San Diego County Recent Arrests

San Diego County recent arrest records are available through the sheriff's "Who's In Jail" online search. The tool lets you look up anyone currently in custody at a San Diego County detention facility. You need at least two characters of a first and last name to run a search. San Diego County is the second most populated county in California and handles a large number of bookings every week. Arrest data is public under state law. The search is free, and it runs 24 hours a day except during weekly maintenance. San Diego County arrest records include charges, bail, and booking details for all current inmates.

San Diego County Arrest Records Online

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department operates the "Who's In Jail" search tool. It is the primary way to check recent arrests in the county. Type at least two letters of the first name and two letters of the last name, then hit search. Results show the person's charges, bail amount, booking date, and housing facility. The tool covers everyone currently held at any San Diego County detention facility. It updates throughout the day as new bookings come in and as people are released.

The sheriff's website posts a caution that the data should not be relied on for any legal action. It is informational only. Charges can change as cases move through the system. The district attorney may add, reduce, or dismiss charges after the initial booking. Still, for a quick check on whether someone was recently arrested in San Diego County, this tool is the go-to resource. It is free and open to everyone.

Note: The "Who's In Jail" site goes offline for maintenance every Wednesday at noon.

San Diego Sheriff Inmate Search

The San Diego County Sheriff's inmate search portal is where most people start when looking for recent arrest records.

This portal pulls live data from all San Diego County detention facilities. It requires a minimum of two characters for both first and last names. The results page shows current inmates with their charges, bail, and booking information.

The sheriff also operates a daily jail population report that gives an overview of how many people are in custody at any given time. This is useful for understanding the overall volume of recent arrests and detention in San Diego County, though it does not give individual arrest details.

Requesting San Diego County Arrest Reports

If you need a copy of an arrest report from the San Diego County Sheriff, you can make a records request. Copies of crime, arrest, and accident reports are released in line with the California Public Records Act. The fee for a crime, arrest, or accident report is $20. If you are a victim (or the victim's representative), the first copy of a crime report is free. Processing takes 3 to 10 business days.

The main records office is at the John F. Duffy Administrative Center, 9621 Ridgehaven Court, San Diego, CA 92123. You can call 858-974-2222 for help. The department keeps most crime, arrest, and accident reports for 10 years, so you can request older records within that window. For records from city police departments within the county (like San Diego PD, Chula Vista PD, or Oceanside PD), you need to go to those agencies directly.

Note: The sheriff's office handles records for unincorporated areas and cities that contract with the sheriff for police services.

Arrest Disclosure Laws for San Diego County

Under California Government Code 7923.610, local law enforcement must release basic arrest information to the public. The list includes the arrested person's full name, physical description, date and time of arrest, booking details, where it happened, the circumstances, bail, release or custody status, and all charges. San Diego County follows these rules. The only way an agency can hold back information is if release would put someone in danger or compromise an ongoing investigation.

The California Public Records Act also applies to all San Diego County law enforcement agencies. You can submit a written request for arrest records. The agency has 10 days to respond. A 14-day extension is possible in limited situations. Copying fees are usually around 10 cents per page, though many agencies now provide digital copies at no cost.

Sealing San Diego County Arrest Records

If you were arrested in San Diego County and the charges were dropped, dismissed, or you were acquitted, you may petition to seal that arrest. Penal Code 851.87 gives you that right. File the petition with San Diego County Superior Court. Once sealed, the arrest is hidden from most background checks and you can legally state you were not arrested for that offense.

California's automatic relief program also covers qualifying arrests. The Department of Justice reviews records monthly. Misdemeanor arrests from January 1, 2021, onward where charges were dismissed or not filed within a year can be sealed without any petition. This applies to San Diego County arrests automatically.

To check your own criminal history, use the DOJ Record Review process. Submit Live Scan fingerprints and pay $25. The DOJ sends back a full summary of your arrest history across California, including all San Diego County entries. A fee waiver is available for people who cannot afford the cost.

Statewide Search Tools for San Diego

The CDCR CIRIS search covers people in state prison. Anyone arrested in San Diego County who was later sentenced to CDCR can be found there. The search is free. VINE victim notifications are also available at 877-411-5588. This free service covers San Diego County jail facilities and sends alerts about changes in custody status.

San Diego County Arrest Records by City

San Diego County has many large cities with their own police departments. City police make arrests, but the county sheriff processes bookings at its detention centers. These cities have their own pages with additional details.

Nearby Counties

These counties border San Diego County and each runs its own jail and arrest record system.