Find Police Records in Santa Maria
Searching for police records in Santa Maria starts with the Santa Maria Police Department. This agency handles law enforcement for the city and creates all arrest reports and incident files. Santa Maria is in Santa Barbara County, so some records may also be held by the county sheriff. The police department has a records bureau that processes requests under the California Public Records Act. You can submit requests online or in person. Most records are ready within ten business days. Processing times vary based on the type of request and how many files need review for Santa Maria police records.
Santa Maria Quick Facts
Santa Maria Police Department
The Santa Maria Police Department serves the city with patrol, investigations, and records services. Officers respond to calls throughout Santa Maria and create incident reports for crimes and other events. The department handles all types of cases from traffic stops to serious crimes. All reports become part of the department's records system in Santa Maria.
The records bureau processes requests for police reports in Santa Maria. You can call them or visit in person to ask about a specific report. The address and contact info are used for records requests. Most people submit a written request by mail or email. Some requests can be handled over the phone if you just need basic information about a case in Santa Maria.
| Agency | Santa Maria Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 222 East Cook Street Santa Maria, CA 93454 |
| Phone | (805) 928-3781 |
| Records Email | Contact through main number |
| Website | cityofsantamaria.org/police |
Santa Maria is in Santa Barbara County. For areas outside city limits, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff provides law enforcement. The sheriff has a records bureau at 4434 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, CA 93110. You can call them at 805-681-4180. Sheriff records use a different system than city police records. Make sure you know which agency handled your incident before requesting records in Santa Maria.
How to Request Records
To request police records from Santa Maria, you need to contact the police department records bureau. Provide as much detail as you can about the incident. Include the date, location in Santa Maria, names of people involved, and the type of report. Case numbers help speed up the search if you have one. Without a case number, staff can search by name and date.
The California Public Records Act under Government Code Sections 7920-7931 gives you the right to request police records. The agency has ten calendar days to respond. They can take a 14-day extension if they need more time to search or review the files. Not all records can be released. Some are exempt under state law, including active investigations and certain confidential files in Santa Maria.
You cannot get arrest reports if you are the suspect. California law exempts these from release to the arrested person. Victims and involved parties can usually get incident reports. Traffic collision reports are available to drivers, passengers, vehicle owners, and insurance companies under Vehicle Code Section 20012. Most collision reports in Santa Maria are ready within seven to ten days.
Santa Barbara County uses a custom records portal for some requests. You can access this at santabarbaraca.mycusthelp.com. This portal covers sheriff records from unincorporated areas and some county services. For city police records in Santa Maria, contact the police department directly. They may have their own forms or procedures for public records requests.
Types of Police Records Available
Arrest records show when someone was booked into custody in Santa Maria. The record includes the person's name, booking date, charges, and bail amount. Booking logs are public under California law. These logs do not prove guilt. Charges may be dropped or dismissed later. You can request booking information from the police department or the county jail where the person is held.
Incident reports document crimes and calls for service in Santa Maria. An officer writes a report after investigating an incident. The report shows what happened, who was involved, witness statements, and the officer's actions. You can request a copy if you were a victim or party involved in the incident. The department will not release reports to suspects in ongoing investigations. Closed cases may be available depending on the crime type in Santa Maria.
Traffic collision reports are created when officers respond to crashes in Santa Maria. These reports show the date, time, location, vehicles involved, drivers, and injuries. The law requires police to give copies to involved parties. Most reports are ready in seven to ten business days. You can request these from the police department records bureau. Some crashes on state highways may be handled by the California Highway Patrol instead of city police in Santa Maria.
Body camera footage is generally exempt from public disclosure in California. However, critical incident footage must be released under Government Code Section 7923.625. This includes officer-involved shootings and serious use of force. The agency has 45 days to provide the footage. Other body cam video from routine calls is not subject to release under the Public Records Act in Santa Maria.
Record Fees in Santa Maria
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff charges fees for police records. Standard reports cost $15 for the first ten pages. Criminal history checks cost $25. Clearance letters are $37. These fees apply to sheriff records from unincorporated areas near Santa Maria. The city police department may have different fees for their records. Call them at 805-928-3781 to ask about current costs before you submit a request for Santa Maria police records.
Some records are provided at no cost under California law. Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking can get free copies of their incident reports. The agency must provide these within five days at no charge. You may need to show proof that you were the victim in the case. This applies to both city police and county sheriff records in Santa Maria.
Copy fees vary across California. Some agencies charge per page. Others charge a flat fee per report. Digital copies are sometimes provided at no cost. Certified copies usually cost more than plain copies. Ask about fees when you make your request. The agency will tell you the total cost before they release the records from Santa Maria.
Note: Fees can change over time, so confirm the current rates with the specific agency before submitting your request.
Other Record Sources
The California Department of Justice maintains statewide arrest and conviction records. You can request your own criminal history for $25. The process requires fingerprints and takes several weeks. Mail your request to PO BOX 160207, Sacramento, CA 95816-0207. Visit oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/record-review for forms. This gives you a complete state record including any arrests or convictions from Santa Maria.
The California Highway Patrol handles crash reports for incidents on state highways. You can request reports online at crashes.chp.ca.gov. Only parties of interest can get copies. This includes drivers, passengers, vehicle owners, and insurance companies. The CHP serves Highway 101 and other state routes near Santa Maria. For crashes on city streets, contact the Santa Maria Police Department instead of the CHP.
Santa Barbara County Superior Court keeps criminal case files for prosecutions in Santa Maria. You can search cases online through the court website. Court records show filings, hearings, and judgments. These are separate from police reports but contain related information. Contact the court clerk for copies of court documents related to Santa Maria cases.
Santa Barbara County Police Records
Santa Maria is in Santa Barbara County. The county sheriff provides law enforcement for unincorporated areas and some contract cities. For county records, fee schedules, and the public records portal, visit the Santa Barbara County police records page.