Crime Statistics
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department compiles and publishes crime data and crime maps. According to data for 2017, the city recorded a total of 4,537 incidents. Larceny-theft accounted for 37.9% of total crimes while burglaries, assaults, and auto thefts made up 20.4%, 17.2%, and 14.2% respectively. Compared to 2016, the total crime rate reduced by 5%. Violent crime increased by 22% while property crime slid by 12%. With a daily rate of 7.74 crimes per 100,000 residents, Lancaster was safer than 12% of the cities in the country.
Criminal Records
The L.A County Sheriff’s Department serves as the main law enforcement agency for the county. Access to police reports can be obtained by contacting the local Sheriff station that took the report. The department maintains a station in the city located at:
501 West Lancaster Boulevard
Lancaster, CA 93534
(661) 948-8466
A $23.00 fee is charged per report. The Sheriff Department also provides clearance letters on request. Interested parties will need to provide a photo I.D along with their application in addition to the appropriate fee.
Who Can Request a Police Report?
In compliance with California state laws, access to police reports is restricted to only authorized applicants. Requests can be made by witnesses or victims of a crime, insurance carriers, or legal representatives of victims.
How to Obtain Inmate Information
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department manages inmate records for the county. It provides online access to public inmate records via an online inmate information center. Interested parties can search for records using the inmate’s first and last name. Interested parties can also obtain inmate information by calling the correctional facility where the individual is held.
How to Obtain Sex Offender Information
The California Department of Justice maintains an online registry that contains sex offender information. Members of the public can search for offenders by first and last name. Searches can also be filtered to reveal registered offenders living within a city, zip code or a specific map range.
Court Records
The City of Lancaster falls under the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles County Superior Court (North District). Public court records may also be obtained by contacting the clerk at the courthouse:
Michael Antonovich Antelope Valley Courthouse
42011 4th Street West
Lancaster, CA 93534
(661) 483-5797 (Civil, Small Claims)
(661) 483-5798 (Criminal)
(661) 483-5796 (Family Law)
(661) 483-5796 (Probate)
(661) 483-5799 (Traffic)
The superior court also provides online access to different public court records. Members of the public can search for civil, probate and family law records using the court’s online case access too. The court also provides online access to a variety of criminal court records, including misdemeanor cases from 1988 to present and felony cases from 1980 to the present. The results of the search provide general information, such as the filing date, filing location, name of the party on record, and case number. To use this service, requesters will need to create an account with the platform. Name-based searches incur a public access fee.
Location of Courthouses in Lancaster
Michael Antonovich Antelope Valley Courthouse
42011 4th Street West
Lancaster, CA 93534
(661) 974-7200
Alfred J McCourtney Juvenile Justice Center
1040 West Avenue J
Lancaster, CA 93534
(661) 483-5904
Vital Records
Vital Records for the city of Lancaster can be obtained at county and state levels. This includes accessing birth and death records, marriage records, and records of marriage dissolutions. Applicants may be restricted from obtaining certified records depending on their eligibility.
How to Find Divorce Records
Certified copies of divorce decrees that were issued in Lancaster can be obtained by contacting the clerk at the courthouse where the divorce was granted.
Michael Antonovich Antelope Valley Courthouse
42011 4th Street West
Lancaster, CA 93534
(661) 483-5796 (Family Law)
Interested parties can also request copies of divorce judgments via the court document order system. To order a divorce decree document, requesters will need to provide specific information, such as the name of the spouses at the time of the divorce and the case number. A $0.50 fee is charged per page for the first copy and $0.50 per page for additional copies. Certifications incur a flat $15.
How to Find Birth/Death Records
The Los Angeles County Clerk/Recorder manages and issues certified copies of records for birth and deaths in Lancaster and other cities in the county. Records can be obtained in person or via mail. To obtain a copy of a death or birth certificate by mail, requestors must submit a completed application form along with a certificate of identity (for death records). Completed applications should be sent to the:
Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
Birth, Death and Marriage Records Section
P.O. Box 489
Norwalk, CA 90651-0489
Birth and death records can also be obtained from the California Department of Public Health. The department compiles records of births and deaths across the state from 1905 to date. Interested parties can apply for records by submitting a duly completed request form for birth or death records. A sworn notarized statement is required for authorized copies. Mail requests should be sent to the:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
A $25 fee is charged for each copy of a birth certificate and $21 for each copy of a death record. Similarly, the California Department of Public Health provides public access to marriage certificates of unions that occurred between 1905 and 2000 and from 2008 till present.
