The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office is the county’s largest law enforcement agency, led by Sheriff Jim Cooper and headquartered at 4500 Orange Grove Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95841. For non-emergencies, call 916-874-5115; a TDD line for callers with speech or hearing impairments is 916-874-7128.1Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. Contact Us Cooper took office on December 16, 2022 as the county’s first Black sheriff and serves a four-year term.2Sacramento Observer. Q&A: Jim Cooper, Sacramento’s First Black Sheriff
What the Office Handles
Deputies patrol the unincorporated parts of Sacramento County, which cover the communities outside cities like Sacramento, Folsom, and Citrus Heights. The office also provides contract policing to Rancho Cordova and to the small Delta city of Isleton, which do not run their own police departments.3Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office
The sheriff is the sole authority over the county’s jails, including the Main Jail in downtown Sacramento and the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center in Elk Grove.4California Legislative Information. California Code GOV 26605 A work release program is available as an alternative to traditional incarceration for qualifying inmates.3Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office
The Civil Bureau serves legal papers such as summonses, subpoenas, and eviction notices. After a landlord wins an unlawful detainer case and obtains a writ of possession, the sheriff serves the writ and the tenant has five days to leave. If the tenant stays, the sheriff carries out a forcible eviction. The office cannot give legal advice or stop a court-ordered eviction.5Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. Civil Bureau
Reporting a Crime or Reaching a Deputy
Call 911 for emergencies. For everything else, use the main non-emergency line at 916-874-5115. The office accepts online crime reports for certain offenses that happened inside unincorporated Sacramento County or Rancho Cordova.1Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. Contact Us
Visiting Someone in the Main Jail
Each inmate is allowed two 45-minute social visits per week, scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. No more than three visitors, children included, can visit at one time. Visits run throughout the day, and the last visit of the day must be registered no later than 9:30 p.m.6Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. Main Jail Visitation
Every visitor must be at least 18 and present a valid photo ID such as a driver’s license, military ID, or passport. An adult bringing a minor needs to show proof of the relationship, like a birth certificate or guardianship papers. Emancipated minors can visit on their own.6Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. Main Jail Visitation
Filing a Complaint Against a Deputy
Anyone can file a complaint about a sheriff’s office employee. You can start the complaint by phone or letter, but you will need to be available for a personal interview at some point. Complaint forms are available at the public counter of any sheriff’s building and from Internal Affairs. Completed forms go to Internal Affairs at 4500 Orange Grove Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95841, or you can call (916) 874-5098.7Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. Citizen Complaint Form Instructions
Filing a complaint does not affect a pending criminal case; the prosecutor still decides independently whether to pursue charges. Complaint records are kept for at least five years. If you believe your complaint was not properly investigated, the form points to three outside options: the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office at (916) 874-6218, the California Department of Justice at (916) 227-3244, or the FBI at (916) 746-7000.7Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. Citizen Complaint Form Instructions
Independent Oversight
The Sacramento County Office of Inspector General provides independent oversight of the sheriff’s office. Internal Affairs runs the actual investigations, and the Inspector General reviews them to confirm they were thorough and fair. The Inspector General also tracks officer-involved shootings, use-of-force cases, and in-custody deaths, and can audit investigations, review policies, and recommend changes. A Sheriff Community Review Commission gives residents another channel to raise concerns.8Sacramento County Office of Inspector General. Inspector General
Requesting Public Records
To request records under the California Public Records Act, submit the request through the online portal at sacramentocountysheriff.nextrequest.com or mail it to the Professional Standards Division at the Orange Grove Avenue address. The county will generally decide within 10 days whether it has disclosable records, with a possible 14-day extension for complex requests involving large volumes or consultation with other agencies.9Sacramento County. Public Records Act Request
Emailed records are free. Inspecting records in person is free. Paper copies run about five cents per page. Some categories are not disclosable, including complaint records, internal investigations, intelligence information, security procedures, and investigatory files compiled for correctional purposes.9Sacramento County. Public Records Act Request