TL;DR 
San Diego, home to 1.3M residents, saw 63,938 serious crimes and 10,723 arrests for minor offenses in the first half of 2024. DUI arrests totaled 2,269, and a human trafficking sting at Comic-Con led to 14 arrests. For bail assistance, Bail Hotline offers 24/7 support across the region. 

TL;DR 
San Diego arrest records are publicly accessible via the San Diego Police Department or County Sheriff’s Department. Individual arrest reports cost $0.50, while a seven-year criminal history costs $14. For older records, contact the California Department of Justice. Bail Hotline offers 24/7 bail assistance in San Diego and surrounding areas. 

If you, a friend, or a loved one have been arrested in San Diego and want to review information related to the arrest, it’s important to know how to read San Deigo arrest records. It’s also crucial to know how to access San Diego County arrest records and City of San Diego arrest records. 

From preparing for an upcoming court date to checking out the criminal history of yourself and others, there are plenty of reasons to collect and review San Diego arrest records. In this blog, we’ll guide you through both processes – how to gather these arrest records and how to read them as well. 

Have you, a friend, or a loved one been arrested in San Diego and need to post bail to exit pre-trial holding? Bail Hotline is here to help people exit holding and return to their everyday lives before their court appearances. Contact our local San Diego office for 24/7 support! 

How to Access San Diego Arrest Records

In general, arrest records are publicly available in the City of San Diego and San Diego County for the individuals involved in the arrest. In other words, if you follow the correct process for requesting these personal arrest records, you can normally receive them. 

So, how can you get a copy of an arrest record in San Diego? 

Arrest Records in the City of San Diego and San Diego County

Whether you need a copy of DUI arrest records for San Diego or for any other infraction in the city itself related to your own history, you have a few options. Depending on what you need in terms of criminal records, a few different law enforcement agencies are involved.  

The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) provides copies of the police reports it takes in the course of its operations. This includes arrests as well as crimes and incidents. If you want to review a specific San Diego arrest record for a given crime or incident, this is the place to start. 

The SDPD offers detailed guidance for requesting an arrest report on the page linked in the prior paragraph. In the big picture, the most important things you should know are: 

• San Diego arrest records for individual incidents can be requested through the mail or in person at the SDPD Records Division. 
• Mailed requests should include the parties involved in the incident, the date when and place where the incident occurred, and the report number or incident number, if available. 
• Arrest reports cost 50 cents per record. 
• It takes about seven business days for the records to be prepared and they need to be picked up in person. You should contact the department via email or phone (using the numbers listed on the department’s page linked above) to ensure the records are ready before picking them up. 

When requesting a full criminal history – not just a single arrest report but a log of all previous arrests – there are two major options. These apply to residents of both the City of San Diego and San Diego County. 

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (SDCSD) maintains arrest records for both the county and city. San Diego County Sheriff arrest records go back seven years from the present day, including all arrests made in the County inclusive of the City of San Diego. The SDCSD will essentially complete your San Diego arrest records search for you. 

Use the instructions offered by the SDCSD to submit a request for your local criminal history going back seven years. Key points to remember include filling out the form provided by the Sheriff’s Department, submitting it in person or via mail or email, and paying the $14 fee required by the records office. 

For arrest records dating back longer than seven years, the California Department of Justice offers criminal history summary records. Any California resident can request this record for themselves and must do so directly. Persons making the request follow the instructions on the DOJ website, submit their fingerprints, and pay the processing fee (although fee waivers are available). 

How to Read San Diego Arrest Records

Arrest records from San Diego law enforcement agencies are generally written in a shorthand style that can take a little time to get used to. However, the information is relatively easy to understand. 

The most important fields for most individuals – the type of offense, date of incident, and case number – are clearly labeled and displayed on the front page of the record. In some cases, only the front page of the San Diego arrest record is supplied. In other cases, the entire record may be provided. 

If the information in the arrest record is unclear or hard to understand, our suggestion is to consult with your attorney. They have the experience needed to understand these documents and help you understand them.  

The staff at the records division of the law enforcement agencies that supply the criminal records may also be able to help. It doesn’t hurt to ask for assistance and, if you pick up your records in person, you will already be in their presence. They may be able to clarify specific information or explain what a certain piece of data means. 

Especially in the case of specific offenses listed, simply conducting an internet search for the term written on the report can offer more information about the charge. 

Bail Bonds in the City of San Diego and San Diego County

Bail Hotline is always ready to help you, your friends, and your family members post bail and exit pre-trial holding. That means returning to your normal life, avoiding disruptions related to work and family while having more time and resources to prepare for any upcoming court appearances. 

Our local San Diego office can support you 24/7 – get in touch today to start the process!