Kings County Public Records / Kings County Arrest Records

Kings County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Kings County

Arrest records in Kings County are generally accessible to members of the public under California law, though access is subject to specific statutory limitations. Pursuant to the California Public Records Act (CPRA), codified at Government Code § 7920.000 et seq., state and local agencies are required to make the majority of government records available for public inspection upon request. Law enforcement agencies, including the Kings County Sheriff's Office, are obligated to disclose certain arrest-related information, including the subject's name, the date and time of arrest, the location of arrest, and the charges filed.

It is important to distinguish between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and does not indicate guilt or a criminal conviction. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law. Under California Penal Code § 851.8, individuals who were arrested but not convicted may petition for factual innocence and the sealing or destruction of their arrest records. The California Department of Justice provides guidance on public records access and criminal history information for members of the public seeking to understand their rights. Additionally, the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) agency publishes California Public Records Act FAQs addressing what categories of arrest records are subject to disclosure and which are exempt.

What's in Kings County Arrest Records

Kings County arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking and maintained by the arresting agency. The following categories of information are typically included in an arrest record:

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Physical descriptors including height, weight, eye color, and hair color
Race and gender
Last known residential address

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and location of arrest
Name and badge number of the arresting officer
Arresting agency (e.g., Kings County Sheriff's Office, Hanford Police Department)
Circumstances and narrative summary of the arrest

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed, including California Penal Code or Health and Safety Code citations
Classification of charges (felony, misdemeanor, or infraction)
Number of counts per charge

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Date of warrant issuance
Jurisdiction of the warrant

Booking Information:

Booking number assigned by the detention facility
Date and time of booking
Facility where the individual was booked (e.g., Kings County Jail)
Fingerprint and photograph (mugshot) notation

Bond/Bail Information:

Bail amount set by the court or schedule
Bond type (cash, surety, own recognizance)
Bail bondsman information, if applicable

Court Information:

Case number assigned by the Superior Court of California, County of Kings
Scheduled arraignment or hearing dates
Assigned courtroom and judicial officer

Custody Status:

Current custody status (in custody, released, transferred)
Release date and conditions of release, if applicable

Additional Information May Include:

Prior arrest history references
Probation or parole status at time of arrest
Immigration hold notations, if applicable
Juvenile status indicators (records may be sealed)

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Kings County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Kings County arrest records through several official channels. The following steps outline the standard process for accessing these records:

Contact the Kings County Sheriff's Office — The Sheriff's Office maintains arrest and booking records for individuals processed through the Kings County Jail. Requesters may submit a California Public Records Act request in person, by mail, or through the agency's designated request process.
Submit a Written CPRA Request — Pursuant to Government Code § 7922.530, agencies must respond to public records requests within ten calendar days. Requests should identify the subject by full name and date of birth and specify the type of records sought.
Visit the Kings County Superior Court Records Division — Court records related to criminal cases, including arraignment records and case dispositions, are maintained by the Superior Court of California, County of Kings. The Records Division processes requests for copies of public court documents.
Request Records from the Hanford Police Department — For arrests made within the City of Hanford, the Hanford Police Department maintains its own arrest logs and incident reports, accessible via a written CPRA request.
Pay Applicable Fees — Agencies may charge duplication fees for copies of records. Fee schedules vary by agency and are established pursuant to state law.

Kings County Sheriff's Office 1400 W Lacey Blvd, Hanford, CA 93230 (559) 852-2700 Kings County Sheriff's Office

Kings County Superior Court — Records Division 1426 South Drive, Hanford, CA 93230 (559) 582-1010 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM Records Division — Superior Court of California, County of Kings

Hanford Police Department 315 N Douty St, Hanford, CA 93230 (559) 585-2540 Hanford Police Department

How To Find Kings County Arrest Records Online

Several official online platforms currently provide access to Kings County arrest-related information without requiring an in-person visit.

Kings County Sheriff's Office Website — The Sheriff's Office may publish current inmate rosters and recent booking information on its official website. Members of the public may search by name to determine whether an individual is currently in custody at the Kings County Jail.
Superior Court of California, County of Kings — Online Case Access — The Superior Court of California, County of Kings provides online access to case information, including criminal case filings, hearing dates, and case dispositions. Users may search by case number or party name.
California Courts Case Information Portal — The California Courts statewide portal allows users to search for case information across multiple counties, including Kings County criminal matters.
California Incarcerated Records and Information Search (CIRIS) — The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation operates the California Incarcerated Records and Information Search, an online tool that allows the public to look up individuals currently in CDCR custody, including those transferred from Kings County following conviction.
California Department of Justice — Applicant Fingerprint-Based Background Checks — Individuals seeking their own criminal history record may submit a request through the California DOJ's online portal using a fingerprint-based search.

How To Search Kings County Arrest Records for Free?

Members of the public may access certain Kings County arrest records at no cost through the following methods:

In-Person Inspection at the Kings County Sheriff's Office — Under the CPRA, members of the public have the right to inspect public records in person at no charge. Fees apply only when copies are requested.
Online Inmate Roster — The Kings County Sheriff's Office publishes a current inmate roster on its website, which is accessible free of charge and updated regularly.
Superior Court Public Terminals — The Kings County Superior Court provides public-access computer terminals at the courthouse where members of the public may search and view case records at no cost during regular business hours.
CIRIS Online Search — The California Incarcerated Records and Information Search is a free, publicly accessible tool for locating individuals in state prison custody.
California Courts Online Portal — Basic case information, including criminal case filings and hearing schedules, is available at no charge through the California Courts online case search system.
Written CPRA Requests — Submitting a written public records request to the Kings County Sheriff's Office or Hanford Police Department is free of charge; fees are assessed only for document duplication.

How To Delete Arrest Records in Kings County

California law provides two primary legal remedies for individuals seeking to limit public access to their arrest records: expungement (legal erasure or dismissal of a conviction) and sealing (restricting public access to arrest records). These remedies are distinct and governed by separate statutory provisions.

Expungement under California Penal Code § 1203.4 allows individuals who have completed probation to petition the court to dismiss their conviction. An expunged conviction is not destroyed but is noted as dismissed in court records, and the individual may generally state they have not been convicted for most purposes. Expungement does not apply to arrests that did not result in conviction.

Sealing of Arrest Records is available under California Penal Code § 851.91, which took effect in 2018. Under this provision, individuals who were arrested but not convicted — or whose convictions were dismissed — may petition the Superior Court to have their arrest record sealed. Once sealed, the record is not accessible to the general public, though it remains available to certain law enforcement and government agencies.

Petition for Factual Innocence under Penal Code § 851.8 provides the strongest form of relief, allowing a court to find that no reasonable cause existed for the arrest and ordering the record sealed and destroyed.

Steps to Seal or Expunge an Arrest Record in Kings County:

Obtain a copy of the arrest record and case disposition from the Kings County Superior Court Records Division.
Determine eligibility based on the outcome of the case (no charges filed, charges dismissed, acquittal, or completed probation).
Complete the appropriate petition form (CR-180 for expungement; CR-409 for sealing under § 851.91).
File the petition with the Kings County Superior Court and pay the applicable filing fee (fee waivers may be available for qualifying individuals).
Serve the petition on the prosecuting agency (Kings County District Attorney's Office).
Attend the scheduled hearing and present the petition to the assigned judicial officer.

Kings County District Attorney's Office 1400 W Lacey Blvd, Hanford, CA 93230 (559) 852-2631 Kings County District Attorney

What Happens After Arrest in Kings County?

The criminal justice process in Kings County follows a structured sequence from the point of arrest through final case disposition.

Arrest and Booking — Following an arrest, the individual is transported to the Kings County Jail, where booking procedures are completed. Booking includes fingerprinting, photographing, and recording of personal information and charges.
Bail Determination — A bail schedule is applied based on the charges. For serious felonies, a bail hearing before a judicial officer may be required.
Arraignment — The arraigned individual appears before a judge at the Kings County Superior Court, is formally advised of the charges, and enters an initial plea. Arraignment must occur within 48 hours of arrest for individuals in custody, excluding weekends and holidays, pursuant to California Penal Code § 825.
Preliminary Hearing or Grand Jury — For felony charges, a preliminary hearing is held to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to proceed to trial.
Pre-Trial Proceedings — Motions, discovery, and plea negotiations occur during this phase. Many cases are resolved through plea agreements at this stage.
Trial — If no plea agreement is reached, the case proceeds to a jury or bench trial at the Kings County Superior Court.
Sentencing — Upon conviction, the court imposes a sentence, which may include incarceration, probation, fines, or a combination thereof.
Appeals — Convicted individuals retain the right to appeal their conviction or sentence to the California Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District.

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Kings County?

Arrest records in Kings County are subject to retention schedules established under California law and applicable local agency policies. Under the California Government Code and regulations promulgated by the California Secretary of State, law enforcement agencies are required to maintain arrest records for specified minimum periods.

Local Law Enforcement Records — Pursuant to California Government Code § 34090, local agencies may destroy records after two years, provided no legal hold or pending litigation applies. However, arrest records associated with serious or violent felonies are typically retained indefinitely.
California Department of Justice Records — The California DOJ maintains a statewide criminal history repository. Arrest records submitted to the DOJ are retained in the repository regardless of case outcome, unless a court orders sealing or destruction.
Court Records — Criminal case records at the Kings County Superior Court are retained according to the California Rules of Court, Rule 10.1030, which establishes minimum retention periods ranging from one year for minor infractions to permanent retention for felony convictions.
Sealed or Destroyed Records — When a court orders an arrest record sealed under Penal Code § 851.91 or destroyed under § 851.8, the record is removed from public access or physically destroyed in accordance with the court order.

Different agencies within Kings County — including the Sheriff's Office, Hanford Police Department, and the Superior Court — maintain independent records systems and may apply different retention schedules. Records retention serves the dual purpose of preserving evidence for ongoing investigations and maintaining accountability within the criminal justice system.

How to Find Mugshots in Kings County

What Mugshots Are A mugshot is a standardized photographic image taken by law enforcement at the time of booking. Mugshots are part of the official arrest record and are maintained alongside fingerprints and other identifying information.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained Mugshots taken in Kings County are maintained by the Kings County Sheriff's Office for individuals booked into the Kings County Jail. The Hanford Police Department and other municipal agencies maintain their own booking photograph records for arrests processed at their facilities.

Finding Mugshots Members of the public may request booking photographs through a written California Public Records Act request submitted to the relevant law enforcement agency. The Kings County Sheriff's Office processes such requests in accordance with the CPRA.

Can They Be Found Online The Kings County Sheriff's Office may publish booking photographs as part of its online inmate roster. Third-party websites also aggregate and republish mugshots sourced from public records; however, the accuracy and currency of information on such sites cannot be verified by official agencies.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially To obtain a certified copy of a booking photograph, members of the public should submit a written CPRA request to the Kings County Sheriff's Office, identifying the subject by full name, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest. Fees for copies are assessed pursuant to applicable state law.

Restrictions on Mugshot Access Booking photographs associated with sealed arrest records are not subject to public disclosure. California law does not currently impose a blanket prohibition on the publication of mugshots by third-party websites; however, individuals whose records have been sealed may request removal from such sites on the basis of the court's sealing order. The California DOJ's public records guidance addresses the intersection of privacy rights and public access to criminal history information.