California records about 780,000 arrests annually, and Santa Clara County accounts for 28,000 of these arrests. California Government Code § 7923.610 (California Public Records Act) establishes the right of the public to inspect and obtain copies of records produced by government agencies, including arrest records. Record holders charge between $0.15 and $25 to produce copies of arrest records upon request.
However, the law prohibits public access to certain records in the state of California if their disclosure affects the security of individuals or harms society. These records include medical and mental health information, juvenile records, and records involving ongoing investigations. Only authorized persons, including law enforcement officers, judicial officers, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office, and persons named on the records, can access confidential records in Santa Clara County.
Santa Clara County arrest records can be accessed through several agencies, such as the state's Department of Justice, local police departments, and the county's Sheriff's Office.
The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office allows individuals to access arrest records. Record seekers can contact the Records Division at (404) 808-4705. They can also visit in person (based on appointment) at:
Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office
Attn: Records Division
55 West Younger Avenue
San Jose, CA 95110
In Santa Clara County, interested persons can access arrest records from local police departments where the arrests were made. They will typically need to provide the name of the arrestee and arrest date. Furthermore, some police departments maintain online databases of daily arrests for the public to inspect. Major police departments in the county include the following:
The California Department of Justice, through the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Analysis (BCIA), collates, analyzes, and maintains criminal records submitted by all law enforcement agencies in the state. Individuals named on the records, their legal representatives, entities with the record owner's consent, and law enforcement agencies can request criminal history records from the department.
Applicants must adhere to the BCIA's application guidelines to obtain their criminal history records for review. Similarly, authorized organizations seeking arrest records from Alameda County must follow the application instructions and send the application package by mail or fax to:
California Department of Justice
Attn: Custodian of Records
Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Analysis
P.O. Box 160207
Sacramento, CA 95816-0207
Fax: (916) 731-3618
Records of arrests that led to formal charges in Santa Clara County can be found in the county's criminal court records. The Clerks of the Santa Clara Superior Court maintain these records. Requesters can visit the courthouse where the case was filed to inspect and request copies. They can also access them through the Superior Court Public Portal platform.
In addition, reliable third-party platforms like InfoTracer make Santa Clara County arrest records available to the public. Record seekers can use these platforms to quickly and more conveniently access arrest records from the county. These resources also have a wider reach as they are not limited by jurisdiction.
Santa Clara County has an arrest rate of 1,500 per 100,000 population. Some arrest figures recorded in Santa Clara County during this period are shown below:
| Arrest Type | Number of Arrests |
|---|---|
| Homicide | 41 |
| Robbery | 1,701 |
| Rape | 843 |
| Aggravated Assault | 4,648 |
| Burglary | 5,843 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 8,714 |
| Arson | 296 |
| Total Number of Arrests | 28,103 |
Source: California Department of Justice
It is situated in Santa Clara county, California with a total number of 381 employees - 127 female, 127 male officers and 127 civilians. Santa Clara County SO ORI (Originated Agency Identifier) number is CA0430000, it belongs to the Pacific division in the West region with a region code of Region IV.
| Department | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Campbell Police Department | City Hall - Lower Level 70 N 1st St | 408-866-2121 |
| Gilroy Police Department | 7301 Hanna St | 408-846-0300 |
| Los Altos Police Department | 1 N San Antonio Rd | 650-947-2770 |
| Milpitas Police Department | 1275 N Milpitas Blvd | (408) 586-2400 |
| Morgan Hill Police Department | 16200 Vineyard Blvd. | 408-779-2101 |
| Mountain View Police Department | 1000 Villa Street | 650-903-6344 |
| Palo Alto Police Department | 275 Forest Avenue | 650-329-2406 |
| San Jose Police Department | 201 W. Mission Street | 408-277-8900 |
| Santa Clara Police Department | 601 El Camino Real | (408) 615-4700 |
| Name | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara County - Headquaters Enforcement Division | 55 West Younger Avenue | 408-808-4405 |
| Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall | 840 Guadalupe Parkway | 408-278-5820 |
| Santa Clara County Main Jail Complex | 150 West Hedding Street | 408-299-3438 |
| Santa Clara County - Muriel Wright Residental Center | 298 Bernal Road | 408-227-8022 |
| Santa Clara County - South County Enforcement Division | 80 West Highland Avenue Bldg K | 408-686-3650 |
| Santa Clara County - Transit Patrol Enforcement Division | 3331 North First Street | 408-321-7149 |
| Santa Clara County - West Valley Enforcement Division | 1601 S. De Anza Boulevard | 408-868-6600 |
| Santa Clara County - William F. James Jail | 19050 Malaguerra Avenue | 408-201-7600 |
| Santa Clara Police Department Jail | 601 El Camino Real | 408-615-4700 |
| Sunnyvale Jail | 700 All American Way | 408-730-7100 |