San Francisco Criminal Records Search

Criminal records in San Francisco County are unique because the city and county share a single government. San Francisco is both a city and a county, which means there is one court system and one sheriff's office for the whole area. The San Francisco Superior Court handles all criminal case filings. The county has a population of about 870,000 and is one of the densest urban areas in the state. Finding criminal records here involves the court's online case system, the sheriff's jail search tool, and the SFPD for police reports. Each of these agencies keeps its own records.

San Francisco Court Case Information

The San Francisco Superior Court provides case information through its online services page. You can find criminal case data at sf.courts.ca.gov. The system allows you to search by case number or defendant name to find basic case information. Criminal cases filed in San Francisco all go through this single court system.

Below is the San Francisco Superior Court's case information page, which provides access to criminal case data.

If you do not have a case number, the court suggests getting a RAP sheet first. Visit the San Francisco Police Department Identification Bureau at Room 475 on the 4th floor of the Hall of Justice. They can help you identify case numbers tied to a specific person. Once you have the case number, you can request the full file from the court's Criminal Records Department at (415) 551-0651.

Copies cost 50 cents per page. Non-certified copies are also 50 cents. A Certificate of the Record costs $40 per court number. Certified copies are $25 plus 50 cents per page. These fees are set by state law. You can request records in person at the Hall of Justice or by mail. Walk-in service tends to be faster, but mail requests work fine if you include the right case number and payment.

Note: The court's online system shows limited criminal case information. For full documents, you need to contact the clerk's office directly.

SF Sheriff Inmate Search

The San Francisco Sheriff's Office runs the county jail system. The main facilities are County Jail #2 and County Jail #5 in San Bruno. You can search for people currently in jail through the sheriff's "Find a Person in Jail" tool at sfsheriff.com/find-person-jail. The search is simple. Enter a name and the system shows whether that person is in custody, along with booking details and charges.

This tool only covers people currently in San Francisco County jail. People who have been released or transferred to state prison will not show up. For state prison inmates, use CDCR's CIRIS search tool. Call the sheriff's office at (415) 553-1430 if you need help with the online search or want information about a recent booking that may not yet be in the system.

San Francisco's jail population tends to be smaller than what you see in counties like Los Angeles or Orange. The city has had ongoing discussions about reducing its jail population, and the number of people in custody at any given time can fluctuate. The online search tool reflects current custody status and updates regularly throughout the day.

State Criminal Records in San Francisco

San Francisco residents can access the California DOJ's statewide criminal history database through Live Scan fingerprinting. The DOJ maintains RAP sheets that include arrest and disposition data from all California counties. To get your own record, visit a Live Scan site and pay the $25 processing fee. Find locations at oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations. San Francisco has multiple Live Scan providers within city limits.

Background check status is available at applicantstatus.doj.ca.gov. You need your ATI number and date of birth. Processing takes 48 to 72 hours when no criminal history is found. If a record does exist, DOJ technicians review it manually, which adds time. The DOJ will not discuss your record over the phone. Everything goes through the formal process.

San Francisco residents can also check the sex offender registry at meganslaw.ca.gov to search for registered sex offenders in their neighborhood. The Judicial Council of California, which is actually headquartered at 455 Golden Gate Avenue in San Francisco, manages the statewide court system administration. You can contact their public records team at PAJAR@jud.ca.gov or (415) 865-7796 for questions about court record policies across the state.

Clearing Criminal Records in San Francisco

San Francisco has been one of the more progressive jurisdictions in California when it comes to criminal record relief. The city's District Attorney's office has proactively used state laws to clear eligible records. Under Penal Code Section 1203.4, you can petition to dismiss your case after finishing probation. File the petition at the San Francisco Superior Court. The Public Defender's office can help with the paperwork if you qualify for their services.

Arrest record sealing under Penal Code 851.87 does not require proving factual innocence. If no conviction came from the arrest, you can petition to seal it. San Francisco was also one of the first counties to actively apply Proposition 47 resentencing and Proposition 64 marijuana relief. The DA's office worked to identify and process eligible cases on its own, without requiring individuals to file petitions in some situations. This means some old convictions may already have been cleared or reduced without you taking action. Check your RAP sheet to see the current status of any old cases.

Note: Even after a case is dismissed under PC 1203.4, it still appears on your DOJ record with a "dismissed" status. It does not vanish entirely.

How to Get Criminal Records in San Francisco

Getting criminal records in San Francisco involves three main agencies depending on what you need. The court has case files. The sheriff has jail records. The police department has arrest reports and incident reports. Here is a breakdown of how to access each.

• Court case information online at sf.courts.ca.gov
• Criminal Records Department at (415) 551-0651
• SFPD police reports are free through the online portal
• SFPD Records Section at 1245 3rd Street, San Francisco
• Sheriff inmate search at sfsheriff.com/find-person-jail

One thing that makes San Francisco different from most California counties is that SFPD police reports are free. You can request them through the department's online portal at CISU-sanfranciscopd.govqa.us. You can also email sfpd.records@sfgov.org or call (415) 575-7232. The Records Section is located at 1245 3rd Street, 1st Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158. Most other cities charge for police report copies, so this is a real advantage for people looking for records in San Francisco.

For court records, remember that you may need a case number first. Without one, start at the SFPD Identification Bureau to get a RAP sheet that shows case numbers linked to the person you are looking up. Then take that information to the court clerk for copies of specific case files.

Cities in San Francisco County

San Francisco is both a city and a county. All criminal cases within city limits go through the San Francisco Superior Court.

Nearby Counties

San Francisco shares borders with two counties on the peninsula and across the bay. Check these for related criminal record searches.