What Are San Diego Public Records?
San Diego public records consist of non-confidential information generated and maintained by local agencies. These records may be handwritten, typed, photographed, recorded, or otherwise. Access to government records may be restricted from the public if it contains trade secrets, personnel/medical files, records concerning pending litigations, confidential records, information that violates personal privacy, and information related to an ongoing law enforcement investigation.
San Diego Crime Statistics
According to the 2018 FBI UCR statistics, the City of San Diego had 5,360 violent crimes and 27,416 property crimes reported. Violent crimes were broken down into 35 murders, 605 rapes, 1,439 robberies, and 3,281 cases of aggravated assault. On the other hand, property crimes for the same year consisted of 3,752 burglaries, 18,482 cases of larceny-theft, 5,182 motor vehicle thefts, and 187 arson cases. In comparison, the 2016 crime statistics indicate that larceny-theft was also the most common crime for that year, with 18,042 recorded cases. This is followed by auto theft, burglaries, aggravated assaults, and robberies with 5,839, 4,743, 3,323, and 1,387 incidents, respectively. There were 572 cases of rape, 239 cases of arson, and 50 murders in San Diego in 2016.
Compared to 2016, the crime trend for violent crimes witnessed a 30% decrease in murder, a 6% increase in rape, a 4% increase in robberies, and a 1% decrease in aggravated assaults. On the other hand, property crimes witnessed a 21%, 22%, and 11% decrease in burglaries, arson incidents, and cases of motor vehicle theft, respectively. Alternatively, there was a 2% increase in larceny-theft rates.
Are San Diego Criminal Records Public?
Residents can only access their own records. A subpoena or court order is required to get criminal records on others. Individuals can obtain their own local criminal records from the Sheriff’s Department or the California Department of Justice. San Diego criminal records are also available to a few authorized agencies, including law enforcement agencies, non-profit organizations, private and public schools, and certain health care agencies.
How to Obtain Police Reports and Arrest Records
Police reports and arrest records are available at the San Diego County Sheriff Department or the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) either in person or by mail. For requests to the SDPD, contact the appropriate division where actions were logged. To request in person from the Sheriff’s Department, visit the Records and ID Division at 9621 Ridgehaven Ct, San Diego, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. To request by mail, send a filled service request form and mail along with required fees and ID to:
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
ATTN: Records & ID Division, Cases Section
P.O. Box 939063
San Diego, CA 92193
San Diego arrest records and other police reports cost $20 paid through money order or a check issued by a California bank.
How to Find Sex Offender Information in San Diego
Information on sex offenders that are registered in the City of San Diego is available on the Megan's Law website. Members of the public can freely obtain the information by conducting different categories of searches based on the available information they have on the offender. Search categories include search by name, address, mile radius, city, zip code, county, and map location. There is also the added option of including transient offenders in search results.
How to Find San Diego Inmate Records
The San Diego Sheriff Department is in charge of maintaining inmates' records for the city. Interested individuals can find an inmate using the inmate search tool to search for inmates using their first names and their last names.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in San Diego County Jail?
The San Diego County Sheriff provides updated information on visiting schedules at different detention facilities. Generally, inmates can receive two 30-minutes in-person visits weekly. A maximum of three persons per visit and video calls are also granted. Visitors must arrive in the facility with valid photo identification, while minors must come with a legal guardian/parent with proof of claims. Individuals will undergo a metal detector search or pat-down before entering the visiting area. Persons who have been convicted of a felon or incarcerated within the past 90 days may not be able to visit, except permitted by the facility commander. The detention facilities in San Diego are:
East Mesa Reentry Facility
446 Alta Road,
Suite 5200
San Diego, CA 92158
Phone: (619) 210-0334
Facility 8 Detention Facility
446 Alta Road,
Suite 5300
San Diego, CA 92158
Phone: (619) 210-0327
George F. Bailey Detention Facility
446 Alta Road,
Suite 5300
San Diego, CA 92158
Phone: (619) 210-0385
San Diego Central Jail
1173 Front Street,
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 610-1647
Court Records
San Diego Court Records are electronic or paper files, recordings, and other materials that contain information on the legal proceedings that take place in courts under the jurisdiction of the City of San Diego. These records may be in the form of case files, transcripts, minutes, judgment rolls, and so on. Most of these records are available at the court where proceedings take place and are made publicly available.
Locations of Courts in San Diego
Superior Courts in San Diego:
Central Courthouse
1100 Union Street
San Diego, CA 92101
Tel: (619) 844-2700
Hall of Justice Courthouse
330 West Broadway
San Diego, CA 92101
Tel: (619) 450-7275
Kearny Mesa Courthouse
8950 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92123
Tel: (858) 634-1800
Juvenile Courthouse
2851 Meadowlark Drive
San Diego, CA 92123
Tel: (858) 634-1600
Appeals Court in San Diego:
4th District Court of Appeal, Division One
750 B Street,
Suite 300
San Diego, CA 92101
Tel: (619) 744-0760
Immigration Courts
San Diego Immigration Court
401 West "A" Street,
Suite 800
San Diego, CA 92101
Tel: (619) 557-6052
East Mesa Immigration Court
446 Alta Road,
Suite 5400
San Diego, CA 92158
Tel: (619) 661-3327
Federal Courts in San Diego:
Edward J. Schwartz Courthouse
221 West Broadway
San Diego, CA 92101
Tel: (619) 557-5600
Jacob Weinberger U.S. Courthouse
325 West F Street
San Diego, CA 92101
Tel: (619) 557-5620
Are San Diego Court Records Public?
Most San Diego court records are available to the public. According to the California rules of court, rule 2400(a), members of the public can access court records filed in the office of the clerk, with exemptions. A subsequent rule also states that unless confidential or sealed by the law, all court records are presumed open.
Can You Look Up a San Diego Court Case Online?
Information on San Diego court cases is accessible online through the online search tool. Find case information by searching the name of a party associated with the case, case number, or the District Attorney case number. Information provided by the search results may include:
- Case title
- Case number
- Case location
- Case type
- Date filed
- Parties involved in the court case
Note: Juvenile cases, infractions, dispositions, and certain misdemeanors or civil limited records are unavailable on this public index.
How to Obtain San Diego Civil Court Case Records
Individuals can obtain San Diego civil court case records by mail, online, or in-person requests. The court provides an online search tool that the public can use to search for civil cases by the name of a party associated with the case, or the case number, or the District Attorney's case number. For mailed applications, individuals should start by writing a letter, including the case number, names of the parties involved, and the names of the documents needed from the court. Then, send the request letter to the appropriate court where proceedings took place. Requests can also be made in person, although there are no guarantees for same-day results.
How to Obtain San Diego Criminal Court Records
San Diego criminal court records are obtainable from the San Diego Superior Court. Individuals can make requests via mail or in person. For mailed requests, individuals should write a letter including the case number, names of the parties involved, and the names of the documents needed from the court. Then send the request letter to the appropriate court where proceedings took place. Requests can also be made in person, although there are no guarantees for same-day results. The fee varies between $20 and $40, depending on the number of copies required.
What are San Diego Vital Records?
Vital records in San Diego are the categories of government-generated documents that contain information on life events. Examples of these recordings include birth certificates, marriage licenses, divorce decrees, death certificates, and so on. Most San Diego vital records like divorce records, death records, public marriage records, and uncertified copies of records are publicly accessible.
However, certified copies of records, confidential marriage records, and certified birth certificates, are strictly accessible by persons who are mentioned in the document and other authorized persons.
Where and How to Obtain San Diego Divorce Records
San Diego divorce records are available at the Superior Court in San Diego where the divorce took place. Interested individuals can make requests for the documents by mail or in person. Requests can be made by completing a records request form, along with a stamped self-addressed envelope and a check made payable to the San Diego Superior Court and mail it to:
San Francisco Superior Court,
Attn: Forms Clerk
400 McAllister Street,
Dept. 103
San Francisco, CA 94102-451
San Diego divorce records from 1962 to June 1984 are also available at the California Department of Public Health – Vital Records for $14 per copy requested. Complete the application form and send along with fees in money orders or checks made payable to the "CDPH – Vital Records" to:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
For further inquiries contact the CDPH-VR at (916) 445-2684 or CHSIVitalRecords@cdph.ca.gov.
Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in San Diego
San Diego confidential marriage records are obtainable from the County Clerk Office in the City. Only the couple mentioned in the documents and persons with court orders can obtain confidential marriage records. To apply for a San Diego confidential marriage record, interested individuals should fill the application form, provide a photo ID, pay a fee of $15 payable to the San Diego Clerk’s Office. Requesters should sign the sworn statement in the presence of a county judge and send complete form and fees to:
San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/Clerk
P.O. Box 121750
San Diego, CA 92112-1750
ATTN: Marriage Certificate
Requests can also be made in person at 1600 Pacific Highway, Suite 260, during regular business hours on weekdays.
Note: California Department of Public Health – Vital Records does not issue confidential marriage records.
Where and How to Get Public San Diego Marriage Records
San Diego public marriage records are obtainable from the County Clerk Office in the city. Certified copies are strictly available to authorized persons, while information copies are open to the public. To apply for a San Diego marriage record, interested individuals may fill the application form, provide a photo ID, pay a fee of $15 payable to the San Diego Clerk’s Office. Requesters should sign the sworn statement in the presence of a county judge and send complete form and fees to:
San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/Clerk
P.O. Box 121750
San Diego, CA 92112-1750
ATTN: Marriage Certificate
Requests can also be made in person at 1600 Pacific Highway, Suite 260, during regular business hours on weekdays. San Diego marriage certificates from 1905 to 2000 and from 2009 to present are also available at the California Department of Public Health – Vital Records for $15 per copy requested. Complete the application form and send along with fees in money orders or checks made payable to the "CDPH – Vital Records" to:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
For further inquiries contact the CDPH-VR at (916) 445-2684 or CHSIVitalRecords@cdph.ca.gov.
Where and How to Find San Diego Birth Records
Individuals can get San Diego birth records from the San Diego Office of Vital Records and Statistics and the California Department of Public Health – Vital Records. While these offices offer both informational copies and authorized certified copies, there are different forms and dissemination protocols involved.
Obtaining Copies of San Diego Birth Certificates
The San Diego Office of Vital Records and Statistics makes birth records available to interested individuals. Requests can be made in person or by mail. Eligible persons with direct relation or claims to the documents can request authorized certified copies. Interested persons may also request informational copies. Submitted requests should be sent with a completed application form and valid means of ID to:
Office of Vital Records
3851 Rosecrans Street
Suite 802 MS -P529
San Diego, CA 92110
San Diego birth certificates from July 1905 to the present are also available at the California Department of Public Health – Vital Records for $25 per copy requested. Requesters should indicate if requesting an informational or authorized copy of the record in the application form (Spanish) and provide other required information. Send completed form, fees in check/money order, and required identification to:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
For further inquiries contact the CDPH-VR at (916) 445-2684 or CHSIVitalRecords@cdph.ca.gov.
Where and How to Find San Diego Death Records
The San Diego Office of Vital Records and Statistics makes death records available to the public. Record seekers may submit requests in person or by mail. Eligible persons with direct relation or claims to the document can request authorized certified copies or while other interested persons may request informational copies. Send or submit filled application forms, $21 check or money order, and valid means of ID to:
Office of Vital Records
3851 Rosecrans Street
Suite 802 MS -P529
San Diego, CA 92110
San Diego death records from July 1905 to the present are also available at the California Department of Public Health – Vital Records for $21 per copy requested. Requesters should indicate if requesting an informational or authorized copy of the record in the application form (Spanish) and provide other required information. Send completed form, fees in check/money order, and required identification to:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
For further inquiries contact the CDPH-VR at (916) 445-2684 or CHSIVitalRecords@cdph.ca.gov.
