TL;DR:
Accessing your arrest record in San Diego is a straightforward process when you know which agency to contact. Depending on your needs, you can request records from the San Diego Police Department, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, or the California Department of Justice. Each provides different levels of information and has its own process.
- San Diego Police Department: Offers individual arrest records (first page only) for arrests within city limits; requests can be made in person or by mail.
- San Diego County Sheriff’s Department: Provides criminal history records going back 7 years for $14; requests require ID and a form.
- California DOJ: Offers full state criminal history (not limited to 7 years); requires Live Scan fingerprints and a $25 fee.
- No public online database exists for comprehensive arrest records in San Diego County.
- Bail Hotline offers 24/7 assistance to help post bail and secure the release of individuals in pre-trial custody.
Having a copy of your arrest record might be important for upcoming legal proceedings, to review past cases with a lawyer, and for any number of other reasons.
So, how can you get a copy of your arrest record in San Diego? What’s the process for requesting this information, and what organizations can provide it?
This blog will make your San Diego arrest records search a little bit easier. Below, we offer guidance on how to request your record, where to find it, and more. Believe it or not, the process isn’t too difficult, as long as you know what to do and where to go.
Need to post bail for a friend or loved one in San Diego? Bail Hotline is ready to help 24/7! Reach out to our local San Diego bail bond office to help bring your loved one home.
Now, let’s review how you can access your San Diego arrest record.
Arrest Records in San Diego: How to Get Them
Three agencies maintain arrest records and criminal histories in San Diego: The San Diego Police Department, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, and the State of California Department of Justice. Depending on exactly which records you need, you will work with one of these organizations to receive your records.
Keep in mind that the guidance below relates to your own arrest records. There is no complete online database of public arrest records in San Diego. You can look up court cases tried by the county Superior Court as well as look up who’s currently in San Diego County jails, but there is no full digital list of arrests by the city.
Similarly, there is no complete, digital San Diego County public arrest record published by the sheriff or other county departments. It is possible to request these records from the sheriff and complete your own San Diego County arrest records search, however.
With that in mind, here’s a guide to what the three organizations offer in terms of arrest records and how to access them.
San Diego Police Department: Individual Arrest Records
The San Diego Police Department maintains arrest records for arrests that occurred within its jurisdiction (i.e., the City of San Diego). However, the department does not maintain criminal history records for its jurisdiction – these reports need to be requested from the county sheriff or state Department of Justice.
San Diego Police Department arrest records can be requested in person at the department’s Records Division. You can also ask for an arrest record through the mail by sending a written request and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the records division. There is no formal service request form – a written letter is all that’s needed.
Arrest reports, which only include the first page of the full report, cost 50 cents. Payment can be made by check or money order.
The department suggests confirming that a report is ready seven business days after submitting a request via email or phone. The full instructions for requesting reports, contacting the department about a report’s status, and other details are available on the city website.
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department: Criminal Histories Dating Back 7 Years
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department manages most jails in the county and maintains arrest records across its jurisdiction. People interested in accessing their local criminal records going back a maximum of seven years need to request this information from the sheriff.
This process starts with filling out the service request form provided by the sheriff’s department on its website. That form, along with valid photo identification card or a copy of that ID, can then be submitted by email, in person, or via physical mail – see the sheriff’s website linked above for address details and more information about the process.
The department notes that its goal is to fulfill all requests within 3-10 business days, but does promise to do so. A local personal criminal history costs $14, and payment is required at the time the request is submitted. The sheriff accepts cash, credit cards, money orders, certified checks, and personal checks issued by banks based in California.
State of California Department of Justice: State Criminal History Summary Records
Individuals can request their own criminal history records within California from the state’s Department of Justice. This is an exception to the department’s general rule that only authorized law enforcement agencies can access these records.
This option offers two advantages as compared to requesting a criminal history from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. It provides a criminal history for the entire state as opposed to only San Diego County, and it includes all history, not just incidents from the past seven years.
The Department of Justice requires that all applicants in California submit Live Scan fingerprints, a $25 fee (although fee waivers can be used by some applicants), and a completed application. Applicants outside California need to submit manual fingerprint cards, the application, and a processing fee.
The department offers more guidance for the process on its website. This includes instructions on how to challenge the accuracy of a personal criminal history, such as removing or changing an incorrectly listed arrest or conviction.
Compassionate, Professional, and Discreet Bail Bond Service in San Diego and Across California
Bail Hotline is dedicated to providing the support that friends and family need when a loved one is arrested and held in pre-trial custody. As authorized and professional bail bond agents, our team knows how to work with the legal system and help to release people in pre-trial custody as quickly as possible.
Arrests are hard to anticipate and directly paying bail can lead to the money being held by the court for months or even years. By working with a bail bond agent, you can help your friend or loved one exit custody with a much smaller financial commitment.
Learn more about how we can help and get the process started. Reach out to our local San Diego bail bond office, open 24/7, to bring your friend or loved one home.
