For local police departments not listed here, simply go to their respective websites and search for “police report requests” to find information on obtaining a copy.

Bay Area Sheriff’s Department & Local/City Police Departments

• Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department
  • Milpitas Police Department
  • San Jose Police Department
  • Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety
• Alameda County Sheriff’s Department
• San Mateo Sheriff’s Department
  • South San Francisco Police Department
• San Francisco County Sheriff’s Department
  • San Francisco Police Department
• Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department

Santa Clara County Sheriffs Department

REPORT RELEASES /REQUEST FORM – No fee (reports fewer than 50 pages) All Photos & CDs – $5.00-Printed Additional Fee

Click here for a Request Form

The public may request a copy of an incident report taken by the Sheriff’s Office. They may fill out the request form online and bring it to the Sheriff’s Office for processing or come in and fill one at the Records window. They will need to indicate their involvement in the incident. For people representing involved parties they must bring a business card or a notarized letter of representation. All requests are reviewed by the Detective Division and can only be released upon their approval. There may be exceptions on non-injury accident reports where they may be released at the time of request. No fee will be collected for a copy of a crime report with fewer than 50 pages. A fee of 10 cents a page will be charged for reports of 50 pages or more.

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Milpitas PD

Police reports are generally available 3 to 5 working days after the report was taken. You may pick up a copy from our office from 8:00 am to 11:30 PM Monday to Friday. Please call to make sure the report is ready. The number is (408) 586-2400 and ask for Records. There is a charge for copies of reports: $6.00 for the first 10 pages, and $1.00 per page after that; fingerprinting is $10.00 for ink cards; photocopies of traffic citations are $1.00 per; and, if your case includes audio cassette or video cassette tapes – there is a fee structure to duplicate these.
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San Jose PD

Records Unit

Records Unit staff provide incident, arrest and accident reports to the general public, media and police personnel internally and nationwide.

Police reports and records may be obtained from the SJPD Records Unit located at:

201 West Mission Street
San Jose, CA 95110
Records Unit: (408) 277-4261

Click here for Records Unit hours of operation and additional contact information.

Depending on the type of report, requests for reports may be made in person, by U.S. mail or by telephone. Report costs are listed on the Fee Schedule.

All requests for information are processed in accordance with State of California data privacy laws and department policy.

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San Francisco PD

How do I get a copy of my police report?

Fill out a REPORT REQUEST form and send it with a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

Hall of Justice
Records Bureau
850 Bryant St. #475
San Francisco, CA 94103

If you are unable to print this form, you may go to your nearest police station to pick one up.

You may also go in person to the Records Bureau; Monday thru Friday, 8am to 3pm to obtain your report if available.

You will be required to present valid identification.

Obtaining a copy of your police report is FREE.
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Santa Clara County Sheriffs Department

REPORT RELEASES /REQUEST FORM – No fee (reports fewer than 50 pages) All Photos & CDs – $5.00-Printed Additional Fee

Click here for a Request Form

The public may request a copy of an incident report taken by the Sheriff’s Office. They may fill out the request form online and bring it to the Sheriff’s Office for processing or come in and fill one at the Records window. They will need to indicate their involvement in the incident. For people representing involved parties they must bring a business card or a notarized letter of representation. All requests are reviewed by the Detective Division and can only be released upon their approval. There may be exceptions on non-injury accident reports where they may be released at the time of request. No fee will be collected for a copy of a crime report with fewer than 50 pages. A fee of 10 cents a page will be charged for reports of 50 pages or more.

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South San Francisco PD

How can I obtain a copy of a Police report?

You may request a copy by mail by sending the required fee and a self-addressed stamped envelop and a copy will be mailed to you, generally within 2-3 days of receipt of the request. You should phone the Records office at (650) 877-8900 (have the report number handy if possible) to find out how much a copy will cost and whether the report is ready to be released. Or, you may come to the Police Department, provide identification, and purchase a copy of the report. The cost is 25-cents per page. Please allow a minimum of 5 working days for traffic accident reports to be completed.

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Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety

Release of Information

Department personnel shall be responsive and helpful in providing information and documents that may be requested by individuals, members of the public or private agencies whenever possible, provided the service is not contrary to existing law.

In order to obtain information from a police report, the requestor is asked to submit an Application for Record Information. To download an application for release of information click here [PDF link]. [No link provided on website]

An application is not required however, the application is useful to staff in assisting members of the public with handling the request.

The fees for obtaining the report are set forth in the City of Sunnyvale Fee Schedule in accordance with the California Government Code.  Victims of a crime are not subject to the fee.

Requests made by application will be submitted: in person, by mail*, or FAX (408-730-7705).  The California Public Records Act allows up to 10 days for a response. *Records Unit 700 All American Way, Sunnyvale, Ca. 94086.

Photograph Requests

An application to obtain copies of case photographs or a written request must be submitted to the Records Unit.  A processing fee must be included at time of request- see City of Sunnyvale  Fee Schedule.

Discussion

Your criminal history is a record of your arrests and convictions.  Often, a criminal history may prevent you from obtaining a desirable job, voting rights, rights to own or possess firearms, or even prevent obtaining U.S. citizenship.  Therefore, it may be wise to clear your record whenever possible to obtain relieve from the negative effects of a criminal record.

Can my employer ask me about arrests or use information about past arrests to fire me (or to not hire me)?

Generally not. Under California Labor Code § 432.7, if you are applying for a job, or being considered for promotion, termination, or placement in a job training program, your employer cannot ask about any arrests that don’t result in a conviction, or any arrests that led to participation in a diversion program (such as drug rehabilitation). Your employer is also prohibited from trying to find out from other sources whether you have been arrested. If your employer somehow learns of your arrest record, § 432.7 prohibits him or her from considering any arrest that did not lead to a conviction, or any arrest that led to a diversion program, in making decisions regarding your hiring, firing or promotion. There are some important exceptions to this general rule regarding: arrests pending trial, law enforcement positions and health facility positions.

Resources regarding Record Clearances

1. Criminal Court Record Clearance: guide to record clearance from Santa Clara County’s Superior Court.  This is where you need to go to find instructions to clear your record.
2. Record Clearance – Probation Department: for those who want to clear their records without hiring an attorney, this is where you’ll find an application to do so: (Application for Record Clearance).
   1. FOR MOST CASES (I’d say 4 out of 5 cases) – you do not need to hire an attorney to clear your record.  You can generally clear your record by filling out an application and paying the fee of $120.00.
   2. FOR THOSE of you who didn’t save any of your paperwork regarding the case you want cleared, you can get a complete rap sheet of your criminal history from the Sheriff’s Department or if you need information for just one case, you can get that from the Court Clerk’s Office where the case was adjudicated.
3. Clearing Your Records (Expungement):  good summary of requirements for record clearance  from the Santa Clara County Public Portal.

Curious What the Law States?

For those of you who are interested, California Penal Code § 1203.4 states

(a) Every defendant convicted of a misdemeanor and not granted probation shall, at any time after the lapse of one year from the date of pronouncement of judgment, if he or she has fully complied with and performed the sentence of the court, is not then serving a sentence for any offense and is not under charge of commission of any crime and has, since the pronouncement of judgment, lived an honest and upright life and has conformed to and obeyed the laws of the land, be permitted by the court to withdraw his or her plea of guilty or nolo contendere and enter a plea of not guilty; or if he or she has been convicted after a plea of not guilty, the court shall set aside the verdict of guilty; and in either case the court shall thereupon dismiss the accusatory pleading against the defendant, who shall thereafter be released from all penalties and disabilities resulting from the offense of which he or she has been convicted, except as provided in Section 12021.1 of this code or Section 13555 of the Vehicle Code. The defendant shall be informed of the provisions of this section, either orally or in writing, at the time he or she is sentenced. The defendant may make an application and change of plea in person or by attorney, or by the probation officer authorized in writing; provided, that in any subsequent prosecution of the defendant for any other offense, the prior conviction may be pleaded and proved and shall have the same effect as if relief had not been granted pursuant to this section. This subdivision applies to convictions which occurred before as well as those occurring after, the effective date of this section.

(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to any misdemeanor falling within the provisions of subdivision (b) of Section 42001 of the Vehicle Code, or to any infraction.

(c) A person who petitions for a dismissal of a charge under this section may be required to reimburse the county and the court for the cost of services rendered at a rate to be determined by the county board of supervisors for the county and by the court for the court, not to exceed sixty dollars ($60), and to reimburse any city for the cost of services rendered at a rate to be determined by the city council not to exceed sixty dollars ($60). Ability to make this reimbursement shall be determined by the court using the standards set forth in paragraph (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 987.8 and shall not be a prerequisite to a person’s eligibility under this section. The court may order reimbursement in any case in which the petitioner appears to have the ability to pay, without undue hardship, all or any portion of the cost for services established pursuant to this subdivision.

(d) Any determination of amount made by a court under this section shall be valid only if either (1) made under procedures adopted by the Judicial Council or (2) approved by the Judicial Council.