Alpine County Jail Bookings and Releases

Alpine County has no jail facilities within its borders. The Sheriff's Office contracts jail services to El Dorado County and Calaveras County. When someone is arrested in Alpine County, they get booked at one of these neighboring county jails. You need to check both El Dorado and Calaveras County inmate databases to locate someone arrested in Alpine County. The Alpine County Sheriff's Office in Markleeville handles all law enforcement for this small rural county. Booking appointments are required if you were arrested but not immediately booked. Walk-ins are not accepted and you will be charged a booking fee.

Alpine County Jail Services

Alpine County is California's smallest county by population. It covers roughly 1,100 square miles with about 90 percent of the land publicly owned. The county has no incorporated cities. The Sheriff's Office provides full service law enforcement to the entire area from headquarters in Markleeville.

There are no jail facilities in Alpine County. Jail services are contracted to El Dorado County and Calaveras County. When deputies make an arrest, the person gets transported to one of these neighboring county jails for booking and detention. This arrangement allows Alpine County to provide custody services without maintaining its own jail facility.

The Alpine County Sheriff's Office is located at 99 Water Street in Markleeville. The physical address is P.O. Box 278, Markleeville, CA 96120. You can call 530-694-2231 for general information. Sheriff Tom Minder leads the department. Nani Ellis handles records requests, licensing, and permits at extension 331 or nellis@alpineso.com.

Alpine County shares a building with County Administration offices. Staff provide law enforcement services across the entire county including Markleeville, Woodfords, Bear Valley, Kirkwood, and other areas. The sheriff office handles patrol, investigations, search and rescue, and court security for Alpine County.

Locating Alpine County Arrestees

To find someone arrested in Alpine County, you must check the jail databases for El Dorado County and Calaveras County. Alpine County arrestees are held at facilities in one of these two counties. Both counties maintain online inmate search tools that update regularly with new bookings and releases.

El Dorado County operates a jail in Placerville. You can search for inmates at eldoradosheriff.citizenrims.com. The database shows current inmates with booking dates, charges, and custody status. Search by name to see if someone from Alpine County is being held there.

Calaveras County runs a detention facility in San Andreas. The inmate search is at calaveras.citizenrims.com. This database includes the same type of information. Both systems update throughout the day as bookings and releases occur.

If you cannot locate someone in either database, contact the Alpine County Sheriff's Office directly. Staff can tell you where the person was transported for booking. They may also provide custody status and basic booking information over the phone at 530-694-2231.

Booking Appointments for Alpine County

Some people arrested in Alpine County are not booked immediately. If you were arrested but not booked when detained, you must schedule an appointment with the Sheriff's Office. You need to complete this booking before you appear for your arraignment in court. This is a critical requirement for Alpine County cases.

Booking staff is limited and appointments are necessary. Walk-ins will not be accepted for booking appointments. You will be charged a fee to be booked. Contact the sheriff office at 530-694-2231 to schedule your appointment. Have your case information ready when you call.

The booking process includes fingerprinting, photographing, and collecting biographical information. Staff will document the charges from your arrest. This creates an official booking record even though Alpine County has no jail. The record goes into the county system and becomes part of your case file.

Requesting Booking Records

You can request booking records from the Alpine County Sheriff's Office. Nani Ellis handles records requests at 530-694-2231 extension 331. Email requests to nellis@alpineso.com. Include the full name of the person, approximate date of booking, and specify what documents you need from the booking file.

For records related to custody at El Dorado or Calaveras County jails, you may also need to contact those agencies. Alpine County maintains arrest and booking information, but the jail facilities keep separate custody records. Ask Alpine County staff which agency has the specific documents you need.

California law requires a response within 10 days under the Public Records Act. The sheriff office may extend this deadline by 14 days for unusual circumstances. You will receive a response telling you when records are ready. Simple requests usually process quickly in this small county.

Fees are limited to the direct cost of duplication. Alpine County can charge for photocopies and staff time in certain situations. Ask about fees before your request is processed. Staff will tell you the expected cost based on what records you need.

Public Disclosure Laws

Government Code section 7923.610 requires law enforcement to make public specific arrestee information. This includes full name and occupation of every person arrested. Physical description with date of birth, eye and hair color, sex, height, and weight must be disclosed. Time and date of arrest, time and date of booking, location of arrest, factual circumstances, bail amount, release information, and all charges including warrants and holds are also public.

Alpine County Sheriff's Office follows this statute for arrests in the county. The law became effective January 1, 2023 statewide. Agencies can withhold information only when disclosure would endanger someone involved in an investigation or compromise the investigation itself. This exception applies narrowly across California.

The California Public Records Act grants broad rights to inspect government records. Government Code section 7923.600 exempts certain investigatory files. But basic booking information must still be disclosed even during active investigations in Alpine County and throughout the state.

Arrest Documentation Requirements

Penal Code section 13125 establishes minimum data standards for arrest documentation. This statute specifies what information agencies must record. Personal ID data includes name, aliases, date of birth, physical description, fingerprints, and address. Arrest data covers the agency, booking number, date, charges, and dispositions. Court data includes case information and final outcomes.

Alpine County follows these standards even though it has no jail facility. Each arrest generates a complete booking record with all required information. Fingerprints and photographs are taken either at the time of arrest or during a scheduled booking appointment. This data goes into state and local criminal justice databases.

Criminal History Records

Criminal history summaries differ from local booking records. The California Department of Justice maintains statewide records. These compile all arrests and dispositions from across California. Access is restricted under Penal Code section 11105. Only law enforcement, certain authorized agencies, and the subject of the record can obtain them. Third parties cannot request criminal history records.

You can request your own record for a $25 fee. California residents must use Live Scan fingerprinting at an authorized location. Out of state residents can submit manual fingerprint cards by mail. Processing takes 2 to 3 days for simple records and up to 2 weeks for complex ones. Visit the California DOJ record review page for instructions.

You cannot give your criminal record copy to employers or other parties. Penal Code section 11142 prohibits this. Penal Code section 11125 prohibits anyone from requiring you to provide your record. Violation is a misdemeanor offense under California law.

Correcting Record Errors

Contact the Alpine County Sheriff's Office if you find errors in local arrest records. Staff review correction requests when you provide supporting documentation. This might include court orders showing the error. The sheriff office cannot modify entries without proper authorization from courts or prosecutors.

For state criminal history records, use the DOJ challenge process under Penal Code sections 11120 through 11127. You must first receive a copy of your record from DOJ. Form BCIA 8706 comes with your record. This is the Claim of Alleged Inaccuracy or Incompleteness form. Submit it with evidence supporting your challenge to the Department of Justice.

Neighboring County Jails

Alpine County borders five other counties. El Dorado County to the west contracts to hold Alpine County inmates. Calaveras County to the southwest also has a contract with Alpine County. Mono County lies to the southeast. Tuolumne County is to the south. Nevada County borders Alpine County to the northwest.

Each county maintains separate jail and booking records. If you are searching for someone arrested in a different jurisdiction, contact that county sheriff's office. Alpine County residents may also end up in state prison. Check the California CDCR inmate locator for people in state custody.

Note: Alpine County has no cities with population over 100,000. In fact, it has no incorporated cities at all. The county seat of Markleeville has fewer than 200 residents. Other communities include Woodfords, Bear Valley, and Kirkwood. The entire county population is approximately 1,100 people. The Alpine County Sheriff's Office serves all areas.