San Diego County Arrest Records

When someone is detained and booked by law enforcement in San Diego County, an arrest record is created. It is an official log capturing who was arrested, when, and where it happened, which agency handled it, what the alleged charges were, plus booking details like custody or bail status. Under the California Public Records Act (Gov. Code §§ 7920.000 et seq.), these records serve public interest by ensuring transparency and accountability in the exercise of police authority; accordingly, agencies must generally release basic arrest information so the public can monitor law enforcement activity and community safety, even though specific sensitive details, such as investigative notes or victim identities, may be withheld. At the same time, California law separately regulates access to broader criminal history information, known as "criminal offender record information" (CORI), under Penal Code §§ 11075-11144. CORI includes statewide records of arrests, charges, dispositions, and incarcerations, and unlike the arrest-event details available under the Public Records Act, it is not open to the general public; access is restricted to criminal justice agencies, authorized licensing bodies, and, in limited circumstances, the individual subject of the record.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in San Diego?

Yes. In San Diego County, arrest records are generally public information under the California Public Records Act (CPRA), Gov. Code §§ 7920.000 et seq. Law enforcement agencies are guided explicitly by Gov. Code § 7923.610 (formerly § 6254(f)), which requires the disclosure of basic details such as the arrestee's name, age, physical description, occupation, the time and date of arrest, the location, the arresting agency, the charges, booking number, and custody or bail status.

However, agencies routinely withhold specific details from the public. They are:

• Investigative materials such as reports, notes, or evidence that could compromise an investigation.
• Sensitive personal data, including Social Security numbers, home addresses, and medical information.
• Victim and witness identities, especially in sexual assault, domestic violence, or juvenile cases.
• Juvenile records, which are confidential under Welfare & Institutions Code §§ 827-828.
• Records sealed or expunged by court order under Penal Code §§ 851.87, 851.90, or 1203.4.
• Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI), defined in Penal Code §§ 11075-11144, which covers statewide criminal history and is not public.

San Diego County Arrest Search

The California Department of Justice maintains the central repository of criminal history information at the state level. Public access is limited, however, to an individual's own record. To obtain it, a person must submit fingerprints through the state's Live Scan system and request a background check. The results will include any arrests and dispositions on file across California. While this pathway cannot be used to look up someone else's history, it remains the official state-level method for personal record retrieval. The California court system also provides a broader context. Anyone can search the San Diego Superior Court's records to trace cases that arose from arrests made locally. In some situations, court indexes may indirectly confirm an arrest when charges are filed.

Federal resources apply mainly when an arrest leads to federal prosecution or incarceration. The Bureau of Prisons operates a public inmate locator tool that shows where a federal inmate is housed and their release date. If the arrest resulted in a federal court case, the PACER system, Public Access to Court Electronic Records, can be used to search filings in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. PACER requires account registration, but it provides access to charging documents and other filings that often describe the arrest in detail. The FBI also manages national criminal databases such as the National Crime Information Center, but these are not directly open to the public. Individuals can, however, request their own record through the FBI's Identity History Summary process by submitting fingerprints.

San Diego County Inmate Locator

For most people searching for an arrest record, the most practical place to begin is at the county level, since the San Diego Sheriff's Department maintains an online "Who's in Jail" search tool. By entering a name, booking number, or date of birth, the public can quickly determine whether someone is currently in custody. This database provides booking details, charges, bail information, court appearances, and housing location, and it is updated daily. If the arrest is very recent, this will usually be the most direct way to confirm it.

Like other local police agencies, the San Diego Police Department also maintains arrest logs and records, though these are not always published online. Members of the public can obtain them by contacting the department's Records Division directly or by submitting a Public Records Act request.

Active Warrant Search in San Diego County

An arrest warrant in San Diego County is a written order from a judge or magistrate that authorizes law enforcement to arrest someone, and this warrant usually includes the person's name, the charges they face, the issuing court, and any bail amount that may apply.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Office maintains warrant information but does not issue or recall warrants, that authority rests with the court. The Sheriff provides an online warrant search tool, updated several times daily, where the public can look up active warrants by name.

In addition to the online system, members of the public may inquire by calling the Warrant Office at (858) 974-2110 or by submitting a written request through the Records & Identification Division.

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in San Diego County

Residents looking for arrest information at no cost have a few practical avenues available. The Superior Court's website provides open access to case summaries, while the Sheriff's Department posts a running log of daily arrests.

At the same time, free access has boundaries. Court portals and arrest logs generally provide only basic details, names, charges, and case status, without the full police report or underlying evidence. Records tied to older cases, sealed matters, or sensitive information may not appear at all. When more details are needed, people often file a records request with law enforcement, which can involve waiting periods or proof of identity.

San Diego County Arrest Report

An arrest record and an arrest report are different, even though the terms are often used interchangeably. An arrest record is the official entry in the county's custodial or case management system showing that someone was taken into custody. It contains the essentials, name, booking number, date of arrest, and charges. This type of information appears in the Sheriff's Department's arrest log or in the Superior Court's case index, and it functions as a procedural summary rather than a full account.

In contrast, an arrest report is the story the arresting officer writes. It is a confidential law enforcement document that describes the events of the arrest, including what the officer observed, what people said, and any evidence collected. Although the public can usually access the arrest record, the report itself is typically only used by the judge, prosecutors, attorneys, and defendants during court proceedings.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in San Diego County

A person in San Diego County seeking to clear an arrest record has two primary options: sealing the arrest or, in limited cases, sealing and destroying it. When an arrest does not result in a conviction, California Penal Code § 851.91 allows the individual to petition the San Diego Superior Court to have the record sealed. This process involves completing Judicial Council forms CR-409 (Petition to Seal) and CR-410 (Order to Seal), filing them in the correct courthouse, and serving both the prosecuting and the arresting agencies at least fifteen days before the hearing. If the arrest qualifies automatically, meaning it did not lead to a conviction, the court generally grants the request. If circumstances are less straightforward, the petitioner may still succeed by showing that sealing is in the "interests of justice". Once sealed, the arrest record is removed from public view and most background checks, though law enforcement and certain licensing authorities still retain access.

Another way is available under Penal Code § 851.8, which permits a record to be sealed and ultimately destroyed if the individual proves factual innocence. The process usually begins by petitioning the arresting agency with form BCIA 8270. If denied, the person may file San Diego Superior Court form CRM-221, serve notice ten days before the hearing, and argue that no reasonable cause existed for the arrest. A successful petition leads to the immediate sealing and destruction of the record after three years.

Additional options exist for specific situations. Completion of pre-filing diversion, drug diversion, or deferred entry of judgment may allow sealing under Penal Code §§ 851.87, 1000.4, 1001.9, or 851.90. If an arrest ends with release and no charges, the arresting agency may issue a Certificate of Detention under §§ 849.5 and 851.6, converting the incident into a detention rather than an arrest. Juvenile arrests follow a separate process under Welfare and Institutions Code § 781 through the Juvenile Court.

How Do You Remove Arrest Records From the Internet?

Arrest records published online can be removed by contacting the websites that host or index the information directly. Many mugshot galleries, background-check websites, and data brokers operate commercially, so California residents may use the Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) to demand deletion of personal information. Submitting a deletion request through the site's privacy or contact portal often compels removal. If the site refuses, a consumer rights attorney or the California Attorney General's complaint process can be used to escalate the request.

A record may appear in Google or other search engine results even after the website has deleted it. An individual can resolve this by submitting a content removal request to Google or other search engines, which will de-index the outdated or deleted link.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

In San Diego, public arrest records usually show a person's name, age, gender, and the city where they live. They also include when and where the arrest happened, the booking number, which jail the person is in, whether they are in custody, the charges with the law sections, how much bail or bond is set, and any court dates. Only these basic details are shared with the public, while private information is kept hidden.