Costa Mesa Booking Report Lookup
Costa Mesa booking reports are managed by the city police department and the Orange County Sheriff's Office. When the Costa Mesa Police Department arrests someone, the booking takes place at an Orange County jail facility. You can search for Costa Mesa booking reports through the county's online inmate system. The Costa Mesa Police Department also keeps arrest records at its records division. Whether you need current custody status or copies of past booking reports from Costa Mesa, there are clear paths to get the data you want. Start with the county search tool for the fastest results.
Costa Mesa Booking Reports Quick Facts
Orange County Processes Costa Mesa Bookings
Costa Mesa is part of Orange County. The Orange County Sheriff's Department runs the jail system where people arrested in Costa Mesa get booked. The main intake facility is at 550 N. Flower Street in Santa Ana. When Costa Mesa police arrest someone, the person gets transported to this facility. Sheriff's staff process the booking. They record the person's name, charges, bail, physical description, and booking time. This data goes into the county inmate system.
The Orange County Sheriff runs a public services portal with inmate search features. The system has enhanced security, so you need to sign in and verify your identity before searching. The current system does not show inmate charges, which is a limit to be aware of. For full booking details from Costa Mesa arrests, you may need to call the Inmate Information Center at (714) 710-8884. They can give you charges, bail, and custody status over the phone.
Costa Mesa Police Records Division
The Costa Mesa Police Department records unit is the place to go for arrest reports and incident files. Call (714) 754-5373. They handle reports for all law enforcement activity in Costa Mesa. If an arrest took place in the city, the police have a report on file. The records unit can tell you the case number, arrest date, and what charges were filed. They process requests during business hours.
Costa Mesa police records are different from county booking records. The police report covers what led to the arrest. The booking report covers what happens at the jail. You might need both to get the full story. For the police side, go through Costa Mesa PD. For the jail side, contact the Orange County Sheriff. Both agencies have staff who deal with public records requests every day. Be ready to provide a name, date, or case number so they can find the right Costa Mesa booking report or arrest file quickly.
Note: Costa Mesa police handle their own records fees separately from Orange County Sheriff fees for booking data.
Search Costa Mesa Records Statewide
California's Public Records Act page on the Attorney General's website explains your right to access booking records from Costa Mesa and all other California cities.
The DOJ site outlines the 10-day response timeline and fees that apply when requesting copies of public records like Costa Mesa booking reports.
The CDCR inmate search covers people serving state prison time. It will not show someone who was just booked through Costa Mesa into the Orange County jail. But if a Costa Mesa case results in a state prison sentence, the person will show up in this database at some point. The tool is free to use and does not need an account.
Costa Mesa Booking Report Laws
California law makes Costa Mesa booking data public. Under Government Code Section 7920.000, anyone can request records from government agencies. The law applies to both the Costa Mesa Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff. Government Code Section 7923.600 specifically requires law enforcement to share booking details. This covers the person's name, charges, bail set, arrest time, booking time, and custody location. You do not need to state a reason for your request.
Restrictions exist for full criminal histories. Penal Code Section 13300 limits who can see complete criminal history summaries. The booking report from a single Costa Mesa arrest is different. It shows one event. Anyone can access it. A full criminal history, which lists all past arrests, requires special authorization. Individuals can request their own history from the California DOJ for $25 using Live Scan fingerprints.
People arrested in Costa Mesa can also petition to seal records under Penal Code Section 851.91 if they were not convicted. This removes the booking report from public view in most situations.
Track Costa Mesa Custody Status
The VINE notification system covers Orange County. If someone was arrested in Costa Mesa and booked into the county jail, you can register for custody alerts through VINE. The service sends notifications by phone, email, or text when the person is released or transferred. It costs nothing. This is useful if you need to know when someone from a Costa Mesa arrest leaves jail without calling the facility yourself.
Nearby City Booking Reports
These Orange County cities near Costa Mesa also route bookings through the county sheriff's jail system.