Costa Mesa Arrest Record Search

Costa Mesa recent arrest records are handled through Orange County. The Costa Mesa Police Department makes arrests in the city, but booking and detention fall under the Orange County Sheriff's jail system. People arrested in Costa Mesa are taken to the Intake Release Center in Santa Ana for processing. From there, the Orange County Sheriff maintains the inmate database. You can search for someone online through the sheriff's public services portal. The process is straightforward and the search tool is free. This guide walks you through finding Costa Mesa arrest records step by step.

Costa Mesa Arrests and Orange County Booking

Costa Mesa has its own police department. Officers handle patrol, investigations, and arrests within city limits. But the city does not run its own jail. After an arrest, the person is transported to the Orange County jail system. The Intake Release Center at 550 N Flower Street, Santa Ana, CA 92703 is the main booking facility. You can reach it at (714) 647-4666. Once booked, the arrest record enters the county's database and becomes searchable online.

The Orange County Sheriff manages all jail operations. Inmate booking and release information is available at (714) 584-6790. The general inmate information number is (714) 710-8884. These lines can help you locate someone who was arrested in Costa Mesa. The booking record will show the arresting agency as Costa Mesa PD, even though the county handles detention.

Note: Costa Mesa PD makes the arrest, but the Orange County Sheriff controls the jail and the inmate records.

Searching Costa Mesa Recent Arrests Online

The Orange County Sheriff's Public Services Portal gives you access to the inmate information system and booking log. You need to create a free account to use the portal. New users click "Create Account" to get started. Once logged in, you can search for people booked through the county system, including Costa Mesa arrests. The portal was built to provide secure access to important information while preventing misuse.

Search results will show booking numbers, charges, bail amounts, housing locations, and court dates. The OC Sheriff inmate information page also has links for depositing money to an inmate's account, exchanging clothes, picking up property, and posting bail. These services are all connected to the same system that tracks Costa Mesa bookings.

• Create an account at the OC Sheriff Public Services Portal
• Search for the person by name or booking number
• Call the inmate information line at (714) 710-8884
• Contact inmate booking and release at (714) 584-6790
• Visit the Intake Release Center at 550 N Flower St, Santa Ana, CA 92703

Costa Mesa Arrest Records and State Law

Under Government Code 7923.610, law enforcement agencies must make certain arrest details public. This covers the Costa Mesa Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff. The required details include the person's full name, occupation, physical description, date of birth, the date and time of the arrest and booking, arrest location, the circumstances, bail amount, release information, and all charges. Warrants from other jurisdictions, parole holds, and probation holds are also included.

The California legislature's statute page is shown below. This is the actual text of the law that governs arrest record disclosure in Costa Mesa and the rest of the state.

The only exceptions to disclosure are when releasing information would endanger someone or harm an active investigation. Outside those narrow cases, the data is public.

Sealing Costa Mesa Arrest Records

If you were arrested in Costa Mesa but the case did not end in a conviction, you may be able to have the record sealed. Penal Code 851.87 allows you to petition the court for an order sealing the arrest record. Once sealed, the record is hidden from standard background checks. You can state that you were not arrested for that charge. Orange County Superior Court processes these petitions for Costa Mesa cases.

California also offers automatic relief through AB 1076. Each month, the Department of Justice reviews records statewide. Misdemeanor arrests from January 1, 2021, onward where the charge was dismissed or no case was filed within a year can be cleared without any action from the arrested person. This automatic process applies to qualifying Costa Mesa arrests just as it does everywhere else in the state.

Note: Certain licensing agencies and law enforcement can still access sealed records under specific legal exceptions.

State Record Resources for Costa Mesa

Beyond the county system, the state offers tools for checking arrest records. The California DOJ record review lets individuals request their own criminal history. The process requires Live Scan fingerprints and a $25 fee. Fee waivers are available for those who qualify. The DOJ returns a complete summary covering all California jurisdictions, including Costa Mesa. You can only request your own record.

The CDCR Incarcerated Records and Information Search handles state prison lookups. If someone from Costa Mesa was sentenced to state prison, you can search for them by name or CDCR number. The tool shows their current facility, admission date, and upcoming parole hearings. It does not include people held in Orange County jail.

Costa Mesa Booking Photo Laws

Booking photos from Costa Mesa arrests fall under state regulations. Civil Code 1798.91.1 makes it illegal for commercial websites to charge people to remove their booking photos. Anyone who finds their Costa Mesa booking photo on such a site can sue for at least $1,000 in damages per violation, plus attorney fees and costs.

On the law enforcement side, Penal Code 13665 prevents the sheriff's office and police departments from sharing booking photos on social media for nonviolent crimes. There are exceptions when a person is a fugitive or there is a clear public safety need. This law applies to both Costa Mesa PD and the Orange County Sheriff.

Costa Mesa Arrest Records County Info

Costa Mesa arrests are booked into the Orange County jail system. The county sheriff runs the detention facilities and maintains inmate records for the city.

Nearby California Cities

These cities are near Costa Mesa and have their own arrest records pages. Most share the Orange County jail system.