contact numbers, but does not offer a searchable inmate database online.
Despite the lack of a fancy search portal, the booking data itself is still public. California law does not give any county an exception based on size. The information exists. You just have to request it through phone or in person rather than searching online.
Colusa Booking Records by Phone
The fastest way to check on a Colusa County booking is to call the sheriff's office. Staff can look up whether someone is currently in custody and share basic booking details. The Colusa County Sheriff's Office main number is (530) 458-0200. Call during business hours for the best chance of getting through to someone who can help. Ask for the jail division or records unit. They handle inquiries about current inmates and recent bookings.
When you call, have the person's full name ready. An approximate date of arrest helps too. The more details you can provide, the faster staff can find the record. For simple checks, like confirming someone is in custody or finding out what charges they face, a phone call usually gets the job done in minutes.
Note: Phone inquiries to the Colusa County Sheriff are the most practical way to access booking data since the county does not post a searchable inmate database online.
Colusa County Booking Law
Government Code §7923.610 applies to Colusa County the same as every other county in California. This law requires booking information to be released to the public. The data includes the full name of the arrested person, date of birth, physical description, time and date of arrest, time and date of booking, arrest location, bail amount, charges filed, and where the person is held. No agency can refuse this.
The fact that Colusa County does not have a public search tool does not mean the data is hidden. The law says it must be made available upon request. If you ask for it, the sheriff must provide it. The 10-day response timeline under the California Public Records Act applies. For urgent needs, calling is faster than waiting for a written response.
Some people wonder if small counties can dodge this law. They cannot. The statute covers every law enforcement agency in California, big or small. Colusa County has the same obligation as Los Angeles or San Francisco when it comes to sharing booking records. The delivery method may differ, but the legal requirement is identical.
VINELink for Colusa County
VINELink is a free service that works in Colusa County. It lets you track the custody status of someone who has been booked into jail. You sign up on the VINELink website with the person's name or booking number and choose how you want to be notified. Options include phone calls, email, or text messages. If the person gets released or transferred, the system sends you an alert.
This is especially useful in Colusa County because it gives you a way to monitor an inmate's status without having to keep calling the jail. Once you are signed up, VINELink does the checking for you. The service is designed for crime victims, but anyone can use it. It covers jails across California, including small facilities like the Colusa County Jail.
Colusa Booking Records in Writing
For a formal copy of booking records from Colusa County, submit a written public records request. Address it to the Colusa County Sheriff's Office at 901 Jay Street, Colusa, CA 95932. Your request should state what records you want, the full name of the person, and any dates or booking numbers you know. The sheriff has 10 days to respond under the Public Records Act. Copy fees may apply, usually a small amount per page.
Written requests are best for situations where you need official documentation. Court cases, legal proceedings, or background research may call for a formal copy of a booking record rather than just a verbal confirmation over the phone. The records division at the sheriff's office handles these requests.
Colusa County Jail Details
The Colusa County Jail is a small facility. It sits in the city of Colusa, which serves as the county seat. The jail handles all bookings for the county, including arrests made by the Colusa County Sheriff, the Colusa Police Department, and the Williams Police Department. Despite the county's small size, the jail runs a complete booking operation. Staff follow the same procedures as larger jails: they collect personal data, take photographs, fingerprint the person, and record all charges.
Under Penal Code §851.5, everyone booked into the Colusa County Jail has the right to at least three phone calls within three hours. The calls can go to a lawyer, bail bond agent, or family member. The jail cannot charge for them. This right is the same at every jail in California no matter the size.
Bail follows the Colusa County bail schedule. The judge can adjust bail at a hearing, but the initial amount is set at booking based on the standard schedule. If bail is posted, the person is released but the booking record remains public.
Note: Colusa County books people arrested in both the city of Colusa and the smaller towns of Williams and Arbuckle, all through the same county jail.
Arrest Records in Colusa County
Booking records and arrest reports are related but separate things in Colusa County. The booking record captures what happens at the jail: name, charges, bail, and custody status. The arrest report covers the incident itself, including what the officer observed, witness statements, and the circumstances of the arrest. Both are kept by law enforcement, but they are different documents.
For the booking record, state law is clear. It must be public. Arrest reports can have more restrictions, especially if the case involves an ongoing investigation. In Colusa County, you can get booking data by calling the sheriff's office or filing a records request. For full arrest reports, you may need to go through a more formal process.
Nearby County Booking Records
Colusa County is in the Sacramento Valley, bordered by several other rural counties. Each one has its own jail and booking records system.