Los Angeles County Police Records

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department maintains police records at 12440 East Imperial Highway in Norwalk. The office serves over ten million residents across unincorporated areas and 42 contract cities. You cannot get a copy of your own arrest report under California Government Code Section 6254(f). Local police records of investigation are exempt from release. The SB 1421 Transparency Portal at lasdsb1421.powerappsportals.us provides access to officer-involved shootings and use of force records. For general records requests, call 562-345-4441 or visit the Records Bureau by appointment only. Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Processing takes ten business days under California law in Los Angeles County.

Sheriff Records Bureau

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the United States. The Records Bureau at 12440 East Imperial Highway in Norwalk handles public records requests for the entire county. This includes unincorporated areas and 42 cities that contract with the sheriff for police services. The bureau is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. All visits require an appointment in Los Angeles County.

Under California Government Code Section 6254(f), local police agency records of investigation are exempt from release. This means you cannot get a copy of your own arrest report. The sheriff will not release arrest reports to the person who was arrested. This is standard policy across California law enforcement agencies under this statute in Los Angeles County.

You can call 562-345-4441 for information about records requests. Staff can tell you what documents are available and what fees apply. The office is located in Norwalk, which is in southeast Los Angeles County. Parking is available at the facility. Bring identification if you plan to visit in person by appointment in Los Angeles County.

SB 1421 Transparency Portal

Los Angeles County has a special portal for SB 1421 records. This portal is at lasdsb1421.powerappsportals.us. It provides access to records of officer-involved shootings, use of force causing serious injury or death, and sustained findings of dishonesty or sexual assault by deputies. These records must be disclosed under Penal Code Section 832.7 as changed by Senate Bill 1421 in California.

The portal is free to use. No account or login is required. You can search by incident date, type of incident, or location. The system shows which records are available for each case. Some records may be redacted to protect confidential information or ongoing investigations in Los Angeles County.

Agencies must release SB 1421 records within 45 days of a request. A delay of up to 180 days is allowed if there is an active criminal or administrative investigation. The Los Angeles County portal makes these records available without needing to submit a formal request. You can download documents directly from the website in California.

Note: The SB 1421 portal only covers specific types of incidents. For other police records, you must contact the Records Bureau directly in Norwalk or submit a formal Public Records Act request to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Available Police Records

SB 1421 records are available through the transparency portal. These include officer-involved shootings, serious use of force, and sustained findings of misconduct. The portal has documents, reports, and sometimes video or audio files. You can access these at no charge through the website in Los Angeles County.

Traffic collision reports may be available if the sheriff responded to the scene. Drivers and involved parties can request copies. The Records Bureau in Norwalk handles these requests. Call 562-345-4441 to ask about availability. Processing takes about ten business days in Los Angeles County.

Arrest reports are NOT available to the person who was arrested. This is clearly stated on the sheriff's FAQ page. California Government Code Section 6254(f) exempts local police agency records of investigation from release. The sheriff will not provide arrest reports to suspects or defendants in Los Angeles County.

Booking logs may be available through separate systems. Some cities and facilities post daily booking information online. Check with the specific jail or station for availability. The main Records Bureau can tell you where to find this information in Los Angeles County.

How to Request Records

For SB 1421 records, start by visiting the portal at lasdsb1421.powerappsportals.us. Search for the incident you want. Download the available documents directly from the website. No formal request is needed for records in the portal in Los Angeles County.

For other records, call the Records Bureau at 562-345-4441. Tell them what you need. Be ready with names, dates, and case details. Staff will tell you if the records exist and if they can be released. Remember that arrest reports are not available to the person who was arrested under California law in Los Angeles County.

Written requests can be mailed to the Records Bureau. Include your name, contact information, and a detailed description of what you want. List all the facts you know about the case. The office will respond within ten calendar days under the California Public Records Act. They will tell you if the records are available and what fees apply in Los Angeles County.

In-person visits require an appointment. The office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Call ahead to schedule your appointment. Bring identification with you. Have case numbers or other details ready when you arrive at the Norwalk location in Los Angeles County.

If your request is denied, the office must cite the specific legal exemption. Common reasons include ongoing investigations, exempt records under Section 6254(f), or other provisions of California law. You can challenge a denial in court if you believe it was improper in Los Angeles County.

Fees and Processing Time

Fees for police records vary in Los Angeles County. The SB 1421 portal is free to use. You can download documents at no charge. For other records through the Records Bureau, ask about fees when you submit your request. Some reports may have per-page charges or flat fees depending on the type of document in Los Angeles County.

Processing times depend on the complexity of your request. Simple cases may be ready in ten business days. Large requests with many files can take longer. Staff must review each document before release. They redact exempt information to protect confidential details and ongoing cases in Los Angeles County.

The Public Records Act requires a response in ten days. This is when the office tells you if they have the records and if they will release them. Actually getting the files may take longer. The office will give you an estimated completion date when they accept your request in California.

SB 1421 records must be released within 45 days. A delay of up to 180 days is allowed during active investigations. The Los Angeles County portal makes many of these records available immediately without waiting for processing. Check the portal first before submitting a formal request in California.

California Public Records Act

The Public Records Act is found in Government Code Sections 7920-7931. This law gives you the right to access police records in Los Angeles County and throughout California. Any person can make a request. You do not need to be a resident. You do not have to explain why you want the records.

However, many police records are exempt from release. Government Code Section 6254(f) exempts local police agency records of investigation. This means arrest reports and many incident files are not available. The sheriff will not release these to suspects or defendants in Los Angeles County.

Penal Code Section 832.7 requires disclosure of certain peace officer records. This includes officer-involved shootings, use of force, and sustained findings of misconduct. Agencies must release these within 45 days. The Los Angeles County SB 1421 portal provides access to these records online in California.

If your request is denied, you can challenge the decision in court. Many people work with attorneys or public interest groups for appeals. Legal aid organizations may help if you cannot afford a lawyer. The California Attorney General's office can answer questions about your rights under the Public Records Act in Los Angeles County and throughout the state.

Other Law Enforcement Records

The California Department of Justice keeps criminal history records for the entire state. You can request your own record through the DOJ Record Review Unit. This costs $25 and requires fingerprints. Send your request to PO BOX 160207, Sacramento, CA 95816-0207. You cannot get someone else's criminal history through this system under California law.

Traffic collision reports from the California Highway Patrol are available online at crashes.chp.ca.gov. Use this portal if a CHP officer responded to your crash in Los Angeles County. Parties of interest can request copies. The system is free to use but reports may have a fee when you order them in California.

The Los Angeles Police Department has its own records division for cases within city limits. If your incident occurred in the City of Los Angeles, contact LAPD directly. The sheriff handles cases in unincorporated areas and contract cities. Make sure you contact the right agency for your records request in Los Angeles County.

The OpenJustice data portal at openjustice.doj.ca.gov has crime statistics for Los Angeles County. You can view arrest data, crime trends, and law enforcement information. This is useful for research but does not include individual case files. For specific records, contact the Records Bureau in Norwalk or use the SB 1421 portal.

Contact Los Angeles County Sheriff

The Records Bureau is located in Norwalk in southeast Los Angeles County. This is the central office for all records requests related to the sheriff's department. Staff can answer questions about your request and tell you what documents are available. The office requires appointments for in-person visits. Call ahead to schedule your appointment in Los Angeles County.

For general information about the sheriff's department, visit lasd.org/records-faq. This page has details about records requests and answers to common questions. You can also find forms and resources related to law enforcement in Los Angeles County.

Nearby California Counties

Los Angeles County is the most populous county in California. It borders several other large counties in Southern California.

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