Access Sacramento Police Records

Police records in Sacramento come from both the Sacramento Police Department and the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office. The city has over 535,000 people making it California's capital and sixth largest city. You can request arrest reports, incident files, traffic crash documents, and booking information through either agency depending on where the incident occurred. Most requests follow California Public Records Act procedures with standard ten-day response times. The county sheriff uses NextRequest for online submissions. Fees vary but the first copy is often free. Processing takes from five days to two weeks based on the record type and case status in Sacramento.

Sacramento County Sheriff Records

The Sacramento County Sheriff maintains records for unincorporated areas and provides jail services for the entire county. Their records division handles thousands of requests each year. The first copy of any report is free. Additional copies cost $15 each. This is one of the more affordable fee structures in California. Staff respond within ten days of receiving your request as required by state law.

You can submit requests online through NextRequest at sacramentocountysheriff.nextrequest.com. This portal lets you track your request status. You get email updates when staff take action on your case. For questions, call the records division at 916-874-5383 or email GetMyReport@sacsheriff.com. The office is located at 4510 Orange Grove Avenue in Sacramento.

Sacramento County also offers clearance letters for employment or licensing. These cost $25. The letter confirms you have no outstanding warrants or holds in Sacramento County. Processing takes about ten business days. You must visit the office in person to pick up clearance letters. Bring valid identification when you go.

Sacramento Police Department

The Sacramento Police Department serves the city proper. They handle all calls for service within city limits. This includes arrests, crime reports, traffic crashes, and other incidents. The department has its own records bureau separate from the county sheriff. Contact them for incidents that occurred inside Sacramento city boundaries.

For police records from the city department, you need to contact their records unit directly. Check the department website or call their main number for current procedures. Some agencies use online portals while others require traditional mail or in-person requests. Processing times are similar to the county at seven to ten business days for most reports in Sacramento.

Sacramento Police Department works with other agencies on certain cases. Major crimes may involve multiple jurisdictions. If you are not sure which agency handled your case, start with the location where it happened. Staff can redirect you to the correct agency if needed. Keep your case number and incident details handy when making inquiries in Sacramento.

Available Police Records

Arrest records show who was booked into Sacramento County jail. Each record includes name, booking date, charges, bail amount, and booking photo. The county posts daily booking logs online. You can search these for free. For certified copies or older arrests, submit a formal records request. Arrest records are public under Government Code Section 7923.610 in California.

Incident reports cover crimes investigated by police in Sacramento. Officers write these after responding to calls. Reports include victim statements, witness accounts, evidence collected, and officer findings. You must be a victim or involved party to get a copy. Suspects usually cannot get reports. Active cases may be withheld until investigations close in Sacramento.

Traffic collision reports are created when officers respond to crashes. These show date, time, location, vehicles, drivers, and any injuries. You can request a copy if you were a driver, passenger, or vehicle owner. Insurance companies need to provide claim numbers. Vehicle Code Section 20012 requires agencies to provide these to parties of interest. For crashes on state highways, contact California Highway Patrol at crashes.chp.ca.gov instead of local police in Sacramento.

How to Request Records

Gather details before you request. You need dates. You need locations. You need names of people involved. A case number helps staff find files faster. If you lack the case number, be as specific as you can. More detail means quicker processing in Sacramento.

For county records, use the NextRequest portal online. This is the fastest way. For city police records, check their current submission method. Include your name, address, phone, and email. State what records you want. Explain how you are connected to the case. Victims should identify as victims. Drivers should mention they were in the crash. Insurance companies must include claim numbers and policy details in Sacramento.

Under the California Public Records Act, agencies have ten calendar days to respond. They tell you if records exist and if they can release them. Some files are exempt from disclosure. Active criminal investigations are often protected. Personnel records are confidential except for certain officer misconduct cases under Penal Code Section 832.7 as amended by SB 1421 in California.

Processing times vary by request type. Simple reports for your own case move faster. Complex requests with many files take longer. The records division will contact you when your records are ready. Pick them up in person or request digital delivery if available. Pay any fees at pickup in Sacramento.

Fees and Payment

Sacramento County Sheriff charges nothing for the first copy of a report. This is great if you just need one copy. Additional copies are $15 each. Clearance letters cost $25. These fees are set by county policy and can change over time. Always confirm current fees when you submit your request in Sacramento.

Payment is due when you pick up records. Bring cash or a check. Some offices take credit cards. Call ahead to verify accepted payment methods. If you cannot afford the fees, ask about waivers. California law requires free reports for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. You may need to show proof of your victim status in Sacramento.

Digital copies sent via email are sometimes free. This saves the agency time and paper. If you can accept a PDF instead of printed pages, mention this in your request. Not all agencies offer digital delivery. Those that do may have limits on file size or format in Sacramento.

Note: Fee schedules are subject to change without notice, so always check with the specific agency for current pricing.

California Public Records Law

The Public Records Act is your legal right to access police records in California. The law is in Government Code Sections 7920-7931. Anyone can make a request. Residency is not required. You do not explain your reasons. Agencies must respond in ten days. Extensions of 14 days are allowed for complex requests in Sacramento.

Some records cannot be released. Active investigations are exempt. This protects ongoing cases from interference. Once a case closes, more records become available. Personnel files for officers are mostly confidential. But SB 1421 changed this for serious misconduct. Shootings, excessive force, sexual assault by officers, and dishonesty must now be disclosed within 45 days in California.

Body camera footage is generally exempt from release. Government Code Section 7923.625 requires agencies to provide footage from critical incidents only. This includes officer-involved shootings and serious use of force. Agencies have 45 days to release critical incident footage. They can extend this by 30 days if there is an ongoing investigation in Sacramento.

State-Level Resources

The California Department of Justice maintains criminal history records for the entire state. You can request your own record through the DOJ Record Review Unit. This requires fingerprints and a $25 fee. Visit oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/record-review for forms and instructions. You cannot get someone else's criminal history through this system. Only law enforcement agencies can access third-party records in California.

For general public records requests to the DOJ, use their portal at oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/pra. The DOJ has its own records separate from local police. This includes some statewide data and investigations. Most routine police records are held locally in Sacramento, not at the state level.

The California Attorney General provides guidance on public records law. Their website has FAQs, sample request letters, and explanations of exemptions. This is a good resource if an agency denies your request and you want to understand why. Many people consult attorneys or advocacy groups when challenging denials in California.

Nearby Major Cities

Other large cities near Sacramento have their own police departments and records systems: