Los Angeles County Arrest Records

Los Angeles County arrest records are created after a person is arrested, booked, and detained by the local law enforcement agencies in the county. Arrest records are vital to court records because they capture the preliminary stages and information needed for criminal proceedings. They are also preserved for case research and historical documentation purposes. Access to these records is regulated under the California Public Records Act, the California Penal Code, and the California Code of Regulations.

Are Arrest Records Public Information In California?

Yes. Under the California Public Records Act (Gov. Code § 6250 et seq.), most arrest records created in Los Angeles County are considered public records. However, public access to Los Angeles County law enforcement records, such as arrest records, is governed by Penal Code § 13320.

Although arrest records are generally considered public records, certain types and portions of arrest records are usually redacted and exempt from public access. These records or arrest information are exempt because of their sensitivity, effects on public safety, court injunctions, and infringement of privacy rights concerns. Some examples of these exempt or redacted records and information include:

• Arrest records and information pertaining to ongoing investigations by law enforcement agencies
• Records and arrest information of juveniles and minors according to Welfare & Institutions Code § 827
• Information and contact details of victims and witnesses
• Medical reports or mental health evaluation records
• Records sealed and expunged under the State's expungement laws
• Records tagged confidential by court order or other laws
• Records and arrest information that will invade privacy rights or disturb public peace

Los Angeles County Arrest Search

Several state and federal-level resources are available for performing a Los Angeles County arrest search.

For state-level Los Angeles County arrest information searches, record subjects and authorized agencies may request a comprehensive background check from the California Department of Justice. The DOJ provides fingerprint-based statewide searches for eligible applicants. Interested persons may obtain Los Angeles arrest information from this official "rap sheet" provided by the DOJ.

In addition, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) provides online public access to inmate and arrest information of persons incarcerated in state prisons. One can search for Los Angeles County arrest information via the CDCR's inmate locator by entering a name or CDCR number. The Criminal Division of the Superior Court in Los Angeles County also provides public access terminals and online access to criminal case files and arrest information. This search can be conducted using a defendant's name or case number.

Information on Los Angeles County arrests conducted by federal agencies may be obtained through the Federal Inmate Locator managed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or the Online Detainee Locator System maintained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A name or inmate number is usually the basic requirement for searching these federal online resources. Inquirers may also visit the relevant local field office or ICE detention facility, if known, to obtain arrest information from Los Angeles County.

Los Angeles County Inmate Locator

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department maintains an Inmate Information Center, which serves as the county's online inmate locator. Interested persons may retrieve inmate and arrest information by providing a complete name set and date of birth.

To request Los Angeles County arrest records, incident reports, and criminal reports from the Sheriff's Department, interested persons may query the Public Services Unit of the Records and Identification Bureau. For in-person requests, call (562) 345-4441 to submit requests and schedule an appointment to pick up the requested records.

Mail requests containing proper identification, record description, required documents, and fees may be mailed to:

Active Warrant Search In Los Angeles County

An arrest warrant is a writ that authorizes and directs law enforcement to bring a named individual into custody to answer for a specific crime. Under California laws, arrest warrants are issued by judges or magistrates upon receipt of probable cause and substantial evidence from a peace officer, district attorney, or grand jury. Arrest warrants typically contain the defendant's name, the issuing judge/county, the alleged charges, the issuing date/time, and the signature of the issuing judge (Cal. Pen Code § 815).

Los Angeles County does not have a central online repository for accessing information about active warrants. However, the Sheriff's Department or other local police departments in the county usually maintain warrant information within their jurisdictions. To check for active warrants in Los Angeles County, one may query the Sheriff's Department or other local police departments in the county. Concerned persons may call or visit the sheriff's office or the specific city police department in the county to make inquiries about active warrants.

How to Find Arrest Records For Free in Los Angeles County

Free options for obtaining Los Angeles arrest records include in-person visits to the sheriff's department or other local police departments and online access via the Sheriff's Inmate Locator. The Sheriff Department's Public Services Unit allows in-person requestors to submit requests by calling (562) 345-4441 within business hours. Requesters may be required to provide a valid means of identification to gain access to arrest records and information. Note that while in-person searches at the physical location of the record custodian are usually free of charge, requesting copies of records may attract charges.

Alternatively, a free search for Los Angeles County arrest records is possible via the Sheriff's Inmate Information Center. On this inmate locator, one may retrieve arrest and inmate information online by entering a name or inmate number. The information contained in this locator may exclude certain older records, redacted information, or other supporting arrest information. To obtain accurate and up-to-date information, one may opt for in-person visits to the record custodian's office.

Los Angeles County Arrest Report

An arrest report in Los Angeles County is a document produced by an arresting officer that narrates the events and circumstances surrounding an arrest. It is very detailed and provides information on why the individual was restrained, the probable cause and evidence necessitating the arrest, the witnesses at the scene and their testimonies, the violations/charges, and any other observation made during the arrest.

A Los Angeles County arrest record, on the other hand, is more concise and precise. It is an official summarized entry into the criminal justice records system showing an individual has been arrested. Arrest records usually highlight the arrestee's name, birth date, arrest date, booking information, filed charges, and case status.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Los Angeles County

California laws prescribe various options and conditions for the expungement or sealing adult and juvenile arrest records in Los Angeles County. Expungements in California are typically available for specific criminal felonies and misdemeanors outlined in the statutes. However, there is no "full" or "true" expungement under State laws. One may only be able to apply for a dismissal under Penal Code §§ 1203.4 and 1203.4a.

Eligible defendants may fill out and submit Form CR-180 to the clerk's office in a court of jurisdiction to apply for an expungement. If the defendant was incarcerated in a state prison for a severe felony, they may apply for a Certificate of Rehabilitation, qualifying them for a Governor's pardon.

Sealing of adult records in California is reserved for arrest records where there were no convictions or the defendant was declared "factually innocent" under Cal. Pen. Code §§ 851.8 and 851.91. Eligible applicants under this option may submit Form CR-409 or BCIA 8270 to the arresting agency or the Los Angeles County Superior Court to apply for the sealing of such records.

For juvenile records, eligible applicants may apply and file JV-595 according to the conditions outlined in Welfare & Institutions Code § 781/786 or review the Guide to Sealing Juvenile Court Records packet provided by the state judiciary. Additional information on how to clear one's record in Los Angeles is available on the County Alternate Public Defender's webpage or the state judiciary's Clean Your Record page.

How Do You Remove Arrest Records From the Internet?

Sealing or expunging an arrest record under State laws is usually the most efficient way to remove arrest records from online public spaces. If the application for expungement or sealing is granted, the court immediately notifies the Department of Justice and other criminal justice agencies to update and erase the expunged records from their databases and online repositories.

However, while it may be easier to erase expunged/sealed information from official sources, one may need extra efforts to remove it from third-party websites and public search engines. To remove arrest records from third-party websites, one may:

• Utilize the opt-out option provided by most third-party sites
• Serve the site a legal notice requesting the removal of the records
• Engage the services of certain companies that engage in reputation management and arrest, information removals

To completely erase an arrest record from search engines like Google, one may directly request a removal by using the "Remove Outdated Content" tool provided by Google. While this may not delete the original information, it prevents such records from popping up in recent search results.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Los Angeles County arrest records available for public access according to Section 7923.610 of the California Public Records Act and Penal Code § 13300 typically contain the following information:

• Complete name set of the arrested individual
• Physical descriptions of the detained individual
• Date, time, and location of the arrest
• Agency/officer in charge of the arrest
• Alleged offenses or filed charges
• Booking number and information
• Information on the required bail, bond, and release conditions
• The custody status of the arrestee
• Holding facility location
• Arrest warrant information, if available
• Case number and court details if the case is being prosecuted