Obtaining a Copy of a Local Criminal History Record

California Penal Code sections 13300 through 13326 authorize the release of local summary criminal history information to the subject of the criminal history.

Local summary criminal history refers only to those arrests compiled by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. Persons requesting a local criminal history check often refer to this as a "Background Check" or "No Record" letter.

To obtain a local criminal history report for incidents that fall outside of the San Diego Sheriff's jurisdiction you must contact the law enforcement agency that was responsible for the arrest.

To obtain a copy of your state criminal history (also known as your "rap sheet"), you must contact the California Department of Justice.

Background checks for the purposes of entering another country, known as "Good Conduct" letters, for obtaining a hunting permit in Mexico, or international adoptions are processed by the Sheriff's License Division. For further information regarding "Good Conduct" letters, please contact the Sheriff's License Division at (858) 974-2020.

To obtain a copy of your local criminal history record, a Service Request Form must be submitted to the San Diego County Sheriff's Records & ID Division.

• Service Request Form English
• Service Request Form Spanish

Submit the form by one of the following:

• Submit a request form by email to Booking.Records@sdsheriff.org 
• Visit the San Diego County Sheriff's Records & ID office during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm; closed for lunch from 12:00pm-1:00pm.)
  
  • The office is closed to the public on holidays and weekends
  • The office is located at 9621 Ridgehaven Ct, San Diego, CA 92123
• Submit a request by mail
  • San Diego County Sheriff's Department
    Attn: Records & ID Division, Booking Section
    P.O. Box 939062
    San Diego, CA 92193-9062

A valid, government issued photo identification card (i.e., driver's license, passport, military ID) must be presented if request is submitted in person, or a copy of the ID must be enclosed if the request is submitted by mail.

Our goal is to process all requests within 3-10 business days.

Fees

The fee for obtaining a copy of a local criminal history report is $14.00, and must be paid at the time the request is submitted.

Fees can be paid by credit cards, cash, money order, certified check, or personal check if issued by a California bank. Please make checks payable to the "San Diego County Sheriff." If paying by credit card, please provide your name as it appears on the credit card, the credit card number and the expiration date. Note there is a $3.00 transaction fee for credit card payments. Cash and Debit cards ($2.50 transaction fee for debit cards) are accepted in person only. 

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