SANTA CLARA PUBLIC RECORDS

What are Santa Clara City Public Records?

Santa Clara City officials comply with the CPRA. Therefore, all information they create, prepare, use, or retain, fall under the category of Santa Clara City public records - unless the law restricts access to them. Per the act, Santa Clara City public records may include handwritten or typewritten documents. They may also comprise photographs, audio recordings, video recordings, and other digitally transmitted information. However, the CPRA restricts or redacts specific portions of Santa Clara public records from general viewership if they include:

• Architectural and official building plans
• Attorney-client communications
• Attorney bills and retainer agreements
• California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) proceedings
• Code enforcement records
• Deliberative process privilege
• Drafts
• Voter registration information
• Identity of informants
• Records relating to information technology systems’ security
• Records obtained for journalistic or scholarly purposes

Santa Clara City Crime Statistics

The Santa Clara City Police Department collates records of crimes and arrests and sends them to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for inclusion in the Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCR). The UCR is a statewide law enforcement program that gives a holistic view of criminal activity across the nation. On its public crime statistics page, the Santa Clara City Police Department reported 4,254 crimes in 2015. Among the crimes and arrests, larceny-theft - with 2,641 reports - was the most recurrent crime, followed by burglary and assault with 586 and 526 arrests. The Police Department also reported one murder case, ten arson cases, 71 robberies, 399 instances of vehicular theft, and twenty rapes.

The crime rate in Santa Clara City went up by 30% over five years. In 2019, the Police Department reported 5513 crimes. Of that number, larceny-theft increased by 51.9%, while rape and arson grew by 75% and 80%. The number of assault cases increased by 21.2%, and robberies climbed by 2.8%. On the other hand, reported burglaries dropped by 38% in five years, while vehicular theft also declined by 6.77%.

Are Santa Clara City Criminal Records Public?

California statutes restrict public access to most Santa Clara City criminal records, making them accessible only to registrants, victims, employers, and law enforcement agencies. The California State Department of Justice makes criminal background information - compiled by local law enforcement agencies - available to public utility companies, private security firms, child care facilities, and other specialized employers only. Santa Clara City arrest records and criminal records are available from the Santa Clara City Police Department and accessible by the arrestees or crime victims.

How to Obtain Police Reports and Arrest Records

Per California’s Public Records Act, only eligible persons may request Santa Clara City police reports. Examples of eligible persons include:

• Victims or witnesses of crimes
• Authorized representatives of crime victims
• The insurance company against whom claims have been made or may fall against
• Anyone who has suffered physical injury or property damage due to an incident

To obtain a Santa Clara City police report, eligible persons must complete a Request for a Record Information form and submit it by email to records@santaclaraca.gov or by mail to:

Santa Clara Police Department
601 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95050

The Santa Clara Police Department will typically respond within ten days of a request but will strive to release reports sooner if it is possible.

How to Find Sex Offender Information in Santa Clara City

The California State Department of Justice requires all convicted sex offenders to register their current information and makes that information available on its Sex Offender Registry. Individuals looking for Santa Clara City sex offender information may query the registry as it holds information on sex offenders in Santa Clara and other parts of the state. Anyone who queries the page may view details on the following offender classes:

• Serious Offenders: Registrants whose conviction is for a felony sex offense or a misdemeanor child molestation.
• High-Risk Offenders: Registrants who have multiple violent crime convictions or get classified as sexually violent predators according to Welfare and Institutions Code, Section 6600

The registry provides sex offender information such as the offender’s first and last names, aliases, photograph and physical description, phone number, and home or work address. The registry also allows researchers to seek offenders within a particular zip code or close to schools and parks.

How to Find Santa Clara City Inmate Records

Law enforcement agents in Santa Clara City send convicted individuals to the Santa Clara County Jail. The Santa Clara County Sheriff maintains a record of all inmates in the Santa Clara County Jail and provides public access to the roster through its Online Inmate Search Page. Anyone who wishes to get Santa Clara City inmate records must provide the inmate’s booking number (CEN), Person File Number (PFN), or the inmate’s name and either date of birth or booking date.

How Do I Visit an Inmate in Santa Clara City Jail?

Individuals that wish to visit inmates in Santa Clara County Jail may do so according to the following schedule:

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8:10 a.m., 9:20 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:10 p.m., and 4:20 p.m.
• Saturday, Sunday: 7:00 a.m., 8:10 a.m., 9:20 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:10 p.m., 4:20 p.m.

Potential visitors must register for approval to visit using the OVR system. Requests may take up to seven days to receive authorization and may not receive it if:

• The potential visitor has been in police custody within the past 60 days;
• The applicant has an open or pending court case;
• The applicant has been convicted of a felony and served time in state prison.
• A state judge convicted the applicant for a misdemeanor within the past three years;
• The applicant has a No Contact Restraining Order involving the desired inmate;
• The applicant is on probation or parole;
• The applicant has an active warrant;
• The applicant is currently out on bail for an open or pending court case.

Inmates may receive two 60-minute visits per week. Approved visitors must schedule visits up to two weeks in advance, using the OVR system. If multiple persons schedule visits on the same day, the facility will accommodate them on a first-come, first-served basis. All visitors must check-in to the facility at least thirty minutes before the appointed visit. Adults must present a valid government-issued picture I.D. photo identification, including the following:

• Driver’s License;
• Green Card;
• Passport;
• Military I.D.;
• Mexican Consulate Card

Child visitors must directly relate to the visitor or inmate and must present a valid birth certificate. All visitors must pass through a metal detector and are encouraged to remove metal items before arriving at the facility. Visitors with infants may carry one diaper, a reasonable amount of wipes, and one pre-mixed formula/white milk bottle per child.

All visitors are encouraged to dress comfortably but conservatively. No visitor may enter the facility wearing any of the following:

• Dresses, skirts, skirts with slits that rise higher than two inches above the knee;
• Clothing that exposes the back, shoulders, chest, or midriff;
• Visible undergarments;
• Transparent clothing, strapless, halter, spaghetti straps, bare midriff clothing, tank tops;
• Clothing that resembles jail/inmate clothing;
• Clothing that resembles law enforcement or military clothing;
• Clothing or footwear containing metal
• Medical attire (scrubs)
• Attire displaying obscene or offensive language or drawings
• Visible tattoos that are offensive or gang-associated;
• Hats;
• Anything else that the Facility Commander deems inappropriate

Court Records

The Santa Clara County Superior Court, under the California Judicial Branch, is responsible for all Santa Clara City legal proceedings. The Superior Court provides various types of Santa Clara City court records, including criminal, civil, juvenile, traffic, small claims, and probate court records.

Locations of Courts in Santa Clara City

Santa Clara County Superior Court - Downtown Superior Court
191 North 1st Street,
San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: (408) 882-2100

Santa Clara County Superior Court - Hall of Justice
Physical:
190-200 West Hedding Street,
San Jose, CA 95110
Mailing:
191 North 1st Street,
San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: (408) 808-6600

Santa Clara County Superior Court - Family Justice Center
Physical:
201 North 1st Street,
San Jose, CA 95113
Mailing:
191 North 1st Street,
San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: (408) 792-4200

Santa Clara County Superior Court - Santa Clara Courthouse
Physical:
1095 Homestead Road,
Santa Clara, CA 95050
Mailing:
191 North 1st Street,
San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: (408) 556-3000

Are Santa Clara City Court Records Public?

Some, but not all, Santa Clara City court records are open for public viewership. California statutes restrict some court cases from the general public and make them accessible only to eligible parties. Some limited court cases include:

• Child custody proceedings;
• Domestic violence prevention proceedings;
• Juvenile court proceedings;
• Guardianship or conservatorship proceedings;
• Mental health proceedings;
• Proceedings to compromise the claims of a minor or a person with a disability;
• Civil harassment proceedings;
• Workplace violence prevention proceedings;
• Private postsecondary school violence prevention proceedings;
• Elder or dependent adult abuse prevention proceedings;
• Gun violence prevention proceedings;

Can You Look Up a Santa Clara City Court Case Online?

The Santa Clara County Superior Court provides access to Santa Clara City court records through its Case Information Online. Interested persons may query the page to view and copy civil and family court cases, criminal court records, and traffic records.

How to Obtain Santa Clara City Civil Court Case Records

The Santa Clara County Superior Court provides online access to Santa Clara City civil court case records. Interested public members may view civil case information using the court’s public access portal and search by case number, party name, etc. However, researchers must be aware that the public access portal documents do not constitute the Court’s official record.

Individuals that require official Santa Clara City court case records must query the Santa Clara County Superior Court in person or by mail. To obtain the records, requesters must provide the following:

• Case number;
• The full names of the parties;
• Title(s) of the document(s) requested;
• The document(s) filing date, if known.

If the researcher does not know the case number, the court staff will charge $15 for each manual search exceeding fifteen minutes. Copying Santa Clara City civil court case records costs fifteen cents per page while certifying them costs $40 per record. Payment is acceptable by cash, card, check, or money order.

For mail-in requests, interested persons must write to the court and provide all the information listed above. Requesters must include a check or money order for the appropriate fee. If the requester is unsure of the appropriate sum, they may write “not to exceed $xx” on the check line. The court staff will send a receipt with the correct amount, and the requester will not overpay.

Santa Clara County Superior Court - Downtown Superior Court
191 North 1st Street,
San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: (408) 882-2100

How to Obtain Santa Clara City Criminal Court Records

Not all Santa Clara City criminal court records are publicly available. State statutes prevent the public from viewing the following:

• Arrest reports or any other document listing a victim’s name, address, or telephone number
• Probation reports
• Domestic violence protective orders
• Own Recognizance (O.R.) reports
• Criminal history information
• Financial or medical information

Santa Clara City criminal court records that do not contain the above information are available for public viewership. If filed before 2004, interested persons can find the case using the Santa Clara County Superior Court’s criminal case index search page. Researchers can locate a case number using the defendant's name and date of birth, or the defendant's name and the case’s filing date. However, researchers must be aware that the criminal case index documents do not constitute the Court’s official record.

Individuals that require official Santa Clara City criminal court records must query the Santa Clara County Superior Court Clerk at the Hall of Justice. To obtain the records, requesters must provide the following:

• The defendant’s name,
• The defendant’s date of birth and
• The years the requester wants staff to search.

The court staff will charge $15 for each manual search exceeding fifteen minutes. Copying Santa Clara City criminal court records costs fifteen cents per page while certifying them costs $40 per record. Payment is acceptable by cash, card, check, or money order.

For mail-in requests, interested persons must write to the court and provide all the information listed above. Requesters must include a check or money order for the appropriate fee. If the requester is unsure of the appropriate sum, they may write “not to exceed $xx” on the check line. The court staff will send a receipt with the correct amount, and the requester will not overpay.

Santa Clara County Superior Court - Hall of Justice
Physical:
190-200 West Hedding Street,
San Jose, CA 95110
Mailing:
191 North 1st Street,
San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: (408) 808-6600

What are Santa Clara City Vital Records?

In Santa Clara City, vital records refer to government agencies’ official documents that mark births, deaths, divorces, and marriages among residents. Some vital records - like marriage records and divorce decrees-are available to the public. Some others, like birth and death records, are available only to eligible requesters. All vital records, however, are available by querying the custodian agency or department.

Where and How to Obtain Santa Clara City Divorce Records

The Santa Clara County Supreme Court handles all divorces in the county and publicly provides copies of Santa Clara City divorce records. Interested persons may obtain copies of Santa Clara City divorce decrees by querying the Family Justice Center Courthouse in person or by mail.

In-person requesters may visit the Family Justice Center Courthouse between 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m on Fridays. Requesters must provide the following information:

• The divorcees’ names;
• The case number;
• The case title.

To assist with their request, researchers can find case information on documents filed on or before December 31, 1996, at:

The Records Department
191 North First Street,
San José, CA 95113

Case numbers for cases filed on or after January 1, 1997, are available online. If the researcher does not know the case number, the court staff will charge $15 for each manual search exceeding fifteen minutes. Certified copies of Santa Clara City divorce records cost $10 if requested by public agents and $15 for other requesters. Payment is acceptable by cash, card, check, or money order.

For mail-in requests, interested persons must fill out a Family Records Copy Request Form and provide all the information listed above. Requesters must include a check or money order for the appropriate fee. If the requester is unsure of the appropriate sum, they may write “not to exceed $xx” on the check line. The court staff will send a receipt with the correct amount, and the requester will not overpay.

Santa Clara County Superior Court - Family Justice Center
Physical:
201 North 1st Street,
San Jose, CA 95113
Mailing:
191 North 1st Street,
San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: (408) 792-4200

Interested persons may also obtain divorce verification letters for divorces conducted between 1962 and June 1984 from the California Department of Public Health. Requesters will get standard information on the divorce, such as the divorcees’ names, the divorce case number, and the county where the divorce took place. Requesters must complete an application for a certified copy of a divorce record and mail it to the California Department of Public Health.

California Department of Public Health
Vital Records - MS5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410

Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Santa Clara City

The Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder’s office manages the county’s marriage register and provides Confidential copies of Santa Clara City marriage records to eligible parties, including:

• The couple;
• The couple’s immediate family members;
• The couple’s legal representatives;
• Anyone with a court order to obtain the record;

Eligible persons may obtain confidential Santa Clara City marriage records in person or by mail. For in-person requests, applicants may visit the Clerk-Recorder’s office - Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. - and provide the couple’s names, the marriage date, and eligibility proof. Certificates cost $15 if paid by cash or check and $17.50 if paid by credit card.

If requesting by mail, applicants must complete an order form and have it notarized. The requester must attach a self-addressed, stamped standard-letter envelope and a check for $15 and send the complete package to the County Clerk-Recorder’s office.

Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder
County Government Center
70 West Hedding Street, E. Wing,
1st Floor
San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: (408) 299-5688

Where and How to Get Public Marriage Records in Santa Clara City

The Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder’s office manages the county’s marriage register and provides informal copies of Santa Clara City marriage records to the public. Informal marriage records will have the words "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY” printed on them.

Interested persons may obtain informal Santa Clara City marriage records in person or by mail. For in-person requests, applicants may visit the Clerk-Recorder’s office - Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. - and provide the couple’s names and marriage dates. Certificates cost $15 if paid by cash or check and $17.50 if paid by credit card.

If requesting by mail, applicants must complete an order form and attach a self-addressed, stamped standard-letter envelope and a check for $15. Send the complete package to the County Clerk-Recorder’s office.

Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder
County Government Center
70 West Hedding Street, E. Wing,
1st Floor
San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: (408) 299-5688

Where and How to Find Anaheim City Birth Records

The Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder’s office manages the county’s birth register and provides authorized and informal copies of Santa Clara City birth records. Authorized copies of birth records prove the registrant’s identity and are available only to the registrant and their:

• Parent
• Child
• Grandparent
• Grandchild
• Sibling
• Spouse or domestic partner
• Legal guardian

Informal copies of birth records are publicly available and carry the words "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY” printed.

Interested and eligible persons may obtain informal and authorized Santa Clara City birth records in person or by mail. For in-person requests, applicants may visit the Clerk-Recorder’s office - Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. - and provide the:

• First and last names
• Date of birth
• City of birth
• Gender
• Father and mother's birth names

If requesting an authorized certificate, requesters must provide proof of eligibility. Both authorized and informal certificates cost $28 if paid by cash or check and $30.50 if paid by credit card.

If requesting by mail, applicants must complete an order form. If requesting an authorized birth certificate, the requester must have the form notarized. The requester must also attach a self-addressed, stamped standard-letter envelope and a check for $28. Send the complete package to the County Clerk-Recorder’s office.

Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder
County Government Center
70 West Hedding Street, E. Wing,
1st Floor
San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: (408) 299-5688

Where and How to Find Anaheim City Death Records

The Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder’s office manages the county’s death register and provides authorized and informal copies of Santa Clara City death records. Informal copies of death records are publicly available. Authorized copies of death records prove the registrant’s death and are available only to the registrant’s:

• Parent
• Child
• Grandparent
• Grandchild
• Sibling
• Spouse or domestic partner
• Legal guardian

Interested and eligible persons may obtain informal and authorized Santa Clara City death records in person or by mail. For in-person requests, applicants may visit the Clerk-Recorder’s office - Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. - and provide the:

• First and last names
• Date of death
• City of death
• Gender

If requesting an authorized certificate, requesters must provide proof of eligibility. Both authorized and informal certificates cost $21 if paid by cash or check and $23.50 if paid by credit card.

If requesting by mail, applicants must complete an order form. If requesting an authorized death certificate, the requester must have the form notarized. The requester must also attach a self-addressed, stamped standard-letter envelope and a check for $21. Send the complete package to the County Clerk-Recorder’s office.

Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder
County Government Center
70 West Hedding Street, E. Wing,
1st Floor
San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: (408) 299-5688