Find San Diego County Criminal Records

Criminal records in San Diego County are managed by the Superior Court and the Sheriff's Department. San Diego County is the second most populous county in California with roughly 3.3 million residents. The county stretches from the coast to the desert and shares a border with Mexico. The San Diego Superior Court operates multiple courthouses across the county. Criminal case lookups and jail searches are both available online, making San Diego one of the more accessible counties in the state for finding criminal record data.

San Diego County Court Index Search

The San Diego Superior Court has a public case index search at courtindex.sdcourt.ca.gov. This tool lets you look up criminal cases by defendant name or case number. The system returns case numbers, filing dates, and the courthouse location where the case was filed. It is one of the better court search tools in California because it covers a wide range of case types and goes back many years.

Below is a screenshot of the San Diego Superior Court's index search tool where you can look up criminal cases at courtindex.sdcourt.ca.gov.

The court also has a Register of Actions search at odyroa.sdcourt.ca.gov for more detailed case information. This tool shows all the filings and actions in a case, including hearing dates, motions, and rulings. If you know the case number from the index search, you can pull up the full history of the case through this second tool.

Physical copies cost 50 cents per page at the clerk's window. Document downloads through the online system cost $1.00 per page for the first five pages and 40 cents for each page after that. Certified copies are $40. Contact the court at (619) 844-2233 or email sdsc-executiveoffice@sdcourt.ca.gov for help with record requests.

San Diego Sheriff Who's In Jail

The San Diego County Sheriff runs a "Who's In Jail" tool at apps.sdsheriff.net/wij. This lets you search for people who are currently in custody at any San Diego County jail facility. You search by name and the system shows the inmate's booking number, charges, bail amount, and current location. It is a straightforward tool. Enter a last name and first name, then hit search.

The sheriff operates several jail facilities across the county. The main ones include the San Diego Central Jail, the Vista Detention Facility, the George Bailey Detention Facility, and the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility. Call 858-974-2222 for general jail information. The Who's In Jail tool only shows people currently in county custody. It does not show people who have been released or transferred to state prison.

For state prison inmates who were convicted in San Diego County, search the CDCR's CIRIS database. This statewide tool covers all California state prison inmates and includes facility location, admission date, and parole hearing information.

Note: Jail booking data updates throughout the day, but a new arrest may not appear in the online system for several hours after booking.

California Criminal Records in San Diego

Beyond the local court and sheriff, San Diego County residents can tap into state-level criminal record resources. The California DOJ is the main one. It keeps the statewide criminal history repository. You can request your own RAP sheet through Live Scan fingerprinting for $25. San Diego County has many Live Scan locations. Use the DOJ locator tool to find one near you. The process is quick at the Live Scan site itself, usually about 15 minutes. Results take 48 to 72 hours if no record is found, longer if one exists.

Background check status can be tracked at applicantstatus.doj.ca.gov. You need your ATI number and date of birth. The sex offender registry at meganslaw.ca.gov is also available. San Diego is one of the larger urban areas in the state, so searches by neighborhood or zip code tend to return a good number of results.

Clearing Records in San Diego County

San Diego County residents with criminal records can use California's record relief laws. Penal Code Section 1203.4 allows people who completed probation to petition for case dismissal. The petition goes to the same courthouse that handled the original case. Success rates vary depending on the charge and the judge, but many routine cases get approved without a hearing. The dismissed status shows on your RAP sheet and helps with employment and housing applications.

Arrest record sealing under Penal Code Section 851.87 is another option when no conviction resulted from the arrest. This law, which took effect in 2018, removed the old requirement to prove factual innocence. Now, as long as no conviction came from the arrest, you can petition to seal the record. Proposition 47 and Proposition 64 relief are also widely used in San Diego County. The San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program and Legal Aid Society of San Diego offer help with these petitions for people who qualify financially.

Getting Criminal Records in San Diego County

The easiest starting point for criminal records in San Diego County is the online court index search. It gives you case numbers and basic filing data. From there, you can dig deeper using the Register of Actions tool or visit the clerk's office in person. Here are the main ways to get records.

• Court Index Search at courtindex.sdcourt.ca.gov for case numbers
• Register of Actions at odyroa.sdcourt.ca.gov for full case details
• Clerk's office copies at 50 cents per page
• San Diego Police report requests at (619) 531-2846 or online
• Sheriff's Who's In Jail tool for current inmates
• CDCR CIRIS search for state prison inmates

Police reports in the city of San Diego cost $12. Arrest reports are 50 cents for the first page. Contact the San Diego Police Department Records Division at 1401 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101. You can also email sdpdreportrequests@pd.sandiego.gov. Other cities in the county like Chula Vista, Escondido, and Oceanside handle their own police records separately through their respective departments.

Cities in San Diego County

San Diego County includes many cities and unincorporated communities. The city below has its own criminal records page with local details.

Nearby Counties

San Diego County borders three other California counties. Check these for records that may relate to cross-county cases.