The Modoc County Inmate Population
The Modoc County inmate population is centered on one active local detention facility: Modoc County Jail, operated by the Modoc County Sheriff's Office in Alturas. The sheriff's corrections page says the jail holds adult men and women, sentenced and unsentenced, on misdemeanor and felony matters. That makes the local jail the place to start for current county custody, but it is not the whole custody picture. A person sentenced to state prison moves into CDCR CIRIS. A federal sentence points to the BOP inmate locator. Immigration custody points to ICE Online Detainee Locator.
Population counts rise and fall for reasons that are local and court-driven. Arrest volume, release decisions, warrants, bail, prosecutor filing choices, court calendars, state prison transfers, and holds from other agencies can all affect the Modoc County inmate population. The county does not appear to publish a live web roster, so current-custody checks are more practical than screen-based in Modoc. Use the sheriff's phone or in-person channel first, then use records requests, court records, CDCR, BOP, ICE, or VINELink when the custody question points outside the jail.
Modoc County Inmate Population Statistics
The strongest population figures come from the sheriff's public corrections page, the BSCC Jail Profile Survey dashboard, BSCC capacity files, grand jury materials, and the Vera Modoc County fact sheet. The public numbers show a small rural jail that usually holds people in the 20s and 30s on an average day. The sheriff's page describes a 48-bed jail, while BSCC and grand jury sources use 43 as the rated or maximum capacity. Both figures should stay visible because they come from different official sources.
| Measure | Figure | Source / Year |
|---|---|---|
| Average daily population | 27.5 | BSCC Jail Profile Survey monthly query, 2025 |
| Annual bookings | 506 | BSCC Jail Profile Survey monthly query, 2025 |
| Sheriff public bed count | 48 beds | Modoc Sheriff's Corrections page, inspected 2026 |
| Rated or maximum capacity | 43 | BSCC rated-capacity spreadsheet updated April 24, 2026, and grand jury sources |
| Latest month located | Dec. 2025: 28 ADP, 52 bookings, 40 highest one-day population | BSCC monthly query |
| County jail count | 1 county jail | Vera Modoc County fact sheet, 2021 |
The BSCC dashboard screenshot is the source that best matches population research tasks because it is built for county jail data exploration.
That dashboard is useful for trends, but it does not replace the sheriff's current-custody channel for one named person.
Modoc County Inmate Population Trends
BSCC trend data shows a small but changeable Modoc County inmate population. The annual ADP reached 39 in 2019, dropped to 31 in 2020, was 30 in 2021, and fell to 22 in 2022. The 2023 figure was 27 for January through September in the BSCC trend report. Monthly BSCC data then shows 25.7 for full-year 2024 and 27.5 for full-year 2025. Those figures support a local story of a jail that is below average capacity most of the time, while single-day counts can still press against the smaller BSCC rated-capacity number.
| Year | Average Daily Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 39 | Highest year in the 2011-2023 BSCC trend table. |
| 2021 | 30 | Vera also reported 30 people in jail on an average day. |
| 2022 | 22 | Lowest year in the 2011-2023 BSCC trend table. |
| 2023 | 27 | January through September only, BSCC data as of Dec. 21, 2023. |
| 2024 | 25.7 | Full-year monthly average from BSCC monthly values; 597 bookings. |
| 2025 | 27.5 | Full-year monthly average from BSCC monthly values; 506 bookings. |
Who Makes Up the Modoc County Inmate Population
The Modoc County inmate population is mostly a local court-processing population rather than a long-term prison population. BSCC's 2023 table reported ADP 27, with 13 sentenced and 14 non-sentenced. The same table split the sentenced population into misdemeanor and felony groups, and the non-sentenced population mostly into felony matters. For 2025, monthly BSCC calculations showed average nonsentenced felony ADP of 19.5, nonsentenced misdemeanor ADP of 1.8, sentenced felony ADP of 4.0, and sentenced misdemeanor ADP of 1.4. That mix matters when a user is trying to read jail records: a booking charge, a court complaint, and final sentence status can change as the case moves.
- Sentenced and unsentenced custody - Modoc County Jail holds both groups, but recent BSCC data shows the average population is mainly non-sentenced felony custody.
- Adult male and female custody - The sheriff's corrections page says the jail houses adult females and adult males.
- County jail, not state prison - Vera reported one county jail, zero state prisons, and zero juvenile facilities in Modoc County in 2021.
- State prison commitments - Vera reported 39 people from Modoc County in the state prison system on an average day in 2021.
Modoc County Jail Capacity
The public capacity record has a documented mismatch. The sheriff's corrections page describes Modoc County Jail as a 48-bed facility and says it is usually 55%-65% full. BSCC's 2026 rated-capacity spreadsheet and the 2023-24 grand jury report use 43 as the rated or maximum capacity. Using the BSCC number, the 2024 average was about 59.7% occupied and the 2025 average was about 64.0% occupied. Using the sheriff's 48-bed number, the same years were about 53.5% and 57.3%. These are calculated rates from researched inputs, not separate official occupancy fields.
Daily highs still matter. August 2025 reached a highest one-day population of 43, which matches the BSCC rated-capacity figure. Recent grand jury materials also focused on maintenance, staffing, camera coverage, mental-health transport, and future jail planning rather than just headcount. A jail can be under average capacity and still have operational strain in a small facility.
Laws Governing Modoc County Inmate Population
California law controls how jail data, arrest details, facility standards, and death-in-custody reporting are handled. For Modoc County inmate population research, the most useful point is that no single record system gives every fact. The sheriff keeps jail and booking records. The court keeps criminal case records. CDCR keeps state prison records. Public access can exist, but exemptions and separate custodians still matter.
Key Statutes:
California Government Code section 7922.535 - agencies must make a CPRA determination within 10 days, with a possible written 14-day extension.
California Government Code section 7923.610 - law-enforcement records rules can make certain arrest facts public while protecting active investigations and safety interests.
California Penal Code section 6030 - BSCC sets and reviews minimum standards for local correctional facilities.
California Penal Code section 10008 - local correctional agencies must post specified in-custody death information when the law applies.
How to Search Modoc County Inmates
No official online Modoc County jail roster was located in the sheriff's public web pages reviewed for the research. The official court FAQ routes custody questions to the Modoc County Sheriff's Department by phone at (530) 233-4416 or in person at 102 S. Court Street. That makes the first step practical rather than portal-based: gather a full name, date of birth or approximate age, arrest date, and arresting agency if known, then contact the sheriff.
- Call the Modoc County Sheriff's Office or jail at (530) 233-4416 for current custody confirmation.
- If phone confirmation is not enough, go to 102 S. Court Street in Alturas for the in-person custody channel named by the court FAQ.
- Use VINELink as a custody-status or notification supplement when a release or transfer alert is needed.
- Use County of Modoc NextRequest for existing booking, arrest, jail log, or booking-photo records not available through immediate custody confirmation.
- Search CDCR CIRIS, BOP, or ICE if the person has left local jail for state prison, federal custody, or immigration detention.
Current Modoc County Inmate Lookup
A current Modoc County inmate lookup is not a normal web roster search. The official search path is the sheriff's phone and in-person channel, with public records and VINELink as backups. The county's records page also points requesters to NextRequest and asks for a clear description, dates or time period, full names, agencies involved, and contact information. Use this detail to avoid a vague request.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Options / Format Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| No official online jail roster located | n/a | n/a | The official path is phone or in person through the Sheriff's Department; use records requests for documents. |
The sheriff's department directory shows Corrections as part of the same office structure that handles jail custody.
That directory helps confirm that custody questions belong with the Sheriff's Office, not a separate county corrections agency.
What a Modoc County Inmate Record Shows
No inspectable Modoc County online inmate profile was found, so a public profile should not be invented. The researched public record supports a narrower field inventory: name and identifying details are needed for custody checks and public-records requests; custody status is confirmed through the sheriff or VINELink when available; booking numbers, booking time, charges, bond, housing, and booking photos may exist in jail or court records, but they were not shown in a public Modoc roster.
| Field | What It Shows / Access Notes |
|---|---|
| Name | Needed for mail, custody checks, and records requests; no official public roster display was located. |
| Custody status | Ask the Sheriff's Department by phone or in person; VINELink may help with status or notification. |
| Booking number | Not published on an official Modoc web roster found during research; request through sheriff records if needed. |
| Charges | Booking charges can differ from formal court charges; use the court portal or clerk for filed cases. |
| Bond or bail | Local jail payment methods were not published in the sources found; verify with the jail or court. |
| Mugshot | No Modoc online mugshot gallery was located; request through records if legally releasable. |
Modoc County Jail vs State Prison
County jail and state prison records answer different questions. Modoc County Jail covers recent arrests, pretrial custody, local sentences, and short-term detention. CDCR covers people sentenced to state prison after the county case. A CIRIS record can show Modoc as a commitment county even when the person is housed far outside Modoc County. It should not be used for local booking status, local bond, jail housing, or current jail visitation classification.
| County Jail | State Prison | |
|---|---|---|
| Run By | Modoc County Sheriff's Office | California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation |
| Who Is Held | Adult local custody, sentenced and unsentenced, misdemeanor and felony | Sentenced state prisoners after transfer to CDCR |
| Where to Look | Sheriff phone or in-person channel, VINELink, NextRequest | CIRIS |
| Records Shown | Current custody and existing booking or jail records if releasable | Name, CDCR number, age, current location, commitment counties, admission date, and parole hearing data when present |
State and Federal Inmate Search
State and federal search tools fill gaps that the local jail cannot fill. CDCR's CIRIS searches by name or CDCR number, and it includes Modoc as a commitment-county option. The BOP locator searches federal prisoners by number or name for federal custody since 1982. ICE's locator searches by A-Number and country of birth or by biographical information for adult immigration detainees. No BOP or ICE detention facility was found in Modoc County, but a Modoc arrest can still lead to custody outside the county.
- Booking
- Jail intake after arrest, including identity, property, fingerprints, and booking record creation.
- Commitment county
- The county tied to a state prison sentence; it may be Modoc even when the CDCR facility is elsewhere.
- Detainer
- A hold or request from another agency that can affect release even after local charges change.
- Disposition
- The court outcome for a charge or case.
Modoc County Detention Facilities
Official sources identify one active county detention facility for the Modoc County inmate population. No separate county work-release center, jail annex, regional jail, active municipal jail, federal prison, ICE detention center, or active CDCR adult prison was located in the county. CDCR lists Devil's Garden Conservation Camp #40 as deactivated in December 2020, so it is not a current facility page.
- Modoc County Jail - the Sheriff's Office-operated county jail in Alturas for adult male and female local custody, sentenced and unsentenced.
Modoc County Inmate Population FAQ
How big is the Modoc County inmate population?
BSCC monthly data shows a 2025 full-year average daily population of 27.5 and 506 annual bookings. The sheriff's page describes a 48-bed jail that is usually 55%-65% full, while BSCC and grand jury sources use 43 as rated or maximum capacity.
How do I search the Modoc County inmate population?
Start with the Sheriff's Office by phone at (530) 233-4416 or in person at 102 S. Court Street because no official online roster was found. Use VINELink for notifications and NextRequest for existing jail or booking records.
Can a released Modoc County inmate be looked up?
A released or older booking is handled as a records question. Use the sheriff's records page or the County of Modoc NextRequest portal with the person's full name, date range, agency, and record type.
Where do state prisoners from Modoc County appear?
After a state prison sentence, search CDCR CIRIS. The person can have Modoc as a commitment county while being housed at a CDCR facility in another county.