Berkeley Booking Reports

Berkeley booking reports come from the city police department and the Alameda County Sheriff's Office. When someone gets arrested in Berkeley, the police create an initial report. But the actual booking process takes place at the county jail. That means you need to search both city and county systems to get a full picture of booking records in Berkeley. The Berkeley Police Department keeps arrest reports and case files at their records unit. Alameda County holds the booking data at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. You can look up Berkeley booking reports online or by phone to find the details you need.

Alameda County Handles Berkeley Bookings

Berkeley sits in Alameda County. That is where the main jail is. Santa Rita Jail in Dublin processes all bookings for people arrested in Berkeley. The Berkeley Police Department makes the arrest and does the paperwork. Then the person goes to Santa Rita for formal booking. At the jail, staff take fingerprints, photos, and personal details. They create a booking report that becomes part of the county system. This is the standard process across California, where city police arrest but the county jail books.

The Alameda County Sheriff's Office runs an online inmate locator where you can search for people booked into Santa Rita Jail. This tool shows current inmates and recent bookings. Search by name to see if someone arrested in Berkeley is in custody. The results list charges, bail amount, and booking date. It is free to use. The locator updates through the day as new bookings come in and people get released.

Berkeley Police Booking Records

The Berkeley Police Department has a records unit you can reach at (510) 981-5750. They keep arrest reports, incident logs, and case files for crimes that happen within city limits. If you need a copy of an arrest report from Berkeley, call the records unit or visit in person. The police can tell you the case number, arrest date, and basic charges. For the full booking report with jail details, you need to go through the county.

Berkeley charges fees for some record copies. Letters cost $10 each. Collision reports cost $10. Criminal history checks cost $5. These are city fees for Berkeley police records specifically. County records from the sheriff may have different fees. The costs are not high, but you should know which agency has the record you need before you pay. Ask the Berkeley records clerk if you are not sure what they can give you versus what the county holds.

Note: Berkeley police records fees are separate from Alameda County Sheriff's Office fees for booking reports.

Berkeley Booking Report Access Rights

California law makes booking data public. Government Code Section 7920.000 gives everyone the right to see records held by state and local agencies. That includes Berkeley booking reports. You do not need to explain why you want the records. The agency must respond to your request within 10 days. Government Code Section 7923.600 goes further and requires law enforcement to release specific booking details. Names, charges, bail, arrest times, and where the person is held are all public information when someone gets booked in Berkeley.

There are some limits on what you can get. Penal Code Section 13300 restricts access to full criminal histories. A booking report shows one arrest event. A criminal history shows all past arrests. The booking report from Berkeley is public. The full rap sheet requires authorization or a personal fingerprint request through the California Department of Justice.

Search Berkeley Bookings Statewide

The California Department of Justice provides a criminal record review process for people who want to check their own records, including any Berkeley bookings on file.

This statewide portal lets individuals request their own criminal history, which would include any past Berkeley bookings on file with the state.

The California Incarcerated Records and Information Search is another tool. It covers people in state prison, not county jail. So it will not show someone just booked in Berkeley. But if a Berkeley arrest leads to a state prison sentence, that person's record will show up in this system later on. The tool is free and open to the public.

Track Berkeley Custody Changes

The California VINE system tracks custody changes for people booked through Alameda County. If someone you know was arrested in Berkeley, you can register for alerts. VINE sends notifications by phone, email, or text when the person is released, transferred, or escapes. This is especially useful for crime victims who want to stay informed without calling the jail every day.

Registration is free. Search by name or offender ID to find the person. Then pick how you want to be notified. The system covers Alameda County's jail, which is where Berkeley bookings go. You will get updates whenever there is a change in custody status for that person.

Seal Berkeley Arrest Records

People arrested in Berkeley who were not convicted can ask to seal their records. Penal Code Section 851.91 allows a petition to seal arrest records when charges get dropped or the person is found not guilty. Once a court grants the petition, the booking report from Berkeley will not show up in public searches. The process takes time and may require filing in Alameda County Superior Court.

Sealing is different from expungement. When Berkeley booking records are sealed under this statute, law enforcement can still see them in limited situations. But the general public and most employers cannot access sealed records. If you were arrested in Berkeley and want to explore sealing your booking report, talk to a lawyer or contact Alameda County legal aid for help with the paperwork.

Nearby City Booking Reports

These cities near Berkeley also have booking report information. Arrests in any of them go through county jail systems.