What are Orange Public Records?
The California Public Records Act (CPRA) defines Orange public records to include any information produced, prepared, used, or maintained by state or local agencies, except where lawfully limited. Orange public records contain information that is typewritten or even handwritten. These public records can also contain images or email-transmitted material. Some sections of a public record may be restricted or concealed from public access. Such censure occurs in certain circumstances which include:
- Private personal data which is in violation of personal privacy
- Pending litigation details (attorney work product)
- Data associated with an ongoing investigation by law enforcement
- Juvenile information
- Preliminary drafts, notes, or annotations
- Confidential information
- Trade secrets
- Data for taxpayers and private financial data
Orange Crime Statistics
The California Department of Justice makes the crime statistics of all cities and counties in the state available through its Open Justice portal. In 2019, Orange City reported a total number of 2,371 crimes, including 180 violent crimes and 2,191 property crimes. The violent crimes include three murders, 18 rapes, 76 robberies, and 83 aggravated assaults. The property crimes include 387 burglaries, 1,546 larcenies, 251 motor vehicle thefts, and seven arson cases.
These figures show a significant reduction in the total crime rate over five years in Orange City. Between 2015 and 2019, murder (57%), aggravated assault (10%), burglary (26%), larceny (23%) motor vehicle theft (30%), and arson (13%) rates declined in Orange City. At the same time, the rates of rape (64%) and robbery (23%) increased.
Are Orange Criminal Records Public?
Some Orange criminal records are public records, while some others are not. For example, criminal records maintained by local law enforcement authorities are available only to a small category of employers, such as security guard firms, child care centers, law enforcement agencies, and companies of public utilities. Residents may obtain a background check for incidents that occurred within the city from the Orange Police Department. However, to obtain a complete criminal background check for the state of California contact the Department of Justice. This service is accessible only to persons who want to search their own criminal records, law enforcement agencies, and employers in the state.
How to Obtain Orange Police Reports and Arrest Records?
The Orange Police Department generates and keeps Orange arrest records and police reports. Only persons involved in the incident or affected by it can receive these records. Interested persons can make in-person applications to get copies of these records. To make an in-person request, visit the Police Department’s Records Counter from Monday to Saturday. The office is open between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Requesters should take with them a valid form of identification and should be ready to pay the applicable fees.
Orange Police Department
1107 North Batavia Street
Orange, CA 92866
Phone: (714) 744-7444
Fax: (714) 744-7320
Where the report involves a juvenile, the approval of the Juvenile Court is needed. To obtain the approval of the Juvenile Court, a requester should submit the Report of Law Enforcement Agency Form.
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Orange?
The California Department of Justice maintains a registry of sex offenders in the state. This registry is available to the general public in line with Section 290.4 of the California Penal Code. Through the searchable online registry, interested persons can access general information on registered sex offenders within Orange City and other parts of California. This registry provides information about sex offenders like their names (and any identified aliases), physical descriptions, and reported addresses. It also contains images (if available) and zip codes, as well as a mapping function that allows persons to use names or proximity to schools and parks to perform searches.
How to Find Orange Inmate Records?
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is responsible for booking persons in jails within Orange City and other cities across the county. It maintains its inmate database on a regular basis and provides full lists of newly booked and released individuals. To locate an inmate in Orange County’s correctional facilities, use the inmate search feature on the Sheriff’s website. Interested persons can search for inmates by name, age, and gender. The database contains information on persons currently in detention and those released within the last 30 days.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Orange Jail?
The Custody Operation Command of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department runs the operations of all four jail facilities across the county. These facilities include the Central Men’s Jail, the Central Women’s Jail, the Intake/Release Center (IRC), and the Theo Lacy Facility. To visit an inmate in any of these facilities, interested persons can access information about visitation in each facility on the website of the Custody Services Division.
The address of each jail facility is below:
Orange County Central Men’s Jail
550 North Flower Street
Santa Ana, CA, 92703
Orange County Central Women’s Jail
550 North Flower Street
Santa Ana, CA, 92703
Intake/Release Center (IRC)
550 North Flower Street
Santa Ana, CA 92703
Theo Lacy Facility
501 The City Drive
Orange, CA 92868
Court Records
The various centers of the Orange County Supreme Court are under the California Judicial Branch. They provide interested members of the public with access to different kinds of Orange court records and documents. Such court records include civil, criminal, administrative, probate, domestic relations, and traffic records. These Orange court records contain information about the court proceedings handled by any of the Orange County Superior Court centers. They include case notes, transcripts of trials, affidavits, submitted evidence, and case files.
Location of Courts in Orange
The Orange County court system consists of seven Superior Courts. Their location and contact information is below:
Orange County Superior Courts
Orange County Superior Court - Central Justice Center (CJC)
700 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone: (657) 622-6878
Orange County Superior Court - Community Court
909 North Main Street
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone: (657) 622-5800
Orange County Superior Court - Complex Civil Center (CXC)
751 West Santa Ana Boulevard
P.O. Box 22028
Santa Ana, CA 92702
Phone: (657) 622-6878
Orange County Superior Court - Harbor Justice Center Newport Beach (HJC/NB)
4601 Jamboree Road
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Phone: (657) 622-5400
Orange County Superior Court - Lamoreaux Justice Center (LJC)
341 The City Drive South
Orange, CA 92868
Phone: (657) 622-6878
Orange County Superior Court - North Justice Center (NJC)
1275 North Berkeley Avenue
Fullerton, CA 92832
Phone: (657) 622-5600
Orange County Superior Court - West Justice Center (WJC)
8141 13th Street
Westminster, CA 92683
Phone: (677) 622-5900
Are Orange Court Records Public?
To facilitate freedom of information, the general public can access copies of most Orange court records. However, not all records or documents of the court are subject to public disclosure. Some of the documents that are exempted from public access are related to classified or confidential cases that are restricted by California state laws. Examples of such cases include:
- Cases of juvenile delinquency (when a minor is charged for committing a crime)
- Cases of juvenile dependency (where a child is separated from his parents)
- Civil cases of harassment
- Certain cases of divorce
- Instances in child custody
Can you look up an Orange Court Case Online?
The Superior Court of California County of Orange is responsible for keeping all records for cases heard in state courts all over the county. The public can search and view these records online by visiting the Case Search section of the court’s website. Available records include those for civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic, and small claims cases. This webpage allows enquirers to search by case number. To search court records by individual or business name, use the search tool on the Online Services page. This requires registering on the website and logging in.
How to Obtain Orange Civil Court Case Records?
Interested persons can request Orange civil court case records through in-person and mail applications. To request for Orange civil court case record search by mail, download and complete Request for Record Search form. Complete the Copy Request for Form to request copies of court records. Mail the completed form along with a check for search or copy fees to the court locations above. Make the check payable to the Clerk of the Court.
The Clerk of the Court charges $10 for searching records if the search takes longer than 10 minutes. There is a charge of 50 cents for each page of court records ordered. The Clerk also charges $1 per page to compare prepared copies with records on file. Obtaining a certified copy of a court record attracts a $25 fee per document while the charge for a certified copy of a divorce record is $15.
How to Obtain Orange Criminal Court Records?
The Superior Court of California - Orange County maintains Orange criminal court records. Residents can request Orange criminal court records either in person, online or through the mail. In-person requests for record searches can be made at the Criminal Operations Department of any Justice Center of the Superior Court of California - Orange County. To request Orange criminal court records by mail, interested persons can complete the Request for Record Search Form. Then proceed to fill out the Copy Request for Form to request copies of court records. The form requires an applicant to provide information like a case number, case name, requester’s name, and address. Upon completion, requesters are to mail the form along with a check for search or copy fees to the court locations above. Checks must be made payable to the Clerk of the Court. Individuals can also conduct record searches through the court’s online case and calendar access.
Costs associated with obtaining records vary. If a search takes longer than 10 minutes, the Clerk of the Court charges $ 10 for the record. For each page of court records ordered, there is a fee of 50 cents. To compare prepared copies with records on file, the clerk also charges $1 per page. A $25 fee per document is paid for obtaining a certified copy of a court record, while the price for a certified copy of a divorce record is $15.
What are Orange Vital Records?
Orange vital records contain documented details on life events that occur within the city. These records maintained by the government include birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce decrees. Interested persons can access most documents by sending a request to the relevant local custodian agency or department.
Where and How to Obtain Orange Divorce Records?
The Superior Court of California - Orange County maintains Orange divorce records as part of its family law records. To obtain copies of Orange divorce records in person or by mail, complete a Copy Request Form and visit the Family Law clerk's office on the seventh floor of the Lamoreaux Justice Center or mail to Superior Court of California, County of Orange, Family Law Division, at:
Orange County Superior Court - Family Law Division
341 The City Drive South
Orange, CA 92868
Attn: Records Department
An applicant will need to provide valid photo identification at the time a case file is released for viewing. The procedure to obtain a certified copy of an Orange divorce record also involves the payment of a $15 fee. Records purchased by mail will be mailed between 30 to 45 days from the date of purchase.
Where and How to Get Public Orange Marriage Records?
The Office of the Orange County Clerk-Recorder is responsible for maintaining copies of Orange marriage records. Persons eligible to request Orange marriage records include:
- One of the married parties
- A parent or legal guardian of one of the parties
- A child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner of one of the parties
- A member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of any governmental agency established by law, that is conducting official business
- An attorney representing one of the parties or the party’s estate,
- Any person or agency empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act on behalf of one of the parties to the marriage or the party’s estate
Those who do not qualify as eligible persons may be able to receive an informational certified copy of the record. Residents may obtain Orange marriage records either in person, through the mail, or online through VitalChek (a private independent company).
To obtain Orange marriage certificates in person, interested persons are to visit any of the Clerk-Recorder’s offices:
Hall of Records
12 Civic Center Plaza
Room 101 and Room 106
Santa Ana, CA 92701
The office opens from Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
South County Branch Office
Laguna Hills Civic Center
24031 El Toro Road, Suite 150
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
The office opens from Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
North County Branch Office
Downtown Fullerton
201 N. Harbor Blvd.
Fullerton, CA 92831
The office opens from Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Requesters appearing in person are to present a valid government-issued photo ID and a signed statement under penalty of perjury that an applicant is an eligible person. The Clerk-Recorder accepts payments in cash, check, credit/debit card, and money order for in-person requests.
To make a mail request, complete the Vital Records Request Form. Include payment, a notarized statement sworn under penalty of perjury that an applicant is an eligible person, and a valid ID with the completed form and send it to:
Orange County Clerk-Recorder
Attn: Vital Records
P.O. Box 238
Santa Ana, CA 92702
A certified copy of an Orange marriage certificate costs $15. Requesters can pay in check, made payable to the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department.
Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Orange?
The Orange County Clerk-Recorder maintains confidential marriage records within Orange City. Only eligible persons can request authorized copies of a confidential marriage record. Eligible persons include:
- One of the married parties
- A person with a court order
Requests for an Orange confidential marriage record can be made in person or by mail. Interested parties can make in-person requests for confidential marriage records in Orange at any of the Clerk-Recorder’s offices mentioned above. People requesting the records through the mail are to complete the Vital Records Request Form. Then mail the completed form together with payment, a notarized statement sworn under penalty of perjury that an applicant is an eligible person and a valid ID should be sent to:
Orange County Clerk-Recorder
Attn: Vital Records
P.O. Box 238
Santa Ana, CA 92702
Only certified copies of confidential marriage records are available in Orange, and each copy costs $15. Applicants can pay through checks made payable to the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department.
Where and How to Find Orange Birth Records?
The Office of the Clerk-Recorder is responsible for maintaining Orange County birth records. These records are made available upon request in person or by mail. Persons eligible to request Orange birth records include:
- The record’s subject
- A parent or legal guardian of the subject
- A child, grandchild, grandparent, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner of the subject
- A person with a court order empowered to get the record
- An attorney or a licensed adoption agency seeking the birth record to comply with the requirements of Section 3140 or 7603 of the Family Code
- A member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of any governmental agency established by law, that is conducting official business
- An attorney representing the record’s subject or their estate
- Any person or agency empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act on behalf of the record’s subject or their estate
Those who do not fall within the category above may receive an Informational certified copy. Applicants can make in-person requests at any of the Clerk-Recorder’s three offices mentioned above. For a mail request, download and complete the Vital Records Request Form then send to:
Orange County Clerk-Recorder
Attn: Vital Records
P.O. Box 238
Santa Ana, CA 92702
Include the appropriate fee as a check payable to Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department. All requests for Orange birth records must be signed and notarized. The required fee for a certified copy of a birth certificate is $28.
Where and How to Find Orange Death Records?
The Office of the Clerk-Recorder generates and keeps Orange County death records. Orange death records are available upon in-person or mail requests. Individuals authorized to request Orange death records include:
- A parent or legal guardian of the deceased
- A member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of any governmental agency established by law, that is conducting official business
- A spouse, domestic partner, child, grandchild, grandparent, or sibling of the deceased
- An attorney representing the deceased or their estate
- Any person or agency empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act on behalf of the deceased or their estate
- Any funeral director or agent/employee of a funeral establishment acting within the scope of their employment who orders certified copies of a death on behalf of any individual specified in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive of subdivision (a) of Section 7100 of the Health and Safety Code
- Surviving Next of Kin (as authorized under the California Health and Safety Code Section 7100)
Persons that do not qualify as authorized individuals may receive an Informational certified copy. For in-person requests, applicants can visit any of the Clerk-Recorder’s three offices mentioned above. For requests through the mail, requesters are to download and complete the Vital Records Request Form then send it to:
Orange County Clerk-Recorder
Attn: Vital Records
P.O. Box 238
Santa Ana, CA 92702
Requests for Orange death records should be signed, notarized and should include the appropriate fee in a check payable to Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department. The Clerk-Recorder charges $21 for a certified copy of the death certificate.
