San Diego Criminal History

Criminal history records for San Diego are maintained by the San Diego County Superior Court and the San Diego Police Department. San Diego is the second largest city in California and the county seat of San Diego County. All criminal cases from the city are handled through the county court system. The SDPD keeps police reports, arrest records, and incident logs for the city. Court records are searchable online at no charge. Police reports need a separate request. This page covers the main ways to find criminal records in San Diego, California.

San Diego Criminal Court Records

Criminal cases from San Diego go through the San Diego County Superior Court. The county operates several courthouse locations. The main downtown courthouse at 1100 Union Street handles a large portion of criminal cases from the city. Other locations around the county take cases based on where the offense happened. The court processes felonies, misdemeanors, traffic violations, and infractions. Each case gets a case number at the time of filing. You can look up cases by number or by the defendant's name.

The San Diego County Superior Court case search is the free online tool for looking up criminal cases. Enter a name or case number. The results show charges, hearing dates, case status, and which courthouse is handling the matter. The system covers the whole county, so cases from any city in San Diego County show up here. You do not need an account. It is open to everyone.

Some older cases may not appear in the online search. The court digitized most of its records, but certain older files remain on paper only. If the case you need does not come up online, visit the clerk's office at the courthouse where it was filed. Staff can pull it and make copies. Copies run 50 cents per page. Certified copies cost $40 per document.

San Diego Police Criminal Records

The San Diego Police Department maintains records that are separate from the court system. Police reports, arrest records, incident reports, and calls for service all come from the department. The SDPD is one of the largest police departments in California. It serves the city and handles a high volume of reports each year. Individual reports are not available online for public browsing. You need to make a request for the specific report you want.

The SDPD police report request page explains how to get copies of reports from the San Diego Police Department.

This page walks through the steps to request a police report from the SDPD. You can request reports online, by mail, or in person at a police station. Include the report number if you have it. That makes the process much faster. The department follows the California Public Records Act when handling requests. Most responses come within 10 days. Some complex or large requests take longer. There is typically no fee for standard report requests, but the city may charge for large document sets or special processing.

Getting Criminal Records in San Diego

San Diego offers several ways to get criminal records. Court records, police reports, and background checks each come from different sources. Start with the online court search for case information. Use the police department's request page for police reports. A state-level criminal history check goes through the California DOJ.

For a full criminal history from the state, go to a Live Scan site in San Diego. The California DOJ runs the statewide criminal record database under Penal Code 11105. You get fingerprinted at a Live Scan site and pay the $25 DOJ fee plus the rolling fee charged by the site. Results arrive in a few business days. San Diego has dozens of Live Scan locations at police stations, shipping stores, and private vendors across the city. This is the most complete criminal history check you can get in California since it covers all 58 counties.

The San Diego County Sheriff operates the county jail system. People arrested in San Diego get booked into county facilities. You can search for current inmates through the Sheriff's website. The CDCR inmate search covers anyone serving time in state prison. The Megan's Law website tracks registered sex offenders in San Diego and across the state.

San Diego Criminal Record Fees

Fees for criminal records in San Diego vary based on where you get them. Court fees follow statewide schedules. Police report fees depend on the type and size of the request. Here is what you can expect to pay.

Common fees for criminal records in San Diego:

• Court name search (over 10 minutes): $15
• Court copies per page: $0.50
• Certified court copy: $40 per document
• DOJ background check: $25 plus Live Scan rolling fee
• SDPD police report copies: varies by request

If you cannot afford court fees, file a fee waiver request with the clerk's office. You will need proof of low income or public benefits. The judge reviews and decides. Fee waivers apply to court costs only. They do not cover DOJ fees or police department charges.

Note: Online court case searches through the San Diego Superior Court portal are completely free to use.

Clearing Criminal Records in San Diego

California law provides ways to clear certain criminal records. If you have a conviction from San Diego, you may qualify for a dismissal under Penal Code 1203.4. You petition the San Diego County Superior Court after finishing probation. The court then changes the record to show a dismissal. The original conviction is not erased, but it looks different on background checks. AB 1076 now automates parts of this process for qualifying offenses. The DOJ identifies eligible records and grants relief without the person having to file a petition.

Arrest records can be sealed in San Diego as well. Under Penal Code 851.87, if you were arrested but charges were never filed or the case was dismissed, you can petition to seal the arrest record. Once sealed, the arrest will not appear on most background checks. File the petition at the courthouse that handled the original case. You can do it on your own or hire a lawyer. San Diego has multiple legal aid organizations that may help with record clearing if you qualify based on income.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near San Diego. Criminal cases from each city go through their county's Superior Court system.

San Diego County Criminal Records

San Diego is in San Diego County. All criminal cases from the city go through the San Diego County Superior Court. Visit the county page for more on court searches, sheriff records, and county-level resources.