Guides
California Arrest Records: Where and How to Search
California has no single arrest record database. See which source fits: DOJ for your own history, CIRIS for custody, county or court for the rest.
Updated July 17, 2026
Trying to look up a California arrest record and hitting a wall isn't on you: California has no single statewide public arrest-record search. The right source depends on what you actually need. Your own history goes through a California DOJ fingerprint-based request, confirming someone is currently in custody goes through CIRIS, and looking up someone else's arrest or a filed case usually means the arresting county sheriff or police department, or the superior court where charges were filed.
Each of those sources only covers its own piece: a personal record, a custody check, or one specific case. The rest of this page sorts out which door fits your situation, so you're not guessing which agency to contact first.
Where to look up a California arrest, court, warrant, or custody record
Match your situation to the right agency so you're not searching in the wrong place.
| What you need to check | Where to start | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Your own arrest or conviction history | California DOJ record review (fingerprint-based) | Requires fingerprinting and a state fee; DOJ sends the result directly to you. |
| Someone else's local arrest history | The records unit of the police department or sheriff's office that made the arrest | Public access, required details, request forms, ID rules, and fees all vary by agency; check that specific department's records page before assuming what you'll need. |
| Whether someone is currently in custody | CIRIS, the CDCR custody search | Free online lookup by name; covers people in state prison custody, not county jail holds. |
| A court case or its status | The relevant California Superior Court's case search | Search by name or case number; some case types show only limited details online and may require a courthouse visit. |
| An active warrant | The county sheriff or the court where the case was filed | Official online access and confirmation procedures vary by county. Follow the county sheriff's or court's published instructions; an absent online listing does not establish that no warrant exists. |
Understanding what separates an arrest record from a court record, a warrant, and an incarceration record helps explain why a scattered search sometimes turns up nothing, even when something did happen.
What Each Record Type Actually Is
An arrest or booking record is created and held by the agency that made the arrest: it typically includes a name, date of birth, booking number, arresting agency, and the charge someone was booked on. Separately, California's Department of Justice compiles a fingerprint-based master file called state summary criminal history information, built from arrest, charge, and disposition data that agencies statewide are required to report. Access to that DOJ summary is restricted: a person can generally request a copy of their own record through a fingerprint-based application, but it isn't a tool for looking up someone else.
A court record only exists once a case has actually been filed with the superior court in the county where charges were brought. It tracks what happens after an arrest: filed charges, hearing dates, and the case outcome. If no charges were filed, there may be no court record to find, even though an arrest happened.
A warrant is a court order, not a police accusation. An arrest warrant is typically issued on a judge's finding of probable cause, while a bench warrant can be issued instead when someone fails to appear in court or comply with a court order. Neither type establishes that the person committed a crime.
An incarceration or custody record is different again. CIRIS, run by CDCR, works as a locator for people currently in state prison custody; it isn't a complete history of someone's arrests or convictions, and it doesn't cover county jail holds, which county sheriffs track separately.
Each of these sources asks for different details before it can help you, and that's part of why one search rarely covers everything. The DOJ's own-record process is fingerprint-based: you submit fingerprints along with identifying information to confirm the request is really about you, which is also why it isn't built for looking up someone else. Court portals typically ask for a full legal name or a case number. Local police and sheriff departments set their own rules, which can involve a name, date of birth, or a fingerprint appointment depending on the record and the agency. These sources cover different pieces of the picture rather than sharing one database, so a result from one does not stand in for the others, and a first name and a city alone usually won't get you a clear answer from any of them.
Why a Record Might Not Show Up
A search can come back empty for reasons that have nothing to do with what actually happened. No charges may have been filed after the arrest. The record may have been sealed. The court's online system may only show limited information for that case type. The name, birthdate, or county you searched may not match closely enough to surface the right file. Or the agency holding it may be allowed to keep it out of public view: California's public records law lets agencies withhold some investigation-related files while a case is active, or under narrower exceptions afterward, which is one reason a police report isn't always something you can simply request and receive.
That's not on you, and it's worth resisting the urge to read an empty result as proof nothing happened. It's also worth knowing that dismissal, diversion, or other record-cleaning relief doesn't automatically erase or seal every version of a record sitting with different agencies. California's courts explain that clearing an arrest that didn't lead to a conviction is its own process, not something that happens on its own once a case ends. Penal Code 11105 speaks specifically to what DOJ can disclose from its statewide summary file: it generally won't show an arrest if the person was exonerated, completed a diversion program, or the arrest was legally treated as a detention. That rule governs DOJ's own summary record, not what a county court or local police department shows or withholds on its own.
If you're trying to get a fuller picture of someone before meeting up or getting more serious, TheTeaReport can pull together identity details, public records, and other signals in one private report. It's a useful next step alongside, not instead of, a direct request to the DOJ, a county sheriff, or the relevant court.
Sources and further reading
- California DOJ: Public Records and Reviewing Your Criminal Record: Explains how to request your own California record and how that differs from looking up someone else's history.
- CIRIS: California Incarcerated Records & Information Search: CDCR's free online tool for locating someone currently in state prison custody.
- San Diego County Sheriff: Local Criminal History Request: Shows San Diego County's form and process for requesting your own local criminal history; access rules differ for other record types and agencies.
- California Courts: How to Look Up a Court Case: Guides readers to each county superior court's own case search by name or case number.
- Sacramento Superior Court: Criminal Records: Details name-search forms and fees for a specific superior court's criminal case records.
- California Penal Code Section 11105: Defines what DOJ's state summary criminal history includes and when an arrest is withheld from that summary.
- Judicial Branch of California: Public Records: Explains that each of the 58 superior courts keeps its own records and how confidentiality and sealing can limit access.
What do people ask about finding a California arrest record?
Is there a free way to look up a California arrest record?
It depends on what you're checking. Confirming custody status through CIRIS, the CDCR search tool, is free and online. Beyond that, fees, forms, identification rules, and online access all vary by court and by local agency: some charge a public-access or per-name search fee, others don't, and the process differs county to county. Check the specific court's or sheriff's records page for what it currently requires.
Can I see mugshots or booking photos online?
It depends on the agency and the case. There's no single statewide database of booking photos, and access differs by county and department. If you need to confirm one, the arresting agency's own inmate locator or records unit is the right place to start. If a photo turns up through a search engine or a third-party site instead, treat it as unverified until you can match it against official case or booking details from the agency itself.
How do I find out if someone is currently in jail or prison in California?
For state prison custody, CIRIS is the official CDCR tool and it's free to search by name. It won't show county jail holds, though, since those are managed locally. Los Angeles County, for example, runs its own Inmate Information Center for that purpose. For any other county, you'd need to contact that county's sheriff department directly.
Can I request someone else's arrest record the same way I'd request my own?
No, and this trips a lot of people up. California DOJ's own guidance draws a clear line between reviewing your own record, which uses a fingerprint-based request sent straight to you, and looking up someone else's history, which generally has to go through the county or court that handled the case instead. There's no DOJ portal for pulling up another person's record on demand.
Why did my search come back empty even though I know an arrest happened?
An empty result doesn't necessarily mean nothing exists. Often it's simpler than you'd think: you searched the wrong county, or the name, birthdate, or other details you entered didn't match closely enough for the system to find the record. It's also worth knowing that sealing and expungement aren't the same thing, and neither one guarantees a record disappears everywhere it might still be held. Beyond that, the record could be sealed, no charges may have been filed, or online access to that case type may simply be limited. If the online search comes up short, a direct request to the arresting agency or the court involved is the more reliable next step.
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