San Francisco County Criminal Records

Criminal history records in San Francisco are managed by the Superior Court and the Sheriff's Department. San Francisco is unique in California because the city and county are the same entity. About 870,000 people live here. Criminal cases go through the San Francisco Superior Court at the Hall of Justice and the Civic Center Courthouse. You can search court records online using the court's case information system. The Sheriff also provides an inmate lookup tool. This page covers the main ways to search for and access criminal records in San Francisco County.

San Francisco Court Criminal Records

The San Francisco Superior Court handles all criminal cases in the city and county. Criminal matters are processed at the Hall of Justice on Bryant Street and the Civic Center Courthouse on McAllister Street. The court deals with a wide range of criminal cases, from misdemeanor theft and drug charges to serious felony offenses. Case assignments depend on the type and severity of the charge. The court provides a free online case information system where you can search criminal records by name or case number.

The San Francisco Superior Court case information system allows free searches of criminal case records filed in the county.

The court's online system covers criminal and civil case records from San Francisco Superior Court.

When using the San Francisco court search, type in the defendant's last name and first name. The system returns matching cases with case numbers, charges, and hearing information. Click a case number to see more detail about the proceedings. Some older cases may not be in the online database. For records that predate the digital system, visit the clerk's office in person. The staff can look up older criminal records and provide copies. Regular copies cost 50 cents per page and certified copies run $40 per document. The clerk's office handles requests during business hours at the Hall of Justice, located at 850 Bryant Street, San Francisco, CA 94103. You can also send a mail request with the case details and fees.

San Francisco County Inmate Search

The San Francisco Sheriff's Department runs the county jail system. The main facilities are County Jail #2 at the Hall of Justice and County Jail #5 in San Bruno. The Sheriff provides an online tool to search for people currently in custody. You can look someone up by name at no cost. Results show the person's booking details, charges, bail status, and facility location.

The San Francisco Sheriff inmate search shows who is currently booked in county jail facilities.

This tool updates as new bookings and releases occur at San Francisco County jail facilities.

If the person is not in county jail, check the state prison system. The CDCR inmate search covers all California state prison facilities. People sentenced in San Francisco to state prison will appear in this database. The search is free. Results show facility location, CDCR number, and commitment county. People serving more than a year typically end up in state prison rather than county jail, though realignment under AB 109 changed this for many offenses.

Note: The San Francisco Police Department handles its own arrest reports separately from the Sheriff's booking records.

How to Get Criminal Records in San Francisco

Getting criminal records in San Francisco depends on what type of record you need. Court documents, police reports, and state background checks each involve a different process and agency.

For court records, start with the free online case search. If you need actual copies, visit the clerk's office at the Hall of Justice. Bring the case number if you have it. The clerk can pull the file and make copies during business hours. You can also submit a written request by mail to the San Francisco Superior Court, 400 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA 94102. Include the defendant's name, case number, and a check for fees. Mail requests take about one to two weeks to process.

For your own criminal history from the state DOJ, use the California DOJ Live Scan process. Visit a Live Scan site in San Francisco, submit fingerprints, and pay the $25 DOJ fee plus the site's rolling fee. Under Penal Code 11105, the DOJ maintains the statewide criminal record repository. San Francisco has multiple Live Scan locations at police stations and private vendors. Results typically come back in a few business days.

For SFPD police reports, contact the San Francisco Police Department Records Division. They handle report requests for incidents that happened within city limits. The process and fees vary by report type.

Criminal Record Fees in San Francisco

Court fees in San Francisco match the statewide schedule. Every California court charges the same rates. The online case search costs nothing. Fees apply when you need paper copies or certified documents from the clerk's office.

Standard criminal record fees in San Francisco include:

• Court name search (over 10 minutes): $15
• Copies per page: $0.50
• Certified copy per document: $40
• Exemplification: $50
• DOJ background check: $25 plus Live Scan rolling fee

People who can not afford fees may request a fee waiver. File the form at the San Francisco courthouse with proof of low income or public benefits. The judge decides if you qualify. Fee waivers cover court fees and some copy costs but do not apply to DOJ fees or police report charges.

Criminal Record Clearing in San Francisco

San Francisco has been one of the most active counties in California when it comes to record clearing. Under Penal Code 1203.4, you can petition the court to dismiss a conviction after finishing probation. Your record changes from a conviction to a dismissal. This provides real help for employment and housing. AB 1076 made some dismissals automatic. The DOJ reviews eligible records and grants relief without the person needing to file papers. San Francisco has also taken extra steps to proactively clear records for marijuana convictions after legalization.

Arrest records can be sealed under Penal Code 851.87 if charges were not filed or the case was dismissed. File the petition at the San Francisco Superior Court. Several free legal clinics in San Francisco offer help with record clearing. The San Francisco Public Defender's Office runs a clean slate program that assists residents with expungement and arrest sealing petitions at no cost. This is one of the more robust programs in the state for people trying to move past old criminal records.

The Megan's Law website tracks registered sex offenders in San Francisco and across the state. This is a public registry separate from court records. You can search by name or address at no charge.

Cities in San Francisco County

San Francisco is both a city and a county. There are no other incorporated cities within its borders. All criminal cases are handled by the San Francisco Superior Court. The link below goes to the city-specific criminal history resource page.

Nearby Counties

These counties are next to San Francisco. If you are not sure where a criminal case was filed, check where the arrest or incident happened. Cases are filed in the county where the offense took place.