Ontario Police Records

Ontario police records include arrest reports, incident files, traffic crash documents, and booking information maintained by the Ontario Police Department and San Bernardino County Sheriff. Ontario is a city of about 175,000 people in the western part of San Bernardino County. The city has its own police force that handles law enforcement within city limits. Police records can be requested through the California Public Records Act. Most requests go to the Ontario Police Department Records Bureau. You can submit requests online or in person. The agency has ten days to respond to your request under state law.

Ontario Police Department Records

The Ontario Police Department keeps all crime reports and arrest logs for incidents within the city. The department has a Records Bureau that processes public records requests. You can submit a request online through San Bernardino County's NextRequest portal at sanbernardinocounty.nextrequest.com. This system allows you to track your request and receive notifications when records are ready. You can also visit the police station in person to make a request. Bring valid ID when picking up records in Ontario.

Crime reports take time to complete. An officer must finish writing the report and have it reviewed by a supervisor. This can take seven to ten days after the incident occurs. Traffic collision reports may take longer if the case is complex. Once a report is done, the Records Bureau can make a copy for you. Some records are exempt from release under California law. Active investigations may be withheld until the case closes in Ontario.

Ontario Police Department contact information for records requests:

• Address: 2500 S. Archibald Ave, Ontario, CA 91761
• Records Bureau phone: Contact main non-emergency line
• Online portal: sanbernardinocounty.nextrequest.com
• Hours: Monday through Friday during business hours

Note: San Bernardino County agencies cannot provide reports from April 23, 2019 to April 7, 2023 due to a network service interruption.

County Records and Booking Information

San Bernardino County Sheriff maintains countywide arrest records and jail booking logs. If someone was arrested in Ontario and booked into county jail, those records are kept by the Sheriff's Information Services Division. You can request arrest records and booking information through the same NextRequest portal. The Sheriff's office charges a fee for clearance letters, which cost $38 in San Bernardino County.

The Sheriff's Records Division is at 655 East Third Street in San Bernardino. They handle requests for older records and cases that involve multiple jurisdictions. Response time is ten business days for most requests. If you need rush service, call ahead to see if it is available. Copy fees and processing times vary based on the size of your request in San Bernardino County.

Types of Police Records in Ontario

Arrest records show when police took someone into custody in Ontario. These include the person's name, booking date, charges, and bail amount. Arrest information is public under California Government Code Section 7923.610. You can get arrest records if you were involved in the case. Suspects generally cannot get copies of their own arrest reports while the case is pending in Ontario.

Incident reports document crimes and other events that Ontario police respond to. An officer writes a report after investigating. The report includes what happened, who was there, and what the officer did. Victims and involved parties can request copies. Some details may be redacted to protect witnesses or ongoing investigations. Suspects usually cannot get copies until the case is resolved in Ontario.

Traffic collision reports are created when police respond to a crash in Ontario. These show the date, time, location, vehicles involved, and any injuries. California Vehicle Code Section 20012 requires agencies to give copies to drivers and other parties of interest. Most collision reports are ready within seven to ten days. Ontario Police Department and California Highway Patrol both create these reports depending on who responded to the scene.

Booking logs show recent arrests at San Bernardino County jails. These logs list names, booking dates, charges, and bail amounts. Many counties post daily booking logs online. You can search by name or date. These records are public information under state law. Booking logs do not mean the person was convicted of a crime in Ontario.

How to Request Police Records

To request records from Ontario Police Department, use the San Bernardino County NextRequest portal. Create an account with your name and email. Then fill out the request form. Include as much detail as you can. Provide names, dates, case numbers, and locations. Be specific about what records you want. The more details you give, the easier it is for staff to find your records in Ontario.

The department will review your request and determine if records exist. They will tell you if the records are available or if they are exempt from release. Some records cannot be released under California law. These include personnel files, active investigations, and certain confidential information. If your request is denied, the agency must cite the specific exemption that applies in Ontario.

Most agencies charge fees for copies of police records. Common fees in San Bernardino County include:

• Photocopies at 10 to 25 cents per page
• Crime reports with processing fees
• Clearance letters at $38
• Certified copies with extra fees for seals
• Digital files sometimes provided at no cost

Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking can get free copies of their incident reports. Most agencies provide these within five days at no charge under California Family Code. You may need to show proof that you were the victim in the case in Ontario.

California Public Records Act

The California Public Records Act is found in Government Code Sections 7920-7931. This law gives you the right to access police records. Any person can make a request. You do not need to be a California resident. You do not have to give a reason for your request. The agency has ten calendar days to respond. They can take a 14-day extension if needed for complex requests in Ontario.

Some records are exempt from release under state law. Agencies can withhold records for ongoing investigations, personnel matters, and certain confidential files. Body camera footage is generally exempt except for critical incidents. Government Code Section 7923.625 requires agencies to release footage from officer-involved shootings and serious use of force cases. Agencies have 45 days to provide this footage with possible extensions in Ontario.

Penal Code Section 832.7 covers peace officer personnel records. This law was changed by SB 1421 and SB 16 to require more transparency. Agencies must now disclose records of officer-involved shootings, use of force causing serious injury, and sustained findings of sexual assault or dishonesty by officers. These records must be released within 45 days of a request in Ontario.

Additional Resources for Ontario Residents

The California Department of Justice maintains statewide criminal history information. You can request your own criminal record through the DOJ Record Review Unit. The process requires fingerprints and a $25 fee. Mail your request to PO BOX 160207, Sacramento, CA 95816-0207. You cannot get someone else's arrest history through this system under Penal Code Section 11105 in California.

The California Highway Patrol handles collision reports for crashes on state highways near Ontario. You can request CHP crash reports online at crashes.chp.ca.gov. Only parties of interest can get copies. This includes drivers, passengers, vehicle owners, and insurance companies with a claim number. The CHP charges fees for reports in California.

San Bernardino County Superior Court keeps records for criminal and civil cases filed in the county. Court records are separate from police records. You can search court cases online through the court website. For copies of court files, contact the clerk's office at the courthouse. Court records have different access rules than police records in Ontario.

Police Records in Nearby Cities

Other large cities near Ontario also have police departments with records bureaus. Each city handles requests differently.

For countywide information, visit the San Bernardino County police records page.