What are San Mateo City Public Records?
Section 6252 of the California Code defines public records as information on the conduct of public business, prepared, held, utilized, or stored in any form, by any local or state agency. However, not all records held by government agencies in San Mateo City are public. Some exempt records include:
- All documents and information concerning pending litigations where the agency is a party, except for disposition transcripts.
- All private and personal data if disclosure would be considered an unwarranted invasion of privacy. Information in this category includes job application records, medical records, and financial records.
- All communication, applications, and reports, produced for securities and bank regulatory agencies.
- All records of complaints, intel, investigations, and security procedures, held by law enforcement agencies.
- All examination data, including test questions and other materials, used to administer academic, employment, or licensing examinations.
- All taxpayers' personal information submitted in confidence.
- Appraisal, feasibility estimates, and engineering information for proposed government purchases.
- All consumer complaints received by the Attorney General's office.
- Assessments and other information on the vulnerability of a public agency to terrorist attacks.
- Personal data of employees except for names, job positions, date of employment, job location, and information on disciplinary measures and dispute resolution data.
Public city records may also be accessible from third-party websites. Record seekers may either opt to use these non-governmental platforms to search for a specific record or multiple city records. However, users will need to provide enough information to assist with the search such as:
- The address of the requestor
- A case number or file number (if known)
- The location of the document or person involved
- The name of the subject involved in the record (not juvenile)
- The last known or current address of the registrant
Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
San Mateo City Crime Statistics
Crime statistics are a vital part of the annual reports published by the San Mateo Police Department. From the information on the 2019 crime report, the total number of reported crimes was 152. Listed in the report are 2 rape incidents, 4 robberies, and 8 aggravated assaults. Other offenses include 10 simple assaults, 33 burglaries, 91 larceny incidents, and 4 stolen vehicle incidents. However, in 2020, the total number of reported crimes was 163 representing a 5.9 percent increase in crime rate.
Are San Mateo City Criminal Records Public?
According to the California Public Records Act, San Mateo criminal records are not public. The California Department of Justice maintains San Mateo City criminal history information and only makes copies available to the following authorized requesters:
- Law enforcement agencies
- Specified regulatory agencies and employers
- The subject of the record.
San Mateo City criminal records contain the following information:
- The full names as well as all known aliases of the subject.
- Physical descriptors
- Information on past and current indictments.
- Date of birth, ethnicity, and fingerprints
- Details of pending warrants and arrest records.
- Conviction information
Santa Mateo criminal records are accessible in person through the San Mateo Police Department. Requesters will be required to submit completed fingerprint cards along with a $25 processing fee. Although the police department usually fulfills requests within 3 working days, some requests may take up to 14 days.
How to Obtain San Mateo City Police Reports and Arrest Records
Interested members of the public can obtain arrest records and police reports by sending requests to the Records Division of the San Mateo Police Department. Records are requestable through one of the following ways:
- Request in-person: For in-person requests, interested persons are to visit the office of the Police Department with government-issued identification cards on Mondays through Fridays, between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm.
- Request by fax: Parties must fax signed request letters and identification card copies to the Police Department at (650) 522-7711
- Request by postal mail: San Mateo residents may send signed request letters and government-issued identification cards to the Police Department by mail.
- Online request: Requesters should upload signed request letters and relevant identification cards on the city’s public request page
Interested persons must note that while most records are available to the public, access to some records may require the prior written consent of the subject. All in-person and postal mail requests should be submitted to the San Mateo Police Department at the following address:
200 Franklin Parkway
San Mateo, CA 94403
How to Find Sex Offender Information in San Mateo City
In compliance with the California Megan's Law, the Department of Justice keeps a Sex Offender Registry where the public can access information about registered offenders in the state. Requesters can find San Mateo City sex offender records through the map search tool on the predatory offender search page or by entering the offender's name and location. Available information includes the offender’s name, photograph, and last registered address.
How to Find San Mateo City Inmate Records
San Mateo City inmate records are maintained by the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office and accessible to the public through the inmate locator search tool. Requesters must provide the first and last names of the inmate to facilitate the search. Details of inmates accessible via the website include booking dates, bond amounts, release times, charges, arrest dates, housing locations, case numbers, arresting agencies, and each case’s status.
How Do I Visit an inmate in San Mateo City Jail?
San Mateo County maintains two correctional facilities, including the Maple Street Correctional Facility and the Maguire Correctional Facility. Visitors to any of the facilities are required to schedule their visit online at least one day in advance. To complete the registration, intending visitors must upload a copy of their government-issued identity card. Each inmate is entitled to a maximum of two visits per week and no more than a single visit and visitor a day.
Visitors must also check in at least 15 minutes to the scheduled visitation time, but not earlier than 45 minutes before. Each visit to any of the facilities lasts for 45 minutes. Persons who arrive late by less than 15 minus will only be allowed the remainder of their scheduled visits. If later than 15 minutes, management at each facility reserves the right to cancel the visit. Canceled visits will not be rescheduled.
All visitors are required to dress appropriately and conduct themselves with decorum within the facility. Failure to do so would result in the cancellation of the visit and possible loss of visiting privileges. Intending visitors must be at least 18 years old. Eligible minors are also permitted inside the facility but must not be left unattended.
Visitors can opt for video visitation, which must be scheduled in advance. However, all video visitation is on-site as the facilities do not provide remote options. Each video visit lasts for a maximum of 20 minutes and costs 20 cents per minute. Video visitation is available on the following days and times:
- Tuesday to Friday: 8:00 am to 8:45 am, 10:00 am to 10:45 am, 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm, 7:00 pm to 7:45 pm, 9:00 pm to 9:45 pm.
- Saturday to Sunday: 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm, 7:00 pm to 7:45 pm, 9:00 pm to 9:45 pm.
What are San Mateo City Vital Records?
San Mateo City vital records refer to official documents of life events maintained by public agencies, including deaths, births, marriages, and divorces. Vital records in San Mateo City are accessible to members of the public who submit official requests as required by the custodian agency. However, not all San Mateo vital records are public.
Where and How to Obtain San Mateo City Divorce Records
The San Mateo County Superior Court maintains and issues copies of divorce records to requesters. To obtain San Mateo City divorce records, interested persons should send mail requests to:
San Mateo Superior Court
Records Management
Superior Court of California
400 County Center
1st Floor, Room A
Redwood City, CA 94063
Phone: (650) 261-5100
Alternatively, requesters may visit the San Mateo County Superior Court at:
Hall of Justice and Records
400 County Center
1st Floor, Room A
Redwood City, CA 94063
Certified copies of domestic partnership and marriage dissolution records are available for a $15 fee, payable by check. The court may charge an additional fee of $10 for files stored off-site.
To be eligible for certified copies of divorce records, the requester must:
- Be a named party in the divorce
- Be currently married to one of the divorced parties
- Be in a domestic partnership with either party
- Be a legal guardian to either party
- Be a direct offspring of either party
- Be a legal representative of either party
Where and How to Get San Mateo City Marriage Records
The San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder maintains San Mateo City marriage records. These records are requestable in person or by mail and are only valid for licenses issued in San Mateo County. San Mateo City marriage records are available as informational and certified copies. Access to certified copies is restricted to the following persons:
- The registrant on the record
- The registrant’s parent or legal guardian
- The registrant’s spouse, domestic partner, sibling, child, grandchild, or grandparent
- An attorney representing the registrant or the registrant’s estate
- A requestor acting as empowered by statute
- A requestor authorized by a court order
- A government agency’s representative for official purposes as provided by law.
All other persons may obtain informational copies. The San Mateo Clerk-Recorder also issues confidential certified marriage records. However, only the registrant or an individual with a valid court order may obtain copies. Information required from all requesters includes the names of both parties and the marriage date. The applicable $15 fee is payable via cash, credit/debit cards, or checks. Requesters should note that checks are only allowed for mail requests.
Processing orders for San Mateo City marriage certificates usually takes two weeks. However, a request for records of marriages between 1856 and 1964 may require two additional days. To request by mail, each applicant should complete the Certified Marriage Record Application Form and send the mail request at:
San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder's Office
Attn: Vital Records
555 County Center
1st Floor
Redwood City, CA 94063
Phone: (650) 363-4500
Where and How to Find San Mateo City Birth Records
San Mateo City residents may obtain birth records from the County Clerk-Recorder’s office. The city's birth records are available as certified copies and informational certified copies. While anyone can obtain informational copies, certified copies of birth records are only available to authorized persons. These authorized persons include:
- The subject named on the record if at least 16 years old
- Parents or legal guardians
- A child to the subject of the record.
- Any representative of a health care or child support group.
- A legal representative of the registrant
- A representative of a law enforcement agency.
- Anyone with a recognized court order demanding for the record
The request for birth records in San Mateo City can be made either in person or through the mail. In-person requesters are to complete the Application Form and submit to the Clerk-Recorder's office on Mondays through Fridays between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm at:
San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder's Office
555 County Center
1st Floor
Redwood City, CA 94063
Phone: (650) 363-4500
For mail requests, interested persons must fill the application form and include a copy of their government-issued ID. Each record costs $28 for individuals and $19 for government agencies and private adoption centers. The San Mateo Clerk-Recorder's Office fulfills requests within 2 weeks of receiving the application. The documents should be mailed to:
San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder's Office
Attn: Vital Records
555 County Center
1st Floor
Redwood City, CA 94063
Where and How to Find San Mateo City Death Records
San Mateo City residents may obtain copies of death records at the San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder's office. The death records are available as authorized copies and informational copies. Although both copies contain the exact details, the informational copy is public and not recognized as a valid document for identification. Persons eligible to request authorized copies must be:
- The listed registrant
- A legal guardian of the listed registrant
- The registrant's sibling, child, domestic partner, or spouse.
- A law enforcement agent
- A representative of a government agency
- An attorney to the registrant
- An agent of a funeral establishment.
Requesters can order death records in person or via mail. For in-person requests, intending requesters should submit the completed application form in person at:
San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder's Office
555 County Center
1st Floor
Redwood City, CA 94063
Phone: (650) 363-4500
For request via mail, interested persons should mail the completed application form along with the applicable fee of $21, and a copy of a valid identification card to:
San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder's Office
Attn: Vital Records
555 County Center
1st Floor
Redwood City, CA 94063
