San Jose Arrest Records

San Jose recent arrest records are managed through the Santa Clara County system. The San Jose Police Department makes arrests in the city, but inmates go to the county jail. Santa Clara County runs an online inmate search tool where you can look up anyone currently in custody. The main jail is at 150 West Hedding Street in San Jose itself. San Jose is the largest city in the Bay Area by population and the third largest in California. Booking activity stays busy throughout the year. Searching the county database is the fastest way to check recent arrests.

Search Public Records

Santa Clara County Inmate Search for San Jose

The Santa Clara County inmate search portal is the main tool for finding recent arrests in San Jose. You can search by name and date of birth, by name and booking date, by booking number (CEN), or by person file number (PFN). At least one combination of these fields is required. The system returns results for people currently in county custody. Each result shows booking details, charges, bail, and the facility where the person is held.

The portal has a scheduled maintenance window. Every Monday between 12:30 a.m. and 2:00 a.m., the system goes offline. Outside of that, it runs around the clock. You can also call the Santa Clara County inmate information line at (408) 299-2305. That line is available seven days a week from 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Note: The inmate search covers all of Santa Clara County, including arrests made by San Jose police and other local agencies.

San Jose Police Records Division

The San Jose Police Department has a records unit that handles report requests. You can learn about the process on their records request page. SJPD processes requests for arrest reports, incident reports, and other police records. Fees and turnaround times apply. The department follows the California Public Records Act, which gives agencies 10 days to respond to a request.

For general questions about San Jose arrest records, contact the SJPD records division directly. They can tell you if a report is available and what you need to submit for your request. Keep in mind that certain arrest records may be exempt from disclosure if they involve an ongoing investigation. This falls under exemptions in the California Government Code.

The state-level image below shows the California DOJ criminal records page, which also applies to San Jose residents wanting to review their own arrest history.

California DOJ criminal records review page relevant to San Jose arrest records

Through this DOJ process, anyone in San Jose can request a copy of their own criminal history for $25.

How to Look Up San Jose Arrests

Finding recent arrest data in San Jose takes just a few steps. Start with the county inmate search. If the person was arrested recently, they will likely show up there. For older records, you may need to request a report through SJPD or the county sheriff.

Search the Santa Clara County inmate portal by name or booking number
Call the inmate information line at (408) 299-2305
Contact the Santa Clara County Records Division at (408) 808-4705
Submit a records request through the SJPD records unit
Use VINE at 877-411-5588 for custody status alerts

The Main Jail at 150 West Hedding Street in San Jose is where most bookings happen. This is the facility that feeds data into the online search tool. When SJPD or another agency books someone, the arrest record shows up on the portal within hours.

Arrest Disclosure Law in San Jose

Government Code 7923.610 sets the rules for what San Jose law enforcement must share about arrests. The law says agencies must make public the arrested person's full name, occupation, physical description, date of birth, the date and time of both the arrest and booking, the location, the circumstances, the bail amount, and all charges. This is not optional. SJPD and the Santa Clara County Sheriff both follow this rule for arrests made in San Jose.

The only exception allows agencies to withhold a specific piece of information if releasing it would endanger someone or compromise an investigation. In most cases, though, the booking data is available. The California Public Records Act adds another layer. It gives anyone the right to request government records. Agencies must respond within 10 days.

Sealing San Jose Arrest Records

San Jose residents who were arrested but never convicted can seek to seal their arrest records. Penal Code 851.87 lets you petition Santa Clara County Superior Court. If the court grants the order, the record is hidden from most background checks. You can tell employers you were not arrested.

California also runs an automatic relief program through the Department of Justice. The DOJ checks records every month. Misdemeanor arrests from January 2021 onward where charges were dropped or never filed qualify for automatic sealing. No petition needed. The system handles it. This covers arrests made in San Jose by any agency. The DOJ record review page has more on how to check your own record.

Note: Sealed arrest records can still be accessed by law enforcement and certain licensing agencies under specific circumstances.

San Jose Booking Process

When someone is arrested in San Jose, the booking process starts at the Santa Clara County Main Jail. Officers bring the person in, and staff record their personal information, take fingerprints, and capture a booking photo. Charges are entered into the system. Bail is set based on the county bail schedule. Some people are released on their own recognizance, while others must post bail or wait for a judge.

The booking creates the arrest record that later shows up on the inmate search portal. Processing can take several hours depending on how busy the jail is. Once booking is complete, the record should appear online. If you cannot find someone through the online search, call the inmate line at (408) 299-2305. They can look up recent bookings that may not have posted to the website yet.

Search Arrest Records