What Are Orange County Arrest Records?
Orange County arrest records are official documents containing information on people taken into custody due to their suspected involvement in a crime. Orange arrest records may not serve as a criminal record until a court convicts the suspect. Applicants can obtain their arrest records from the California Department of Justice. Orange County arrest records contain suspects’ personal information like their name, birth date, gender, and more. The arrest date, the place of the arrest, and the details of the alleged crime are also parts of Orange arrest records. People may also find the name of the arresting officer, the details of custody, and the name of the issuer of the arrest warrant in Orange arrest records.
Crime Statistics
The State of California Department of Justice publishes crime statistics for Orange County. According to the provided data, there were 18,452 felony arrests in Orange County in 2017, the most recent year with complete arrest and crime data. The year also recorded 63,387 misdemeanor arrests. Compared to the previous year, the felony arrest rate grew by 2.5%, while misdemeanor arrests increased by 2.4%. With 6,238 incidents, violent offenses accounted for most of the felony arrests recorded. Property offenses came second with 5,490 arrests, followed by drug and sex offenses with 1,914 and 395 arrests respectively.
In 2017, Orange County recorded 7,627 violent crimes, 65,638 property crimes, and 328 cases of arson. Compared to data for the previous year, these figures represent a 0.6% drop in property crime rate and 4.8% and 21.9% rise in violent crime and arson rates, respectively. Aggravated assault was the most common violent crime with 4,240 incidents. Robbery comes after aggravated assault with 2,495 incidents. The Sheriff’s Department of Orange County also responded to 62 homicides and 830 rapes in 2017. A breakdown of property crime statistics shows that larceny was the most prevalent crime with 46,607 cases. There were also 10,196 burglaries and 8,835 motor vehicle thefts. Between 2016 and 2017, homicide (8.8%), rape (2.5%), robbery (16.8%), motor vehicle theft (3.7%), and larceny (0.2%) rates increased in Orange County. However, there were lower incidences of aggravated assault (0.7%) and burglary (7.5%).
What Are Orange County Criminal Records?
Orange County criminal records contain documented information on the criminal activity of persons within its jurisdiction. These criminal records consist of data on the arrest, indictments, pending dispositions, and conviction. Criminal records do not form part of Orange County public records, as they are only accessible by the records’ subjects and law enforcement agencies.
The data found in these records may include the full name of the subject of the request, the birth date, race, or ethnicity of individuals named on the records, and all their indictments, previous and current. It may also include arrest records and outstanding warrants issued against individuals named on the documents. The information in Orange County criminal records comes from various law enforcement offices, the courts, and correctional facilities.
How Do I Get Orange County Criminal Records?
The California Department of Justice (CDOJ) is responsible for issuing Orange County criminal records to eligible requesters. People can request their criminal records by filling out an application found on the Department of Justice website. Requesters may have to visit authorized fingerprinting centers. The CDOJ sets out authorized live scan locations online. Applicants may have to visit the live scan facility, with their completed application forms and valid government-issued I.D. They may also have to pay for the live scan rolling fee and the criminal record check fee.
How to Find Orange County Sex Offender Information
The California Department of Justice maintains a registry of sex offenders residing in the state. By the Law of the State of California, this database of registered sex offenders is available to the public. The Department of Justice offers it for public perusal on the California Megan’s Law website. Visitors to the website can search for sex offenders by name and address. Individuals can go to the county search page to see a map showing the locations of registered sex offenders living in Orange County. They will have to choose Orange from California counties’ drop-down menu to search for Orange County sex offender information.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Orange County Jail?
People who wish to visit inmates at the Orange County Jail can visit any of the jail facilities below:
Inmates intake / Release Center
N. Flower Street
Santa Ana, CA 92703
Central Men's Jail
N. Flower Street
Santa Ana, CA 92703
Central Women's Jail
N. Flower Street
Santa Ana, CA 92703
James Musick Facility
13502 Musick
Irvine, CA 92618
Theo Lacy Facility
City Drive South
Orange, CA 92868
The county jail visitation schedule is according to the housing facilities, and people can find it online. Visitors, 18 years and older, may have to provide valid photo identification. They may also have to arrive 45 minutes before the visit. The time allowed for each visit is 30 minutes. The jail authorities expect visitors to dress and conduct themselves appropriately during visits.
Where and How to Find Orange County Inmate Information
The Orange County Sheriff's Department is responsible for booking individuals into jails around the county. It updates its inmate database daily and offers complete records of recently booked and released individuals. To find an inmate in Orange County’s correctional facilities, people can use the Sheriff’s Department website’s inmate lookup tool. Requesters can perform an Orange County Inmate Search using the inmate’s name, age, and gender. Search results include the inmate's general profile and details about the conviction(s) or charge(s). The database provides information about individuals currently in custody and those released in the last 30 days.
What Are Orange County Court Records?
The Superior Court of the California County of Orange is responsible for keeping all Orange County Court records for cases heard in state courts all over the county. People can search and view these records online by visiting the Case Search section of the court’s website. Available documents include civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic, and small claims cases. The case search webpage allows people to search by case number. To search court records by individual or business name, requesters can use the search tool on the Online Services page. The online search requires registering on the website and logging in.
Applicants can also request a record search and document copies in person and by mail. For in-person requests, they can visit any of the Superior Court of Orange County Justice Center locations below:
Central Justice Center
700 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Community Court
909 N. Main Street
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Civil Complex Center
751 West Santa Ana Boulevard
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Department CJ1 Orange County Men's Jail
550 N Flower Street
Santa Ana, CA 92703
Harbor Justice Center
Newport Beach Facility
4601 Jamboree Road
Newport Beach, CA 92660-2595
Lamoreaux Justice Center
341 The City Drive South
Orange, CA 92868-3205
North Justice Center
1275 North Berkeley Avenue
Fullerton, CA 92832-1258
West Justice Center
8141 13th Street
Westminster, CA 92683-4593
To request record search by mail, requesters can download and complete a Request for Record Search form and mail it along with a check payable to the Clerk of the Court for prescribed fees to the court locations above. The Clerk of the Court charges $10 for searching records if the search takes longer than 10 minutes. There is a charge of 50 cents for each page of court records ordered. The Clerk also charges $1 per page to compare prepared copies with records on file. Obtaining a certified copy of a court record attracts a $25 fee per document while the charge for a certified copy of a divorce record is $15.
Location of All Courts in Orange County
The Orange County court system consists of Superior Courts. Below is a list of courts in Orange County and their addresses:
Orange County Superior Court - Central Justice Center (CJC)
Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone: (657) 622-6878
Orange County Superior Court - Community Court
North Main Street
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone: (657) 622-5800
Orange County Superior Court - Complex Civil Center (CXC)
West Santa Ana Boulevard
P.O. Box 22028
Santa Ana, CA 92702
Phone: (657) 622-6878
Orange County Superior Court - Harbor Justice Center Newport Beach (HJC/NB)
Jamboree Road
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Phone: (657) 622-5400
Orange County Superior Court - Lamoreaux Justice Center (LJC)
The City Drive South
Orange, CA 92868
Phone: (657) 622-6878
Orange County Superior Court - North Justice Center (NJC)
North Berkeley Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92832
Phone: (657) 622-5600
Orange County Superior Court - West Justice Center (WJC)
13th Street
Westminster, CA 92683
Phone: (677) 622-5900
What Are Orange County Vital Records
Orange County vital records contain documented information on important occurrences in the county, including births, marriages, divorces, and deaths. Most Orange County vital records are open to the public. However, access to a record depends on the type of record requested. Certified or authorized copies are open to specific persons, like the named registrant, immediate family members, legal guardians, or any party with written authorization.
No documentation is required to obtain informational copies of a vital record. However, to obtain certified copies of a specific record, requesters may have to provide a government-issued I.D to prove their eligibility. Divorce records for Orange County are open to the public unless they contain sensitive information. The Superior Court of California - Orange County maintains and issues divorce decrees finalized in Orange County.
Where and How to Get Orange County Divorce Records
Divorce records for Orange County are open to the public. However, the court may seal them if they contain sensitive information like:
- account numbers, social security numbers, and other financial information
- the identities of victims of domestic violence or child abuse
- proprietary business information.
The Superior Court of California - Orange County maintains and issues divorce decrees finalized in Orange County. People can request these records in person by visiting the Family Law clerk's office on the seventh floor of the Lamoreaux Justice Center, or by mail to:
The Superior Court of California, County of Orange
Family Law Division
The City Drive South
Orange, CA 92868
Attention: Records Department
People can also request copies of divorce cases online. To obtain sealed divorce records, applicants may have to get an Order of the Court unless they are the divorce parties. The fee for a copy of divorce records is 50 cents per page, certification of a divorce Decree costs $15.
Where and How to Get Orange County Marriage Records
Orange County maintains two types of marriage records, which are confidential marriage records and public marriage records. Access to confidential marriage records is restricted to the parties to the marriage, while copies of a public marriage record are open to eligible requesters. The Office of the Clerk-Recorder maintains and issues marriage records. Requesters can obtain these records in person or by mail by contacting any of the Clerk-Recorder’s three offices below:
Hall of Records
12 Civic Center Plaza
Room 101 and Room 106
Santa Ana, CA 92701
The office opens from Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
South County Branch Office
Laguna Hills Civic Center
24031 El Toro Road
Suite 150
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
The office opens from Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
North County Branch Office
Downtown Fullerton
201 N. Harbor Boulevard
Fullerton, CA 92831
The office opens from Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
The Clerk-Recorder accepts payments in cash, check credit/debit card and money order for in-person requests. For a mail request, applicants may have to download and complete the Vital Records Request Form and then send to:
Orange County Clerk-Recorder
Attention: Vital Records
P.O. Box 238
Santa Ana, CA 92702
They may also have to include the appropriate fee as a check payable to Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department. The cost of a certified copy of a marriage certificate is $15.
Where and How to Get Orange County Birth Records
The Office of the Clerk-Recorder issues birth records for Orange County. Requesters can obtain birth records in person or by mail. For in-person requests, they can visit any of the Clerk-Recorder’s three offices below:
Hall of Records
12 Civic Center Plaza
Room 101 and Room 106
Santa Ana, CA 92701
The office opens from Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
South County Branch Office
Laguna Hills Civic Center
24031 El Toro Road
Suite 150
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
The office opens from Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
North County Branch Office
Downtown Fullerton
201 N. Harbor Boulevard
Fullerton, CA 92831
The office opens from Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
The Clerk-Recorder accepts payments in cash, check credit/debit card and money order for in-person requests. For mail requests, they can submit a completed Vital Records Request Form to the:
Orange County Clerk-Recorder
Attention: Vital Records
P.O. Box 238
Santa Ana, CA 92702
They may have to include a check payable to the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department to cover the records’ cost. The Clerk-Recorder charges $28 for a certified copy of a birth certificate.
Where and How to Get Orange County Death Records
The Office of the Clerk-Recorder is in charge of keeping death records for Orange County. These records are accessible in person or by mail. For in-person requests, people may visit any of the Clerk-Recorder’s three offices below:
Hall of Records
12 Civic Center Plaza
Room 101 and Room 106
Santa Ana, CA 92701
The office opens from Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
South County Branch Office
Laguna Hills Civic Center
24031 El Toro Road
Suite 150
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
The office opens from Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
North County Branch Office
Downtown Fullerton
201 N. Harbor Boulevard
Fullerton, CA 92831
The office opens from Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
The Clerk-Recorder accepts payments in cash, check credit/debit card and money order for in-person requests. For a mail request, applicants can download and complete the Vital Records Request Form and then send it to:
Orange County Clerk-Recorder
Attention: Vital Records
P.O. Box 238
Santa Ana, CA 92702
To cover the cost of processing copies of the record, requesters may have to include the appropriate fee as a check payable to Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department. A certified copy of a death certificate costs $21.
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 Orange County?
Orange County property records such as deeds, assessment rolls, and other information relating to personal, business, and real property are open to the public. Residents of Orange County can access, inspect, and obtain copies of Orange County property records by submitting requests via mail or in-person at the custodian office. Individuals can also find these records or related information online by using the search tools provided by the same custodians.
Where and How to Find Property Records in Orange County
Orange County property records are available at the Clerk-Recorder Department. Individuals may obtain official copies of these records in person, via mailed requests, and ordered online following a search on the Grantor-Grantee database. Requesters are often required to provide document recording dates and names of grantors or grantees within the requests along with book, instrument, and page number, if available. Individuals may also find request forms on the Clerk-Recorder website.
The department charges $1 for the first page, $1 per additional copy, and $1 per certified page. For over-the-counter service, individuals can make payments with cash, check, cashier's check, credit/debit card, or money order made payable to the Orange County Clerk-Recorder. However, payments for mailed requests should be with checks, cashier's checks, and money orders only. Requests should be to:
Orange County Clerk-Recorder
Attn: Copy Desk
County Administration South
601 North Ross Street
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone: (714) 834-2500
Individuals can obtain additional information on property assessment, maps, liens, and tax from the County Assessor and Treasurer-Tax Collector.
How to Look Up Orange County Property Records
Individuals can look up Orange County property records on the searchable online Grantor/Grantee Index provided by the Clerk-Recorder Department. The index contains all available records from April 1982 to date, but this may only be partial documents. Users can search by name, document number, document type, map, and recording date. Search results will contain property records relating to the search criteria and provided information. Furthermore, individuals can download results or purchase the document on the database. Individuals can also lookup property records at any of the four Clerk-Recorder offices located at:
County Administration South (Main Office)
601 North Ross Street,
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Old Orange County Courthouse
211 West Santa Ana Boulevard.
Santa Ana, CA 92701
South County Branch Office
Laguna Hills Civic Center
24031 El Toro Road,
Suite 150
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
North County Branch Office
Wells Fargo Building/Parking
222 South Harbor Boulevard,
Suite 110
Anaheim, CA 92805
The County Treasurer-Tax Collector also maintains an online application that individuals may use to find information on supplement property tax and other property information through the various search criteria.
Location of Orange County Property Assessors
Orange County Assessor
500 South Main Street
2nd Floor
Orange, CA 92868
Phone: (714) 834-2727
Orange County Assessor (South County Office)
Mission Viejo City Hall
200 Civic Center
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
Phone: (949) 470-8428
