What are Sacramento Public Records?
Sacramento public records, in line with the provisions of the California Public Records Act (CPRA), include any information created, received, used, or retained by government agencies, except where lawfully excluded or prohibited. Sacramento public records comprise information typed or handwritten. It can also be in picture format or email-transmitted material. Any part(s) of a public record may be publicly limited or redacted. Some of these circumstances include:
- Private personal data which is in violation of personal privacy
- Information connected to an ongoing investigation by law enforcement
- Confidential information
- Trade secrets
- Initial or inconclusive drafts, notes, or annotations
- Pending litigation details (attorney work product)
- Information for particular taxpayers and private financial data
- Juvenile information
Sacramento Crime Statistics
The Sacramento Police Department provides statistics of crimes that occurred within the city. In 2019, the department reported a total number of 13,218 crimes, including 2,216 violent crimes and 11,002 property crimes. The violent crimes include 21 murders, 88 rapes, 719 robberies, and 1,388 aggravated assaults. The property crimes include 2,042 burglaries, 7,088 larcenies, and 1,872 motor vehicle thefts. This reveals a decline in the total crime rate over six years. Between 2014 and 2019, there was a decline in all reported crimes except rape. Rape rates increased by 13%. Murder, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft rates declined by 25%, 28%, 26%, 37%, 25%, and 22% respectively.
Are Sacramento Criminal Records Public?
Although the majority of Sacramento criminal records are considered public, certain criminal records are protected from public view. For instance, getting copies of criminal records produced and compiled by local law enforcement authorities is restricted to a small category of employers, such as child care centers, law enforcement agencies, security guard firms, and companies of public utilities. However, the Sacramento Police Department provides individuals that they have been arrested or detained previously with copies of their criminal records.
At the state level, access to California criminal records and background checks is restricted. The California Department of Justice carries criminal background checks for the state and provides this service only to persons who want to search their own criminal records. This service is also available to law enforcement agencies and employers in the state. Sacramento criminal records are considered public records at the Superior Court. Copies are made available to requesters upon request.
How to Obtain Sacramento Police Reports and Arrest Records?
The Sacramento Police Department generates and maintains Sacramento arrest records and police reports. It does not provide complete copies of police reports to the public. Any person interested in obtaining copies must establish that they have a legitimate “right to know” and “need to know”. The “right to know” is simply the right to obtain the police report pursuant to a court order, statute, or decisional law. On the other hand, “need to know” is the necessity to obtain police report information to execute official responsibilities. Persons that usually fall within the qualified category include the victim, one of the parties named in the report, an attorney of an interested party, an insurance agent of an interested party, or another agent acting on behalf of an affected party.
To obtain a Sacramento police report, interested persons can submit a mail, fax, in-person request. Mail or fax a written request to the Records Division or go to the Records Division in person and complete a request form. It takes three to four weeks to process requests. The written request should contain the following information:
- The type of report - burglary, robbery, etc.
- A report number, if known
- The date of the incident and its location
- The party/parties involved in the incident and their addresses, if known
- The license number of the vehicle, if applicable
- If the requester is an insurance company, provide the insurance policy number
- A release from an involved party if the request is from an attorney
- Authorization of documents e.g., power of attorney, birth or death certificate, if the request is from an interested party other than the victim mentioned
Send requests by mail or fax to:
Sacramento Police Department
Attn: Records Report Request
5770 Freeport Boulevard
Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95822
Fax: (916) 808-0636
For in-person requests, the requester will need to produce a valid government-issued ID and state a valid “right or need” to access the police report. In-person requests can also be made at the public counter of any of the two police facilities that accept these requests in person:
Police Headquarters – Public Safety Center
5770 Freeport Boulevard
Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95822
William J. Kinney Police Facility
3550 Marysville Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95838
Interested persons can request Sacramento accident reports online or by mail. Accident reports obtained online cost $5 per copy. Online requests are processed within five to ten days. If the report is not made available by that time, call the Records Division on (916) 808-0620. To make a mail request for an accident report, prepare a written request with the following information:
- The type of report - Traffic
- A report number, if known
- The date of occurrence and its location, can be the address and/or cross-streets
- The party/parties involved in the collision and their addresses, if known
- The license number of the vehicle, if applicable
- If the requester is an insurance company, provide the insurance policy number
- A release from an involved party if the request is from an attorney
- Authorization of documents e.g., power of attorney, birth or death certificate, if the request is from an interested party other than the victim mentioned
Submit the request by mail to:
Sacramento Police Department
Attn: Records Report Requests
5770 Freeport Boulevard
Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95822
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Sacramento?
The California Department of Justice maintains a statewide registry of sex offenders. It provides the public with access to sex offender information through the state’s Megan’s Law website. Sacramento residents can search sex offenders' information with the offender’s name and address. To get a detailed list of registered Sacramento sex offenders, requesters must use the search page and select Sacramento from the County drop-down menu. The search also returns results for transient offenders currently living in Sacramento.
How to Find Sacramento Inmate Records?
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office provides the general public with online access to inmate information and records through the inmate lookup tool. Requesters can search for inmates with their name or x-ref number. The results will provide the inmate’s full name, physical descriptors, mugshot, and sentencing information. Requesters can also submit requests for inmate information in person or by mail to:
Sacramento County Jail
651 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 874-6752
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation provides inquirers with inmate records at the state level through the prison inmate locator.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Sacramento Jail?
There are two jail facilities in Sacramento County, namely the Sacramento County Jail (Main Jail) and the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center (RCCC). Inmates at the Sacramento County Jail are allowed to receive 45 minutes visits twice a week. To visit an inmate at the jail facility, call the jail administration to confirm that the inmate can receive inmates. Visiting days are all days of the week, with the following visitation schedule:
- Morning and Afternoon Visits: 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m..
- Evening Visits: 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m., and 9:30 p.m.
The jail facility is located at:
Sacramento County Jail
651 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 874-6752
To visit an inmate at the RCCC, contact the jail facility with the information below:
Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center (RCCC)
12500 Bruceville Road
Elk Grove, CA 95757
(916) 874-1927
Court Records
The five branches of the Sacramento County Supreme Court are a part of the California Judicial Branch. They provide the general public with access to different forms of Sacramento court records and related documents, such as civil, criminal, administrative, probate, domestic relations, and traffic records. Sacramento court records include all relevant information and documents relating to court proceedings handled by the Sacramento County Superior Court. They include case files, transcripts of trials, affidavits, and submitted evidence.
Location of Courts in Sacramento
Sacramento County, California has five Superior Courts:
Sacramento County Superior Court - Carol Miller Justice Center
301 Bicentennial Circle
Sacramento, CA 95826
Phone: (916) 875-7746
Phone: (916) 875-7800
Sacramento County Superior Court - Gordon D. Schaber Sacramento County Courthouse
720 9th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 874-5522
Phone: (916) 874-5744
Sacramento County Superior Court - Juvenile Courthouse
9605 Kiefer Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95827
Phone: (916) 876-7753
Sacramento County Superior Court - Lorenzo Patino Hall of Justice
651 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 874-6936
Sacramento County Superior Court - William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse
3341 Power Inn Road
Sacramento, CA 95826
Phone: (916) 875-3400
Are Sacramento Court Records Public?
Sacramento court records are generally public records, and the Sacramento Superior Court makes them available to interested persons upon request. However, some Sacramento court records and documents are not accessible to the general public. These records include documents that relate to classified or confidential cases restricted by California state statutes. Examples of cases like this 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 a Sacramento Court case online?
The Sacramento County Superior Court provides a Public Case Access System to provide the general public with access to Sacramento Court cases. Interested persons can search cases by name, case number, or filing date. For civil and probate cases, researchers can view information about the case parties, events, and relevant documents. It also allows for criminal case searches. It allows users to search and pay your traffic citation online through the traffic section. In Family Law cases, users can view information about the case parties and events, orders after hearing, minute orders, and mediator reports prepared by Family Court Services.
There are name search fees and document search fees. The breakdown of name search fees are below:
- $1 for one name search
- $3 for five name searches
- $25 for 75 name searches
- $250 for 30 consecutive days of unlimited name searches
- $2,500 for 365 straight days of unlimited name searches.
The document search fees are broken down below:
- $1 per page for the first five pages of a document
- 40 cents per page for each additional page up to a maximum of $40 per document
How to Obtain Sacramento Civil Court Case Records?
To obtain Sacramento civil court records, inquirers can fill out the Request for Copies of Civil Records or submit written requests with the case numbers of the desired records to the following address:
Sacramento Superior Court
Attention: Criminal Correspondence Unit
720 9th Street
Room 101
Sacramento, CA 95814
Record seekers must enclose a check or money order for copy fees payable to the Sacramento Superior Court. Requesters should provide all relevant information, such as the names, social security numbers, dates of birth, case number, etc. It costs 50 cents per page for copies and $25 for certification and $50 for exemplification. For records that take longer than 10 minutes to search, there is a $15 fee. It costs $15 for court-ordered document authentication and $1 per page for comparing a copy to an original file.
The court keeps records of cases heard in 1989 to date. For older documents, interested individuals can search the public microfiche at the Criminal Records Unit of the Gordon D. Schabel Sacramento County Courthouse. The office is open from Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Its phone number is (916) 814-5522.
How to Obtain Sacramento Criminal Court Records?
To obtain Sacramento criminal court records, requesters can submit a written request or complete a Criminal Records Copy Request Form. Mail it with a money order for the specified fee to the address below:
Sacramento Superior Court
Attention: Criminal Correspondence Unit
720 9th Street
Room 101
Sacramento, CA 95814
What are Sacramento Vital Records?
Sacramento vital records are official files used to document the occurrence of important life events in the city. They include marriage, divorce, birth, and death records or certificates. Most Sacramento vital records are in the public domain. However, access to certified copies of vital records is restricted only to the individual named on the form, family members, or legal representatives. In Sacramento, the County Clerk and Recorder’s office maintains marriage, birth, and death records. The Sacramento County Superior Court issues copies of divorce records to interested individuals. At the state level, interested persons can obtain vital records from the California Department of Public Health - Vital Records (CDPH-VR).
Where and How to Obtain Sacramento Divorce Records?
The Sacramento County Superior Court makes Sacramento divorce records available to requesters. To obtain a Sacramento divorce record, requesters can complete a public file request, in-person, at the William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse. A valid state or federally issued photo identification is required to make requests. A copy of a divorce record costs $15, plus a standard copy fee of 50 cents per page.
Mail requests for divorce records can be made by completing a Request for Copies of Family Law Records. Attach the required fees, and mail the Family Law Correspondence Clerk at:
Sacramento County Superior Court - William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse
3341 Power Inn Road
Sacramento, CA 95826
The CDPH-VR has divorce records from 1962 to June 1984 only in its custody. They are available through mail requests only. Requesters should fill out the Certificate for Record for a Divorce form (or the Spanish version). Enclose the applicable record fee and mail it to:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
1501 Capitol Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95814
Where and How to Get Public Sacramento Marriage Records?
The Sacramento County Clerk and Recorder’s Office keeps certificates and records of marriages performed since 1850 in Sacramento County. It provides interested and eligible individuals with access to Sacramento marriage records. To obtain a Sacramento marriage certificate, visit any of the county offices and fill out an application form. It costs $15 per copy. Persons seeking to obtain certified copies should carry with them a valid photo ID to prove eligibility. The location and contact information of the county offices are below:
Downtown Sacramento
600 8th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 874-6334
County Service Center - East
5229 Hazel Avenue
Suite B
Fair Oaks, CA 95628
(916) 874-6334
County Service Center - South
8239 East Stockton Boulevard
Suite A
Sacramento, CA 95828
(916) 874-6334
To submit a mail request, complete the application form, notarize it, and include an acceptable form of payment. Mail it to the address below:
Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder
P.O. Box 839
Sacramento, CA 95812-0839
At the state level, the CDPH-VR provides marriage records from 1905 to the present. Requesters can submit mail requests to obtain copies of marriage records. Simply complete the Marriage Record Request form (or the Spanish version). Persons that want authorized copies should notarize the form. Mail the completed form, with payment, to:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
1501 Capitol Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95814
Where and How to Find Sacramento Birth Records?
Sacramento birth records from 1850 to date are available at the County Clerk/Recorder’s Office. Interested persons can make in-person or mail requests. A Sacramento birth certificate costs $28. To make an in-person request, visit any of the County Clerk/Recorder’s office locations below:
Downtown Sacramento
600 8th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 874-6334
County Service Center - East
5229 Hazel Avenue
Suite B
Fair Oaks, CA 95628
(916) 874-6334
County Service Center - South
8239 East Stockton Boulevard
Suite A
Sacramento, CA 95828
(916) 874-6334
To make a mail request, fill out the application form, notarize it, and attach an acceptable form of payment. Send the application by mail to:
Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder
P.O. Box 839
Sacramento, CA 95812-0839
Birth records are also available at the CDPH-VR. To obtain birth records, interested individuals can complete the Certified Copy of Birth Record form. Once completed, provide payment and send it with the completed form by mail to:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
1501 Capitol Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95814
Where and How to Find Sacramento Death Records?
The County Clerk/Recorder’s Office maintains and issues Sacramento death records from 1850 to date. Requesters can submit in-person or mail requests to obtain copies of death records. A Sacramento death record costs $21. In-person requests can be made by visiting any of the County Clerk/Recorder’s office locations below:
Downtown Sacramento
600 8th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 874-6334
County Service Center - East
5229 Hazel Avenue
Suite B
Fair Oaks, CA 95628
(916) 874-6334
County Service Center - South
8239 East Stockton Boulevard
Suite A
Sacramento, CA 95828
(916) 874-6334
For mail requesters, a requester should complete the application form. Notarize the form and enclose an acceptable form of payment. Mail the application to:
Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder
P.O. Box 839
Sacramento, CA 95812-0839
Death records from 1905 to date are also available at the CDPH-VR office. To get copies of death records, fill out the Form for Certified Copy of Death Record. Notarize the form and include payment. Send the application by mail to:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
1501 Capitol Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95814
