Arrest Records California – Search Jail & Inmate Records
California · County jail bookings, Superior Court cases, CDCR custody and record clearing
Trace a California Arrest From County Booking to the Final Court Result
California arrest information is divided among city police departments, county sheriffs, 58 Superior Courts, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the California Department of Justice. This page shows the fastest search order, explains what booking fields mean, helps families handle custody services and provides separate paths for correcting, sealing or dismissing eligible records.
CALIFORNIA RECORD RELAY
VERIFYING
COUNTY BOOKING SEARCH
LIVE
JAIL
REPORT
COURT
SUPERIOR COURT FILE
OUTCOME FOUND
IDENTITY + DISPOSITION VERIFIED
Arrest does not mean conviction. A booking charge records an allegation received during arrest or intake. The District Attorney may decline, replace or reduce it, and the court can dismiss the case or find the defendant not guilty.
58 court systemsEach county Superior Court maintains its own cases.
No all-jail searchRecent bookings must be searched county by county.
CDCR limitationCIRIS is for selected state-prison records.
DOJ record review$25 plus the Live Scan provider’s rolling charge.
Mugshot accessAvailability differs by sheriff and arresting agency.
One California arrest can create five separate files
COUNTY JAIL
Is the person currently booked?Booking number, charges, bail, housing, court date, holds and release information.
Best first search for a new arrest.
ARRESTING AGENCY
What did officers report?Incident report, arrest report, probable-cause narrative, evidence references and supplements.
Request from the police or sheriff that created it.
SUPERIOR COURT
What charge was formally filed?Complaint, information, indictment, hearings, warrants, dismissal, plea, judgment and sentence.
Use the court case for the final outcome.
CDCR CIRIS
Was the person sent to state prison?CDCR number, current institution, commitment county and parole-eligibility information when displayed.
Not a county-jail or conviction search.
DOJ RAP SHEET
What appears in the subject’s state history?Fingerprint-based California Record of Arrest and Prosecution information for personal review.
Only the subject can request this review.
How to find someone recently arrested in California
Identify the county of booking
Search where the person was taken after arrest—not only where the alleged conduct occurred or where the person lives.
Identify the arresting agency
Determine whether the arrest involved a city police department, county sheriff, California Highway Patrol or another agency.
Open the official county sheriff or detention website
Look for Inmate Locator, Who’s in Jail, Booking Search or Inmate Information.
Search the booking number first
A booking identifier is safer than a common-name search.
Otherwise use last name and first name
Add the date of birth or approximate age only when the portal requests it.
Open every plausible match
One person can have several bookings, and similar names may belong to different people.
Save all identifiers
Record the booking number, person-file number, arrest date, agency, case number and facility.
Read every charge, hold and warrant
One paid bond may not resolve another case or agency detainer.
Confirm current custody before paying or traveling
Housing, bail and release information can change rapidly.
Search the county Superior Court
Use the court case to confirm formal charges and the final disposition.
Very recent arrest: Booking, fingerprinting, medical screening and identity checks can delay online publication. Call the official jail-information or police non-emergency line when the arrest occurred only a few hours ago.
Open the official California county inmate locator
Los Angeles CountyUse the LASD Inmate Information Center for county jail custody.
Open LASD inmate search
San Diego CountySelect “Who’s in Jail” from the Sheriff’s official homepage.
Open San Diego Sheriff
Orange CountyThe current Inmate Information System requires account authentication.
Open Orange County inmate information
Riverside CountySearch booking numbers and open jail-service instructions.
Open Riverside inmate information
San Bernardino CountySearch by booking number or name and schedule eligible visits.
Open San Bernardino locator
Sacramento CountySearch by last name, XREF number or recent booking.
Open Sacramento inmate information
Alameda CountySearch by name or PFN and compare current custody information.
Open Alameda inmate locator
Santa Clara CountyUse the Office of the Sheriff booking-information application.
Open Santa Clara booking search
Fresno CountyView custody, booking number, charges, bail and projected release when available.
Open Fresno inmate information
Kern CountySearch the Sheriff’s current inmate-information system.
Open Kern inmate search
Another California county: Open the county government or sheriff website and select its official custody search. Then use California Courts’ county directory to locate the related Superior Court.
Confirm the person before relying on an arrest record
Full legal name matches
Middle name, alias or suffix is consistent
Date of birth or age matches
Booking date fits the known event
Arresting agency matches the location
Booking or person-file number is consistent
Court docket follows the same arrest
Disposition matches the formal court file
Minimum verification rule: Match at least two independent identifiers before sending money, publishing an allegation, contacting an employer or treating a result as belonging to a specific person.
What California jail fields mean
| Field | What it identifies | What it does not prove | Best next action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booking number | One county-jail intake event. | The final filed charge or conviction. | Use it for jail, bond and records questions. |
| Person-file number | A county identifier such as PFN, XREF or JID. | Every booking belongs to one case. | Use it to separate same-name records. |
| Arresting agency | The department responsible for the arrest. | The county jail wrote the report. | Request the report from the named agency. |
| Booking charge | An allegation entered during intake. | The prosecutor filed the same offense. | Read the court complaint or information. |
| Bail amount | A displayed release amount for a charge or case. | Payment clears every hold. | Confirm all cases before paying. |
| Court date | A scheduled appearance known to the jail. | The date has not changed. | Confirm with the Superior Court calendar. |
| Housing location | The currently displayed facility or unit. | The person will remain there. | Recheck before visiting or mailing. |
| Release date | When the custody event ended or may end. | Dismissal or acquittal. | Search the criminal case disposition. |
| Hold or detainer | Another court or agency may require continued custody. | One bond will release the person. | Identify the holding authority and case. |
| Mugshot | A photograph associated with booking. | Guilt, conviction or identity by itself. | Match official numbers and court records. |
No California jail or arrest record found?
Booking is still underway
Fingerprinting, medical screening and identity verification can delay the record.
The person remains at a police station
Transfer to the county jail may not have occurred.
The person was cited and released
A citation or notice to appear may create a court case without a jail booking.
The wrong county was searched
Search where the person was physically booked.
The name differs
Try a former surname, alias, hyphenated name, suffix or alternate spelling.
The person was transferred
Check another county, CDCR or federal custody.
The record is restricted
Juvenile, sealed, confidential or legally protected records may not appear.
The person was released
Search historical booking records and the county court case.
The portal is temporarily unavailable
Call the official jail-information number rather than using a paid substitute.
The arresting agency did not use the county jail
Some agencies use another detention facility or release process.
Missing-booking call script
I am trying to confirm the custody status of [full legal name], date of birth [date]. The arrest may have occurred on [date] through [agency] in [county]. Can you confirm whether the person is being booked, released, transferred or listed under another booking or person-file number?
What happens after a California arrest?
Officer’s arrest and report
The agency documents the incident, probable cause, evidence and recommended allegations.
County booking
The jail records identity, property, photograph, fingerprints, charges, bail and holds.
Release or continued detention
The person may be cited, released, post bail or remain held for court review.
Prosecutor review
The District Attorney can file, reduce, replace or decline the recommended charges.
Arraignment
The defendant receives the complaint, enters a plea and addresses counsel and release conditions.
Pretrial proceedings
Lawyers exchange discovery, negotiate and file motions. Felonies usually include a preliminary hearing.
Trial or negotiated resolution
The matter may end through dismissal, plea, acquittal or conviction.
Sentence and custody placement
A sentence can include county jail, probation, state prison, fines or other conditions.
Correction or record relief
Inaccurate information may be challenged and qualifying records may be sealed, dismissed or automatically relieved.
Request the California arrest report from its creator
Read the arresting-agency field
Confirm whether city police, the sheriff, CHP or another agency made the arrest.
Name the exact record
Request the incident report, arrest report, probable-cause statement and specifically identified supplements.
Add narrow identifiers
Include the legal name, birth date, date, location, report number, booking number and court case.
Request electronic delivery
Digital copies can reduce copying and mailing work.
Set a cost limit
Ask for approval before processing exceeds a stated amount.
Submit through the agency’s official records portal
Use Records, Public Records Request or California Public Records Act on the government website.
Save the request number
Keep the confirmation, cost estimate and written response.
Ask for the withholding basis
Request an explanation when information is denied or redacted.
Copy-ready California records request
Under the California Public Records Act, I request an electronic copy of the releasable incident report, arrest report, probable-cause statement and specifically identified supplements concerning [full legal name], date of birth [date], for the incident on [date] at [location]. Known identifiers are agency report number [number], county booking number [number] and Superior Court case number [number]. Please provide a written estimate before processing if charges will exceed $[amount], and identify the legal basis for withheld or redacted material.
Active investigative information, juvenile records, medical details, victim information, sealed matters and other legally protected material may be withheld or redacted.
Find the formal charge and final court outcome
California does not provide one statewide public Superior Court criminal-case search. Each of the 58 county Superior Courts maintains its own case records and online-access rules.
Identify the filing county
Use the booking result, release paperwork, citation or first court date.
Open California’s Find Your Court directory
Select the county, city or ZIP code.
Find the correct Superior Court
Open Criminal Case Search or Case Access
The label and search requirements differ by county.
Search the court case number first
A case-number search reduces identity mistakes.
Otherwise use the defendant’s legal name
Compare filing date, birth year and charge information when displayed.
Find the complaint
This shows what the prosecutor formally filed.
Check later charging documents
A felony information or amended complaint can change the counts.
Review every docket event
Look for arraignment, bail review, warrant, motions, preliminary hearing, plea and trial.
Find the disposition for each count
One charge can be dismissed while another results in conviction.
Order official proof when needed
Request a certified disposition, dismissal, judgment or sentence from the county clerk.
Obtain the correct California criminal court record
For ordinary research
- Case summary or register of actions.
- Complaint or information.
- Minute orders.
- Disposition of each count.
- Sentence information.
For formal proof
- Certified disposition.
- Certified dismissal order.
- Certified judgment.
- Certified sentence or commitment document.
- Certified sealing or dismissal order.
Contact the county where the case was filed
The Judicial Council does not hold individual county trial-court case files.
Provide the exact case number
Include the defendant’s name and approximate filing year.
Name the document
Avoid requesting the entire file when one disposition or order will solve the problem.
Ask whether online viewing is available
Some courts show case summaries but require a separate copy request for documents.
Confirm copy and certification fees locally
Charges and payment methods differ by Superior Court.
Ask about archived records
Older cases may require an archive retrieval or research fee.
Check a California warrant without relying on a stale list
California does not provide one complete public statewide warrant search containing every county, city, state and federal warrant.
Identify the issuing county and court
Use a prior citation, booking, missed hearing or known case number.
Search the county court case
Review the newest docket events for issued, served, recalled or quashed warrant information.
Check the county sheriff’s official warrant page
Availability and searchable warrant types differ by county.
Contact the issuing clerk
Ask how current public warrant status can be confirmed.
Contact a defense lawyer when the warrant concerns you
Counsel can advise about surrender, arraignment and bail.
Do not confront another person
Contact law enforcement when there is an immediate safety concern.
Scam warning: Verify any warrant demand independently. Courts and sheriffs do not require gift cards, cryptocurrency, QR-code payments or secret peer-to-peer transfers to prevent immediate arrest.
Confirm the county’s current bail and release order
California bail schedules and pretrial practices differ by county. A local schedule is only a starting point; a judicial officer can order a different amount, nonfinancial release or detention based on the individual case.
Confirm the defendant and every booking charge
Match the name, birth date, booking number and court case.
List every hold and warrant
One payment may not clear another county or agency matter.
Read the newest court release order
Do not rely only on the original jail screen.
Call the jail or court before payment
Confirm the current amount, accepted method and posting location.
Compare cash and licensed bond options
Understand which payments are refundable and which service charges are not.
Read every nonfinancial condition
No-contact, travel, testing, monitoring and appearance requirements can continue after release.
Keep the receipt and court date
Missed appearances can cause forfeiture and a new warrant.
Allow release-processing time
Staff must verify payment, resolve holds and complete discharge procedures.
Bail-verification call script
I am calling about [full legal name], booking number [number], court case number [number]. Please confirm every active charge, the current release order, the total amount required, outside holds, accepted payment methods and whether any nonfinancial condition must be completed before release.
Visitation, mail, calls and money are county specific
VisitsConfirm onsite versus remote visits, approval, ID, scheduling window, clothing rules and participant limits.
MailCheck whether the jail accepts direct physical mail or uses an offsite digital scanning center.
TelephoneUse the provider named by the jail and confirm whether the receiving number is blocked.
MoneyVerify the trust-account provider, booking identifier, transaction fee and release status before paying.
Search the inmate immediately before starting
Confirm current custody, housing and booking number.
Open the official jail’s family-information page
Do not assume two California counties use the same provider or address.
Follow the jail’s account link
Avoid sponsored search results and imitation payment pages.
Check every fee before payment
Telephone, video, messaging and trust-account fees may be separate.
Do not discuss case strategy on personal communications
Ordinary jail calls, messages and video visits may be monitored or recorded.
Recheck after a transfer
A new facility can require a different mail address, provider and visitor application.
Use CDCR CIRIS only after a state-prison commitment
Use CIRIS for
- CDCR number.
- Current state-prison institution.
- Commitment county.
- Admission information.
- Parole-eligibility information when displayed.
Do not use CIRIS alone for
- A new county-jail arrest.
- A person awaiting trial locally.
- The officer’s arrest report.
- The complete conviction record.
- A certified court judgment.
Open California Incarcerated Records and Information Search
Read and accept the official disclaimer.
Open CDCR CIRIS
Search the CDCR number when known
A correctional number is safer than a common-name result.
Otherwise search the legal name
Compare age, commitment county and other available identifiers.
Record the current institution
The institution controls mail, visits, packages and local family-services procedures.
Return to the county court judgment
CIRIS specifically directs conviction questions to the court or jurisdiction.
Call CDCR when no valid result appears
The Identification Unit assists with location questions.
Call CDCR Identification Unit: 916-445-6713
CDCR states that CIRIS is informational, may contain errors or omissions and is not an official conviction record.
Get approved and schedule a CDCR visit
Confirm the current CDCR institution
Search CIRIS before submitting an application or scheduling.
Complete the visitor approval process
Follow the institution and CDCR instructions for the prospective visitor.
Wait for approval
Do not schedule travel until visitor approval is confirmed.
Check the institution’s visiting status
Operations, health restrictions and security conditions can affect visits.
Use the Visitation Scheduling Application
Select the institution, date and available session.
Open CDCR visitation information
Review identification and clothing rules
Prepare before leaving home to avoid denial.
Recheck the schedule before travel
Transfers and institutional restrictions can cancel access.
Address CDCR mail with the correct housing information
Confirm the person’s full name and CDCR number
Use CIRIS and the institution’s official contact page.
Confirm the institution
A transfer makes an old prison address unreliable.
Find the housing P.O. Box
CDCR states that the mail address often differs from the institution’s general street address.
Write every required line
Include the full name, CDCR number, institution, housing P.O. Box, city and ZIP code.
Add a complete return address
Mail is opened and inspected for contraband.
Use separate legal-mail rules for counsel
Ordinary family correspondence is not privileged.
Recommended CDCR envelope format
Incarcerated person’s full name and CDCR number
Institution name
Housing P.O. Box
City, California ZIP
Send CDCR money through an approved method
| Method | Posting information | Important safeguard |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic funds transfer | Paid provider service; CDCR states funds generally post within one to three days. | Confirm the person and provider fee before paying. |
| JPay lockbox | Money order, personal check or cashier’s check with the deposit coupon. | Complete the sender and incarcerated-person information exactly. |
| Institution trust office | Some transactions follow institution-specific procedures. | Use the current facility instructions. |
| Restitution-only payment | Select the correct payment destination when the provider offers separate options. | Trust funds and restitution payments may not be interchangeable. |
Confirm the CDCR number and institution
Do not send money using only a name.
Select trust account or restitution correctly
Review the destination before submitting.
Review the provider charge
Electronic vendors charge transaction fees.
Keep the receipt
Save the CDCR number, amount, date and confirmation.
Check for transfer or release
Confirm custody immediately before a large deposit.
Request appointed counsel or verify a private lawyer
Public defender
- Ask for appointed counsel at arraignment.
- Complete the financial-eligibility information.
- Record the courthouse, department and case number.
- Contact the county public defender after appointment.
- Use professional jail communication for case discussions.
Private attorney
- Verify the lawyer’s California Bar status.
- Ask who will personally handle hearings.
- Request the complete written fee agreement.
- Confirm whether trial and post-conviction work are included.
- Do not discuss strategy on recorded personal calls.
A defendant charged with a misdemeanor or felony has the right to court-appointed counsel when unable to afford a lawyer. Tell the judge at arraignment.
Register for county and state notification separately
Contact the county victim-witness center
County programs help with court information, compensation, restitution and referrals.
Register with the county jail’s notification service
Release-notification systems vary by sheriff.
Keep the police and court numbers
These identifiers connect the arrest, prosecution and notification request.
Register with CDCR after a state-prison sentence
CDCR Form 1707 can request notification of release, death, escape, parole hearings and appeals.
Open CDCR victim services
Request special parole conditions when applicable
CDCR victim services can explain available requests.
Keep contact details current
Notification cannot work when the agency has an old telephone number, email or address.
CDCR Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services
Phone: 279-223-4800
Email: victimservices@cdcr.ca.gov
Request your own fingerprint-based California RAP sheet
California DOJ does not process a public request for another person’s state criminal-history summary. Record Review is for the subject to inspect the subject’s own record.
Open California DOJ Record Review
Review the resident or out-of-state instructions.
Open California DOJ Record Review
California residents use Live Scan
Complete form BCIA 8016RR and select Record Review as the application type and reason.
Take valid identification to a Live Scan site
The provider charges a separate fingerprint rolling fee.
Pay the $25 DOJ processing fee
Eligible California residents can request a waiver of the DOJ portion.
Out-of-state applicants use fingerprint cards
Follow form BCIA 8705 and mail the complete packet.
Review every arrest and disposition
Compare the agency, date, charge and court result.
Do not give the personal RAP sheet to an unauthorized third party
California law restricts use and disclosure of personal record-review copies.
California DOJ Record Review Unit
Phone: 916-227-3849
Bureau of Criminal Identification and Analysis
Record Review and Challenge Section
P.O. Box 160207
Sacramento, CA 95816-0207
Correct a wrong California arrest or disposition
Identify the source of the error
Compare the county booking, police report, Superior Court file, CIRIS record and DOJ RAP sheet.
Save the incorrect information
Record the URL, date, booking number, report number, court case and CDCR number.
Obtain the controlling proof
Use a certified dismissal, corrected report, amended judgment or sealing order.
Correct the originating agency first
The police correct their report, the sheriff corrects booking data and the court corrects the case file.
Request your DOJ RAP sheet
A DOJ challenge can begin only after receiving the personal Record Review.
Complete BCIA 8706
The Claim of Alleged Inaccuracy or Incompleteness is included when the record contains criminal information.
Attach supporting evidence
Explain exactly what is wrong and what the corrected entry should show.
Recheck connected systems
One correction may not automatically update another agency or private background company.
Copy-ready correction request
I request correction of inaccurate or incomplete criminal-record information associated with [full legal name], date of birth [date]. The disputed entry appears under booking number [number], police report number [number], court case number [number] or CDCR number [number] and currently states [incorrect information]. The correct information is [correction]. Attached is [certified disposition, amended order, police correction or identity proof].
Choose arrest sealing, conviction dismissal or automatic relief
Arrest with no convictionPenal Code section 851.91 can allow court sealing after no filing, dismissal, successful diversion or acquittal.
Automatic arrest reliefSome eligible arrest records may already receive automatic DOJ relief under Penal Code section 851.93.
Misdemeanor dismissalEligible convictions may be dismissed under Penal Code section 1203.4 after satisfying the required conditions.
Felony dismissalEligibility depends on the sentence, probation, offense classification and whether reduction is available.
Automatic conviction reliefSome eligible convictions receive DOJ relief under Penal Code section 1203.425.
Factual innocenceA separate and more demanding process can seal and destroy qualifying arrest records.
Seal an arrest that did not result in conviction
Confirm the disposition
Determine whether no charge was filed, the charge was dismissed, diversion was completed or the person was acquitted.
Check whether automatic relief already occurred
A personal DOJ RAP sheet can show the current state record.
Complete form CR-409
Use the Petition to Seal Arrest and Related Records.
Open California form CR-409
Read CR-409-INFO
Confirm eligibility, service requirements and local filing instructions.
Open sealing instructions
File in the correct Superior Court
Use the county connected to the arrest or prosecution as directed by the forms.
Serve the required offices
Follow the form and local court instructions.
Obtain form CR-410 after approval
Keep certified copies of the Order to Seal Arrest and Related Records.
A sealed arrest can remain visible to specified government agencies and may still require disclosure in certain peace-officer, public-office, licensing or California Lottery situations.
Request dismissal of an eligible conviction
Confirm that no new case is pending
California Courts lists this as a basic requirement for many dismissal requests.
Confirm that probation or parole is complete
A person still on probation may need to request early termination first.
Identify the correct statutory path
The appropriate dismissal process depends on the conviction and sentence.
Complete form CR-180
Use the Petition for Dismissal for the appropriate eligible case.
File with the sentencing court
Include local forms and supporting documents when required.
Obtain form CR-181
Keep the signed Order for Dismissal.
Understand the limits
A section 1203.4 dismissal does not destroy every record or eliminate all future use and disclosure.
Check whether Clean Slate relief already changed the record
Automatic relief is not identical to destruction of all records. Law enforcement and specified agencies can retain access, and relief may not remove every consequence of a conviction.
Collect every case number and disposition
Use county courts and your DOJ RAP sheet.
Check the arrest section
Determine whether Penal Code section 851.93 automatic sealing appears.
Check the conviction section
Determine whether Penal Code section 1203.425 relief appears.
Confirm the sentence is complete
Incomplete custody, supervision or court obligations can affect relief.
Check for disqualifying circumstances
Eligibility depends on the offense, sentence and later criminal history.
Use a court petition when additional relief is needed
Court sealing or dismissal can provide benefits beyond an automatic DOJ notation.
Challenge a missing or inaccurate DOJ update
Use the Record Review and BCIA 8706 process with certified proof.
For immigration, licensing, firearm, registration or professional consequences, obtain advice from a lawyer familiar with that specific issue before filing a record-cleaning request.
Understand a Certificate of Rehabilitation and Governor’s pardon
Certificate of Rehabilitation
A court order stating that an eligible person has been rehabilitated. It does not erase the criminal record.Governor’s pardon
A formal act of executive clemency. The practical effect depends on the conviction and applicable law.
Review the residence and rehabilitation requirements
Eligibility depends on the conviction, custody history and required rehabilitation period.
Collect certified court and custody records
Include the conviction, sentence and completion information.
Prepare rehabilitation evidence
Employment, education, treatment, community service and references can be relevant.
File in the proper Superior Court
Follow California Courts’ Certificate of Rehabilitation instructions.
Understand that the certificate becomes a pardon application
When granted, the court forwards it to the Governor.
California arrest, corrections and record contacts
CDCR Main Number916-324-7308
General California corrections assistance.
CDCR Identification Unit916-445-6713
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Pacific, excluding holidays.
DOJ Record Review Unit916-227-3849
Personal RAP-sheet and challenge questions.
CDCR Victim Services279-223-4800
victimservices@cdcr.ca.gov
California DOJ
1300 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
CDCR Headquarters
1515 S Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Judicial Council of California
455 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
Local criminal caseContact the Superior Court clerk in the county where charges were filed.
California Department of Justice map
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation map
Judicial Council of California map
Do not travel to a state office for a county case. Arrest reports belong to the arresting agency, and criminal court documents belong to the county Superior Court where the case was filed.
What this California guide solves before users leave the page
Correct search orderCounty booking, arresting agency, Superior Court, CDCR and DOJ are clearly separated.
County shortcutsDirect official starting points for ten of California’s largest county custody systems.
Booking interpretationCharges, bail, holds, housing, release dates, mugshots and person identifiers explained.
Family action pathsVisits, mail, calls, trust accounts, transfers and state-prison procedures.
Official verificationSuperior Court dispositions and fingerprint-based DOJ Record Review steps.
Record reliefArrest sealing, conviction dismissal, Clean Slate and rehabilitation paths compared.
