Sierra County Booking Information

Sierra County recent bookings are handled through an agreement with Nevada County. Sierra County closed its full-service jail in 2015 and now uses the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility in Nevada County. All Sierra County arrestees get housed at this Nevada County facility. You can call Sierra County at 530-289-3700 or check with Nevada County jail to find someone arrested in Sierra County. This arrangement saves costs for California's second smallest county with only about 3,000 residents. Public records laws still apply so you can get booking information for Sierra County arrests through either county office.

Search Sierra County Bookings

Sierra County operates only a temporary holding facility since March 2015. All inmates get transferred to Nevada County's Wayne Brown Correctional Facility for housing. To find someone arrested in Sierra County, call Sierra County at 530-289-3700. They can tell you where the person is housed. You can also search Nevada County jail records since that is where Sierra County inmates stay.

Nevada County posts jail reports at reports.nevcounty.net. These reports show current inmates including those from Sierra County. Look for people with Sierra County listed as the arresting agency. The system updates regularly so you see current custody status. You can also call Nevada County jail directly for information about Sierra County arrestees.

This arrangement benefits both counties. Sierra County avoided the cost of running a full jail for a tiny population. Nevada County gets revenue from housing Sierra County inmates. Other small California counties use similar agreements to save money. Alpine County sends inmates to El Dorado County. Trinity County sometimes uses similar arrangements. These contracts ensure consistent custody standards while reducing costs for rural counties.

For detailed questions call Sierra County Sheriff's Office at 530-289-3700. Staff can tell you where someone is housed and provide case information. They coordinate with Nevada County on custody matters. If you need to visit an inmate, you go to Nevada County jail since that is where they are physically held. Follow Nevada County's visitation procedures and rules.

Sierra County Custody Operations

Sierra County maintains only a temporary holding facility at their Sheriff's Office. This small facility can hold arrestees for a few hours during processing. Once booking is complete, inmates transfer to Nevada County. The Wayne Brown Correctional Facility in Nevada County houses all Sierra County inmates who need custody beyond initial processing. This arrangement started in March 2015 when Sierra County determined running a full jail was not cost-effective.

Sierra County has California's second smallest population at around 3,000 people. Downieville is the county seat with a population under 300. The entire county covers mountainous terrain in the Sierra Nevada. The region sees heavy snow in winter. Tourism and outdoor recreation drive much of the economy. The Sheriff's Office patrols a large area with very few residents. Arrest volumes are low compared to urban counties. The number of inmates at any time can be counted on one hand.

Nevada County is the logical partner for this arrangement. It borders Sierra County and has more resources. The Wayne Brown Correctional Facility has space for additional inmates. Nevada County charges Sierra County per inmate per day. This costs less than running a full jail facility. Sierra County staff coordinate with Nevada County on custody issues. Inmates from Sierra County get the same services as Nevada County inmates including medical care, meals, and programs.

Note: Sierra County is one of the smallest counties in California and demonstrates how rural areas adapt to limited resources through inter-county cooperation.

Information in Sierra County Booking Records

When you inquire about a Sierra County booking, you learn where the person is housed. Most will be at Nevada County jail after the initial processing. The booking date shows when they were arrested. Charges list the alleged crimes using California code sections. Common charges in mountain counties include drug offenses, DUI, theft, and assault. Rural areas sometimes see charges related to illegal hunting or resource violations.

Bail amounts appear for most bookings. This tells you how much money must be posted for release. Some serious charges have no bail which means a judge must review the case. Court dates for Sierra County cases occur at the Sierra County courthouse in Downieville. Inmates get transported from Nevada County jail for these hearings. The small court system processes cases quickly compared to busy urban courts.

Records from both Sierra County and Nevada County contribute to the full picture. Sierra County maintains arrest records and case files. Nevada County maintains custody records showing housing and behavior while in jail. For complete information you may need to contact both counties. California public records laws apply to both. Basic booking information is available while some details stay confidential to protect privacy and ongoing investigations.

Request Records from Sierra County

Phone inquiries about current inmates are free. Call Sierra County at 530-289-3700 during business hours. For certified copies or detailed arrest reports, submit a written public records request. Send your request to the Sierra County Sheriff's Office in Downieville. Include the arrestee's name, booking date, and any case numbers you have. Staff will search their records and tell you what documents exist.

California law requires agencies to respond within 10 days to public records requests. They can take a 14-day extension for complex searches. Simple booking records usually come back within a few days. Fees apply for copies and certified documents. Ask about costs before submitting your request. Small counties like Sierra often have lower fees than large urban counties due to reduced volumes and simpler procedures.

You can visit the Sheriff's Office in person in Downieville. Bring photo ID and be ready to fill out forms. Staff can answer questions about available records. Downieville is a small mountain town in Northern California. Access can be difficult in winter due to snow. Call ahead if you are traveling from far away. The office has limited hours compared to urban sheriff departments. Planning your visit ensures staff will be available to help you.

VINE Notifications for Sierra County

Sierra County inmates housed at Nevada County jail appear in the VINE system. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. Call 1-877-411-5588 to access VINE by phone 24 hours a day. You can also visit vinelink.vineapps.com/state/CA online. You may need to search Nevada County since that is where Sierra County inmates are housed.

Search for an inmate by entering their name. The system shows current custody status. You can register for alerts about status changes. When the person gets released, you receive a notification by phone, text, or email. VINE updates every 15 minutes so information stays current. The service is free and anonymous. Anyone can use it without explaining why. Crime victims commonly use VINE to track offenders. Families use it to know when someone is released from custody in Nevada County facilities.

Communities in Sierra County

Downieville is the county seat with a population under 300. It sits at an elevation over 2,800 feet in the mountains. The town has historic gold rush buildings and attracts tourists. Loyalton is another small community in Sierra Valley. The entire county has no incorporated cities. The Sheriff's Office provides all law enforcement across the county. Most of Sierra County consists of national forest and private forest lands.

The population is extremely sparse with only about 3,000 residents spread across hundreds of square miles. Many people live on ranches or in cabins far from towns. The Sheriff's Office patrols mountain roads with very limited staff. Arrests are infrequent. When someone does get arrested, they go through brief processing in Sierra County then transfer to Nevada County for custody. This system works well for California's second smallest county.

Nearby California Counties

Sierra County is in the northern Sierra Nevada mountains. It borders several other counties that maintain their own jail systems. Check these nearby counties if you do not find someone in Sierra County: