What Are Contra Costa County Arrest Records?
Contra Costa County arrest records are documents or reports created by local law enforcement agencies following criminal activities or investigation and issuance of warrants. These documents contain information gathered by the arresting agency or officer concerning the criminal activity, warrant, apprehension, and the suspect.
Contra Costa County arrest records are available at the office of the arresting agencies and also kept at the Office of the Criminal Clerk of the Supreme Court of California. However, individuals should note that these records only contain little information on criminal prosecution and rarely include details of final disposition. Therefore, interested persons should not use Contra Costaarrest records as proof of conviction as persons may be released without charges or found not guilty.
Crime Statistics
Contra Costa County recorded a total of 26,948 crimes in 2015. This figure represents a reduction of 23% compared to crime figures for 2006. Out of these, 2,392 were violent crimes, while 24,556 were property crimes. The most prevalent violent crime was aggravated assault with 1,213 incidents. There were also 999 cases of robbery, 156 rapes, and 24 murders in the county in 2015. Larceny was the most common property crime with 15,730 cases, followed by motor vehicle theft with 4,664 incidents. There were also 4,132 burglaries and 102 arsons in the year.
The nine-year crime data for the county show that all of these crimes experienced downward trends in Contra Costa. Murder, rape, aggravated assault, and robbery rates fell by 70%, 12%, 40%, and 46%, respectively. In the same period, burglary, larceny, vehicle thefts, and arson rates dropped by 31%, 11%, 37%, and 53%, respectively.
What Are Contra Costa County Criminal Records?
Contra Costa County criminal records refer to official documents that summarize both the Contra Costa arrest records and conviction histories of individuals in the county. These records provide personal data as well as information on the arrest, arraignment, and disposition of offenders in the county, as collected from different justice centers like the County Sheriff, Courts, jail, and other local police departments.
Contra Costa County criminal records are available at county and state levels. However, county records are often limited to criminal activities within the county jurisdiction, while statewide records are more comprehensive. Individuals can get these records from the courts where trials are held and from the statewide depository of criminal information, the California Department of Justice.
How Do I Get Contra Costa County Criminal Records?
Criminal and arrest records for Contra Costa County are not available online. These are kept at the Office of the Criminal Clerk of the Supreme Court of California. To obtain these records, visit the Criminal Clerk’s Office at 725 Court Street (P.O. Box 911), Martinez, CA 9455. The office remains open from Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Alternatively, call the office at (925) 608-1000 from Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m and 4:00 pm. To request criminal records by mail, download and fill the request form from the Court’s website and send it to the address above along with a stamped, self-addressed envelope and applicable fees. The Clerk’s Office charges $0.5 for every page of copy made and an additional $25 per document for certified copies of records.
Interested persons can also get criminal records from the California Department of Justice (DOJ) by filling live scan forms (Spanish) and completing the fingerprint-based request process at the nearest approved sites. Fees must not exceed $25.
How to Find Contra Costa County Sex Offender Information?
The California Department of Justice (DOJ) maintains a searchable statewide database of sex offenders. This database is available on the California Megan’s Law website. To find sex offenders in Contra Costa County, simply select the county in the County Search drop-down menu. A search tool on the homepage also allows the public to search for sex offenders by name or find all registered sex offenders around a particular address.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Contra Costa County Jail?
Interested persons who wish to visit an inmate in any correctional institution or jail in Contra Costa County should schedule the visit first and arrive at the jail at least 30 minutes ahead of schedule for registration. Registrants will have to provide valid photo identification, personal data, and inmate’s name and booking number. The registration desk will conduct a background check on the registrant, and persons with prior misconduct or persons with prior convictions who present a clear risk to the inmate or facility will not be granted the visitation privilege.
The visitation rule, including acceptable identification, visiting hours for different facilities, screening processes, dress codes, and jail other rules, are available online on the Sheriff’s website.
Where and How to Find Contra Costa County Inmate Information?
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation provides an inmate location tool that covers all the facilities under its jurisdiction, including the jails in Contra Costa County. It is also possible to find inmates by calling the Identification Unit at (916) 445-6713 or faxing it at (916) 358-4099. The Identification Unit provides this service from Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m and 4:30 p.m. A Contra Costa County Inmate Search is performed using the inmate’s full name, birth date, arrest information and DOC number (if known).
What Are Contra Costa County Court Records?
Contra Costa County court records are documents and materials that summarize or provide information on the criminal, civil, family, traffic, juvenile, and probate proceedings and actions that happen in any court within the county’s jurisdiction. Examples of these Contra Costa County public records include sworn statements, transcripts, case files, dockets, and others.
The public can request court records for Contra Costa County in-person and by mail. Mail requests cover name-search for family law, civil, limited civil, probate, and adoption cases. To request these records, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Court Records, 725 Court Street (P.O. Box 911), Martinez, CA 9455. More records are available for in-person requests. To access these, head to Court Records, 1111 Ward Street, Martinez, CA 9455. This office opens between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday. The office charges $0.5 per page of copies received by mail and in-person. There is an additional $25 charge for certified records.
Location of All Courts in Contra Costa County
Contra Costa County Superior Court – Martinez
Wakefield Taylor Courthouse
725 Court Street,
Martinez, CA 94553
Phone: (925) 608-1000
Contra Costa County Superior Court – Martinez
A.F. Bray Building
1020 Ward Street,
Martinez, CA 94553
Phone: (925) 875-7800 (Traffic)
Phone: (925) 875-7746 (Small Claims, Landlord/Tenant)
Contra Costa County Superior Court – Martinez
Peter L. Spinetta Family Law Center
751 Pine Street,
Martinez, CA 94553
Phone: (925) 608-1000
Contra Costa County Superior Court – Pittsburg
Richard E. Arnason Justice Center
1000 Center Drive,
Pittsburg, CA 94565
Phone: (925) 608-1000
Contra Costa County Superior Court – Richmond
George D. Carroll Courthouse
100 37th Street,
Richmond, CA 94805
Phone: (925) 608-1000
Contra Costa County Superior Court – Walnut Creek Traffic Center
640 Ygnacio Valley Road,
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Phone: (925) 608-1000
What Are Contra Costa County Vital Records?
Contra Costa County vital records are official documents provided by different government departments to confirm or validate that certain events happened to individuals in the county. These events include births, deaths, adoption, marriages, and divorces that occurred in the county or due to licensing by a county department.
Like other open Contra Costa public records, individuals can obtain these vital records by providing adequate event description and identification to the county or state-run repositories like the county's Clerk/Recorder or the California Department of Public Health. However, confidential, sealed, and other forms of restricted records or information are mainly accessible to persons with valid interests and claims like the record subject, close relatives, and legally authorized individuals.
Where and How to Get Contra Costa County Divorce Records
Divorce decrees or judgments are available at the Superior Court where the divorce occurred for $15. Individuals can obtain these records by submitting requests with detailed record descriptions and fees to the appropriate Superior Court location or 1111 Ward Street, Martinez. Call (925) 957-5768 for additional information.
On the other hand, divorce certificates from 1962 to June 1984 are available at the Vital Records UnitUnit of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH-VR) for $14. Individuals can get these records by mailing filled request forms and fees in a money order or check to:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
Phone: (916) 445-2684
Email: CHSIVitalRecords@cdph.ca.gov
Where and How to Get Contra Costa County Marriage Records
In accordance with California law, Contra Costa County marriage records are not posted online. To access them, visit the County Clerk-Recorder’s Office at 555 Escobar Street, Martinez, CA. The office and its copy section are open from Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. You may also request these records by mail and online by sending filled marriage certificate application forms and sending it along with $18 fees.
On the other hand, marriage certificates from 1095 to 2000 and 2009 till present are available at the Vital Records Unit of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH-VR) for $15. Individuals can get these records by mailing filled request forms and fees in a money order or check to:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
Phone: (916) 445-2684
Email: CHSIVitalRecords@cdph.ca.gov
Where and How to Get Contra Costa County Birth Records
In accordance with California law, Contra Costa County does not publish birth records online. To access them, record seekers must visit the County Clerk-Recorder's Office at 555 Escobar Street, Martinez, CA. The office and its copy section are open from Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. You may also request birth records by mail and online by sending birth certificate application forms and $31 to the office.
On the other hand, birth certificates are available at the Vital Records Unit of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH-VR) for $25. Individuals can get these records by mailing filled request forms and fees in a money order or check to:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
Phone: (916) 445-2684
Email: CHSIVitalRecords@cdph.ca.gov
Where and How to Get Contra Costa County Death Records
In accordance with California law, Contra Costa County does not provide online access to death records. To access them, interested parties must visit the County Clerk-Recorder's Office at 555 Escobar Street, Martinez, CA. The office and its copy section are open from Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. You may also request death records by mail and online by sending application forms for death certificates and $24 to the office.
On the other hand, birth certificates are available at the Vital Records Unit of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH-VR) for $25. Individuals can get these records by mailing filled request forms and fees in a money order or check to:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
Phone: (916) 445-2684
Email: chsivitalrecords@cdph.ca.gov
In addition to government agencies, county public records may also be obtained from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. Users are able to search third-party websites remotely for multiple records at a time with just the name of the record subject and their last known location, including the city, county, or state. Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
Are Property Records Open to the Public in Contra Costa County?
Based on the provisions of the California Public Records Act, Contra Costa County provides public access to property records generated and maintained by county officials. To get copies of Contra Costa County property records, interested requesters will need to visit or contact the office of the custodian.
Where and How to Find Property Records in Contra Costa County?
The Records Research Management Division of the Department of Conservation and Development records all information about properties within Contra Costa County. To obtain copies of a property record, interested parties must complete and submit a record request form along with payment to any of the office locations:
Main Office
30 Muir Road
Martinez, CA 94553
Phone: (925) 674-7774
Phone: (925) 674-7200
Fax: (925) 674-7250
Lamorinda Office
3685 Mt Diablo Boulevard
Suite 120
Lafayette, CA 94549
Phone: (925) 299-0263
Fax: (925) 299-0134
How to Look Up Contra Costa County Property Records?
The county’s online portal for property information is the Contra Costa Map (CCMAP). Interested parties can visit the portal to obtain information on individual parcels. Click on the left top corner and select your preferred search method. Search options include Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) and address search.
Requesters can use the ParcelQuestLite search tool to view parcel maps, assessed values, and other information about houses and properties in Contra Costa County. It allows researchers to find a property by Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) or by street address.
Another search option is the Contra Costa County Public Works Department’s search portal. It allows interested persons to search for recorded maps, annotated assessor parcel books, archived assessor parcel books, and other property-related information.
Location of Contra Costa County Property Assessors
Contra Costa County Assessor
2530 Arnold Drive
Suite 100
Martinez, CA 94553
Phone: (925) 313-7400
Fax: (925) 313-7488
