Search Richmond Booking Reports

Richmond booking reports are created when local police arrest someone and the person is booked into the Contra Costa County jail. The Richmond Police Department handles arrests within city limits. But the county sheriff runs the jail where formal booking happens. If you need to find a Richmond booking report, you can search the county's records system or contact Richmond police directly at (510) 620-6513. This page covers how booking works in Richmond, where to look for records, what laws apply, and how to get the information you need from both the city and county agencies that handle these files.

Contra Costa County Processes Richmond Bookings

Richmond is in Contra Costa County. The county sheriff operates the jail and records systems where Richmond bookings get processed. When the Richmond Police Department makes an arrest, the person is brought to a Contra Costa County detention facility. There, jail staff handle the formal booking. They take fingerprints, a photo, and record personal details along with the charges. This information becomes the booking report and goes into the county database.

The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office has a Records and ID Unit at 2530 Arnold Drive, Suite 170, Martinez, CA 94553. They handle all record requests for the county, including booking reports from Richmond arrests. You can reach them at (925) 335-1570 or by email at recordsinfo@so.cccounty.us. The unit follows a 10-day response window for records requests. They accept cash with exact change or checks for fees. No credit or debit cards.

Note: The Contra Costa County Records Unit does not take credit or debit card payments for booking report copies.

Richmond Police Department Records

The Richmond Police Department can be reached at (510) 620-6513. They keep arrest reports, incident files, and investigation records for events within the city. If you need a report tied to a Richmond arrest, the police department is one place to start. They have the officer's account of what happened, along with witness details and evidence notes. The booking report from the jail is a separate document held by the county.

When you call Richmond police, have some details ready. A name, date of the incident, or a case number will help them find what you need. The records staff process requests during business hours. If the record you want is at the county level, they can point you in the right direction. It is common for people to contact both Richmond police and the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office when looking for the full set of documents from an arrest. The police have the arrest side. The county has the booking side.

Richmond Booking Records and State Tools

The California CDCR Incarcerated Records and Information Search lets you look up people serving state prison time, which may include people originally arrested in Richmond.

This statewide tool shows inmates in state prison, including those whose cases started with a Richmond arrest and booking in Contra Costa County.

The CDCR search will not show someone who was just booked at the county jail from a Richmond arrest. It only covers state prison inmates. But if a Richmond booking leads to a conviction and state sentence, the person's record will appear here. Results include the inmate's name, CDCR number, age, current location, and parole hearing dates. The tool is free and open to the public. You do not need an account to search.

Richmond Booking Report Access Laws

California law makes Richmond booking reports available to the public. Government Code Section 7920.000 establishes the state's Public Records Act. It gives you the right to inspect and copy records from government agencies. That includes both the Richmond Police Department and the Contra Costa County Sheriff. Agencies must respond within 10 days. Government Code Section 7923.600 specifically requires the release of booking data. Names, charges, bail, arrest times, and custody locations are all public when someone gets booked after a Richmond arrest.

Full criminal history records are a different matter. Penal Code Section 13300 restricts access to complete criminal history summaries. A booking report from Richmond shows one arrest and one booking. A criminal history shows every arrest on file statewide. The booking report is public. The full criminal history is restricted to authorized users or personal requests through the California DOJ at $25 with fingerprints.

Sealing Richmond Booking Records

If charges from a Richmond arrest get dropped or end in acquittal, the person can petition to seal their booking record. Penal Code Section 851.91 provides this right. The petition goes to the court in Contra Costa County. Once sealed, the Richmond booking report will not show up in standard public searches. Employers running background checks usually will not see it. The process involves paperwork and a court hearing, so legal help can be useful for people going through it.

Factual innocence is another path. Under Penal Code Section 851.8, a person found factually innocent can ask to have Richmond arrest records sealed and destroyed. The law orders all booking photos, arrest reports, and related evidence sealed for three years, then destroyed. This is a stronger remedy than standard sealing. It is harder to get approved, but it results in complete removal of the Richmond booking record.

Track Richmond Custody Changes

The California VINE program tracks custody status for people in Contra Costa County jail, including those booked from Richmond arrests. Sign up for free. You get alerts by phone, email, or text when the person is released, transferred, or escapes. Search by name or offender ID. VINE is especially helpful for crime victims who want to stay informed about a Richmond offender without calling the jail every day.

Nearby City Booking Reports

Cities near Richmond also process bookings through county jail systems. Check these pages for details.