Search California arrest records across all 58 counties. Find booking records, charges, and arrest history. Free lookup with live help 24/7.
Calls may be answered by a licensed bail bond agent.California arrest records are maintained by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and by individual county jails and law enforcement agencies. A standard arrest record includes the full legal name, date of birth, booking date, arresting agency, charges filed, bail amount, case number, and scheduled court dates.
Every arrest in California generates a booking record at the jail. These are public records and include name, charges, bail, and facility location.
Arrest records connect to court case records showing arraignment dates, plea, disposition, and sentencing information through the California Courts website.
California DOJ maintains statewide criminal history records. Full records require a formal background check request. Booking records are available publicly.
Each of California's 58 county sheriffs maintains their own booking database. Use our county directory to access each county's records directly.
California arrest records contain specific information about a booking event. Understanding what each field means helps you interpret what you find when searching county jail rosters.
| Field | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Booking Number | Unique identifier assigned at booking. Use this number when contacting the jail or a bondsman. |
| Booking Date/Time | When the booking process was completed at the jail. The arrest may have occurred hours earlier. |
| Charges | The specific California Penal Code sections or other statute violations alleged at the time of booking. Charges may change before or at arraignment. |
| Bail Amount | The amount required for release. For misdemeanors this is set by the county bail schedule. For felonies it may show as "No Bail" until arraignment. |
| Facility | Which specific jail building or housing unit the person is held in. Important for visitation scheduling. |
| Case Number | The court case number. Use this to look up court hearing dates at the county Superior Court website. |
| Arresting Agency | Which law enforcement agency made the arrest (Sheriff, city police, CHP, etc.). Relevant for requesting police reports. |
California allows certain arrest and conviction records to be expunged or sealed under specific circumstances. Expungement does not erase a record entirely but limits who can see it and how it can be used against you.
California Penal Code 1203.4 allows people who have completed probation to petition the court to dismiss a conviction. This applies to most misdemeanors and many felonies where the sentence did not include state prison time.
Under California Penal Code 851.91, a person who was arrested but not convicted can petition to have the arrest record sealed. Sealed records are not accessible to most employers or members of the public.
Juvenile records in California are automatically sealed when a person turns 18 in most cases. Adults who were convicted as juveniles may petition for earlier sealing. Sealed juvenile records are not accessible without a court order.
Questions about expungement or how an arrest record may affect employment, housing, or professional licensing require legal advice. Find a licensed California criminal defense attorney using the California State Bar search or your county bar association.
A free California arrest records search starts with knowing which agency holds the record you need. Booking records (current and recent arrests) are free. Full criminal history RAP sheets require a formal request. Here is where each type lives.
California arrest records are maintained by multiple agencies. Where you search depends on what type of record you need and what it is for.
The most complete California arrest record is the official RAP sheet (Record of Arrests and Prosecutions) maintained by the California Department of Justice. You can request your own RAP sheet at oag.ca.gov/fingerprints. Employers and licensing agencies get RAP sheets through official channels only.
Court case records show arrests that resulted in charges being filed. Search your county Superior Court's online case lookup (courts.ca.gov) for free. Court records show charges, hearing dates, verdicts, and sentencing but not arrests that did not result in charges.
Current and recent bookings are visible on county sheriff inmate search portals. Most California counties keep booking records publicly visible for 30 to 90 days after release. Use our county jail directory to find your county's search system.
Federal criminal history records through NCIC include all arrests reported to the FBI by participating agencies. Employers with access to FBI records see a broader picture including out-of-state arrests. Individuals can request their own FBI Identity History Summary at fbi.gov/services/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks.
Services like Checkr, HireRight, and Sterling aggregate court and arrest records from public databases. These are used by employers, landlords, and others. Coverage and accuracy vary significantly. An arrest that was expunged under PC 1203.4 should not appear but commercial databases often lag several months in removing expunged records.
For individuals sentenced to California state prison, the CDCR Inmate Locator at cdcr.ca.gov/ciris shows current housing, conviction information, and projected release date. CDCR records are separate from county jail records and only appear once a person has been transferred from county jail to state prison.
Mistakes in California arrest records are more common than most people realize. Incorrect charges, mistaken identity, and outdated conviction status are the most frequent errors. Here is how to identify and fix them.
Your official California DOJ RAP sheet (Record of Arrests and Prosecutions) is the authoritative record. Obtain it by submitting a Personal Identification Request to the California DOJ at oag.ca.gov/fingerprints. You will need to be fingerprinted at a DOJ-approved site. Fee: $25 plus the fingerprint fee. Processing: 10 to 15 business days.
Common errors include: an arrest listed as a conviction when charges were dismissed; a conviction listed as a felony when it was reduced to a misdemeanor; an expunged conviction still showing as active; or incorrect charges due to data entry errors. Each type requires a different correction process through a different agency.
To challenge a California DOJ RAP sheet error, complete a BCIA 8706 form (Claim of Alleged Inaccuracy or Incompleteness) and submit it to the DOJ Bureau of Criminal Information and Analysis. The DOJ has 30 days to respond. For court record errors, contact the clerk of the court where the case was heard. An attorney can assist if the agency does not correct the error voluntarily.
California has stronger protections than most states limiting how employers can use arrest records in hiring decisions. Under the California Fair Chance Act (AB 1008) and the ICRAA, most employers cannot consider arrest records that did not result in a conviction.
California has some of the strongest protections in the nation limiting how employers and landlords can use arrest records. Understanding your rights can make a significant difference when applying for jobs or housing.
Yes. Booking records from California county jails are public records. They include the person's name, charges, bail amount, and booking date. Full criminal history reports require an official request through the California DOJ.
County jail booking records are freely available through each county's official roster system. Use our county directory to access each county's records. For consolidated statewide records, formal background check requests through the DOJ require a fee.
Most California county jails update their inmate rosters every few hours. Some update in real time. A few smaller counties only update daily. Newly booked inmates may not appear for up to 8 hours after booking is complete.
Yes, in many cases. Official DOJ and FBI background checks include all arrests, regardless of whether they led to conviction. Commercial background check services vary. California AB 1076 provides for automatic sealing of many arrests that did not result in conviction after one year, which should remove them from most checks once the sealing is processed.
Submit a Personal Identification Request to the California DOJ at oag.ca.gov/fingerprints. You will need to be fingerprinted (live scan or ink) at a DOJ-approved location. The fee is $25 plus the fingerprinting fee. Results are typically returned within 10 business days. This gives you the official state RAP sheet.
Without a sealing or expungement order, California arrest records and criminal history remain on file permanently. The DOJ RAP sheet retains all entries indefinitely. California AB 1076 (effective 2021) created an automatic sealing process for arrests that did not lead to conviction and for many convictions where the sentence has been completed, but not all records qualify for automatic sealing. Consult an attorney to understand your specific situation.
Public access to California criminal history is limited. You can search county jail inmate rosters (current and recent bookings), court case records (charges filed), and sex offender registry searches. The full DOJ RAP sheet for another individual is only accessible through authorized channels (law enforcement, licensed employers for specific purposes). For current inmate information, use our county jail directory.
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