Find Sacramento County Police Records

Sacramento County police records are maintained by the Sacramento County Sheriff Records and Warrants Division. The first copy of a report is free in Sacramento County. Additional copies cost $15 each. Clearance letters are $25. You can request records online through NextRequest or by email to GetMyReport@sacsheriff.com. The records office is at 4510 Orange Grove Avenue in Sacramento. Staff respond within ten days of receipt under California law. Call 916-874-5383 for help with records requests. The sheriff provides an FAQ page that explains the request process, fees, and timelines for getting police records in Sacramento County.

Sacramento County Sheriff Records Division

The Records and Warrants Division at the Sacramento County Sheriff handles all public records requests for police reports, arrest logs, and incident files. This office is at 4510 Orange Grove Avenue in Sacramento. Staff process hundreds of requests each week from victims, attorneys, insurance companies, and the general public. Most submissions now go through the online NextRequest portal. This system tracks your request and sends email updates when records are ready in Sacramento County.

Sacramento County offers a unique benefit for records requests. The first copy of any report is free. This applies to crime reports, traffic collision reports, and incident logs. Additional copies cost $15 each. Clearance letters are $25. This fee structure makes Sacramento one of the more affordable counties for public records in California. The sheriff explains these fees on their FAQ page at sacsheriff.com/pages/records_warrants_faqs.php in Sacramento County.

The FAQ page answers common questions about the records request process. It covers what information you need to provide, how long processing takes, what records are available, and which ones are exempt. Reading this page before you submit a request can save time and help you understand what to expect from the sheriff in Sacramento County.

Police Records Available

Crime reports document incidents investigated by Sacramento County Sheriff deputies. These include theft, assault, burglary, domestic violence, vandalism, and other offenses. You can request a copy if you were a victim or involved party. The first copy is free. Extra copies cost $15 each. Processing takes about seven to ten business days for most reports. Active investigations may delay release until the case closes in Sacramento County.

Traffic collision reports are created when sheriff deputies respond to crashes on county roads. These show the date, time, location, drivers, vehicles, and any injuries or damage. Parties of interest can request copies under California Vehicle Code Section 20012. This includes drivers, passengers, vehicle owners, and insurance companies with a valid claim. The first copy is free. For crashes on state highways, contact the California Highway Patrol at crashes.chp.ca.gov instead of the county in Sacramento.

Arrest records show when someone was booked into the Sacramento County jail. Booking logs are public under California Government Code Section 7923.610. These logs include the person's name, booking date, charges, and bail amount. You can view current inmates online through the county jail website. Historical arrest records require a formal request to the records division. An arrest does not mean guilt. Charges may be dropped or dismissed. Only convictions appear in official criminal history records from the California Department of Justice.

Clearance letters show that you have no active warrants in Sacramento County. These cost $25. Many people need clearance letters for employment, housing, or licensing. The sheriff can search their system and issue a letter if you have no outstanding warrants. Processing takes about one week for clearance letters in Sacramento County.

How to Request Records

You can request police records in Sacramento County through three main channels. Online via NextRequest is fastest. Email works for simple requests. Phone calls help with questions but you still need to submit a written request. Pick the method that works for you in Sacramento County.

To submit online, go to sacramentocountysheriff.nextrequest.com and create an account. Fill out the request form with all the details you have. Include names, dates, case numbers, locations, and a clear description of what records you want. The more specific you are, the faster staff can locate your files. Submit the form and check your email for updates. The sheriff will tell you if the records exist and how long processing will take. The first copy is free, so you may not need to pay anything in Sacramento County.

For email requests, write to GetMyReport@sacsheriff.com with a detailed description of what you need. Include your name, contact information, and any case or report numbers you have. Attach a copy of your ID if you are requesting your own report. Staff will respond within ten days under California law. They will tell you if the records exist and when they will be ready. Most people find email faster than phone or mail for simple requests in Sacramento County.

To call the records division, dial 916-874-5383 during business hours. Staff can answer questions about the process and tell you what information to include. They will likely ask you to submit a formal request through NextRequest or email. Phone requests work best for questions, not for submitting actual records requests. Have your case number or report number ready when you call if you have it in Sacramento County.

Public Records Act in Sacramento County

The California Public Records Act gives you the right to request police records from the Sacramento County Sheriff. This law is in Government Code Sections 7920-7931. Any person can make a request. You do not need to be a California resident or explain why you want the records. The sheriff has ten calendar days to respond. They can extend this by 14 days if they need more time to search files or consult with attorneys in California.

Some records are exempt from release under state law. Examples include active criminal investigations, personnel files, attorney-client communications, and records that would endanger someone's safety. Body worn camera footage is generally exempt except for critical incidents per Government Code Section 7923.625. If your request is denied, the sheriff must cite the specific exemption. You can challenge a denial in court if you believe the records should be public in Sacramento County.

Sacramento County follows the standard CPRA process used throughout California. Submit your request online or by email. Provide enough detail so staff can find the records. The sheriff will search and tell you if they exist. If they do, you get a timeline for processing. The first copy is free. Additional copies cost $15. If denied, you get a written explanation with the legal reason. This process is the same for all law enforcement agencies in California.

Penal Code Section 832.7 governs peace officer personnel records. SB 1421 and SB 16 changed this law to require more transparency. Agencies must now disclose records of officer-involved shootings, use of force, sustained findings of sexual assault by an officer, and sustained findings of dishonesty. These records must be released within 45 days. The Sacramento County Sheriff complies with these requirements for critical incident records in California.

Fees and Wait Times

Sacramento County has clear and affordable fees for police records. The first copy of any report is free. This is a major benefit compared to other counties that charge for all copies. Additional copies cost $15 each. Clearance letters are $25. These fees cover the cost of searching, copying, and processing your request. Payment is required before additional copies or clearance letters are released in Sacramento County.

Processing times vary based on what you request and how busy the records division is. Simple requests for a single crime report often take seven to ten business days. Complex requests with multiple files or redactions can take weeks. The sheriff has ten days to respond under the Public Records Act, but this is just the initial response. They can take more time to actually produce the documents. Most people get their records within two weeks if no complications arise in Sacramento County.

Certain requests get priority under California law. Domestic violence victims can get free copies of their incident reports within five days per California Family Code Section 6228. This also applies to victims of sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. The first copy rule in Sacramento County already makes reports free for these victims, so the main benefit is the faster timeline. SB 1421 records must be released within 45 days in Sacramento County.

Note: The first copy of any report is free in Sacramento County, making this one of the most affordable counties for public records in California.

City Police Records in Sacramento County

The City of Sacramento has its own police department with a separate records division. If your incident occurred in the city limits of Sacramento, contact the Sacramento Police Department instead of the county sheriff. The city sets its own fees and procedures. Find more info at the city police website in Sacramento County.

Other cities in Sacramento County with police departments include Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, and Rancho Cordova. Each city has its own records request process. Contact the city police department directly if your incident occurred in one of these cities. Cities without their own police use the Sacramento County Sheriff for law enforcement. For those cities, submit your request to the county sheriff as described above in Sacramento County.

Other Police Records Resources

For criminal history records, contact the California Department of Justice. You can request your own record through the DOJ Record Review Unit. This requires fingerprints and a $25 fee. Mail your request to PO BOX 160207, Sacramento, CA 95816-0207. The DOJ does not release someone else's criminal history to the public under Penal Code Section 11105. Only you can get your own record, or law enforcement for official purposes in California.

The California Highway Patrol handles crash reports for accidents on state highways in Sacramento County. Request these at crashes.chp.ca.gov or by submitting Form CHP 190. Call 1-800-TELL-CHP for help. The CHP charges fees for reports and has different procedures than county or city police in California.

The California DOJ runs the OpenJustice data portal at openjustice.doj.ca.gov. This site has crime statistics, arrest data, and law enforcement information for Sacramento County. You can view data by county, city, or agency. The portal includes interactive maps and charts. This is useful for research on crime trends but does not include individual case files or personal records in California.

For general public records requests to state agencies, use the California DOJ portal at oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/pra. The DOJ has ten days to decide if it will release records. Copy fees are 10 cents per page. Some records are exempt such as active investigations and confidential legal advice in California.