San Jose Booking Reports Lookup

San Jose booking reports track arrests made across the largest city in the Bay Area and in all of Silicon Valley. When someone gets arrested by the San Jose Police Department, the booking happens at a Santa Clara County jail facility. That means searching for San Jose booking reports requires checking the county sheriff's inmate database. The SJPD keeps its own arrest reports separately, and you can request copies from their records division. Both types of records are public in California and available to anyone willing to look them up.

Santa Clara County Booking for San Jose

Santa Clara County runs the jail system that processes all San Jose arrests. The county operates two main facilities. The Main Jail sits at 150 West Hedding Street in San Jose. Elmwood Correctional Facility is in Milpitas at 701 South Abel Street. When SJPD brings someone in, one of these two jails handles the booking. The report includes the person's name, charges, bail amount, booking number, and physical details.

The county provides an online inmate locator where you can look up anyone in custody. You need either a booking number, a person file number, or a name combined with a date of birth or booking date. The system updates regularly but goes down for maintenance each Monday between 12:30 AM and 2 AM. For phone inquiries, call the Main Jail at (408) 299-2305 or Elmwood at (408) 957-5900.

San Jose Police Records Division

The SJPD Records Division keeps arrest reports, incident reports, and other police documents for events in San Jose. You can request copies by calling (408) 277-4261. The department charges $0.22 per page for copies. That fee is set by law as the direct cost of duplication. In-person requests go faster. Mail requests work too but take longer.

The SJPD also offers a records request process through its website. The page explains what types of records are available and how to submit your request. Give them the report number if you have one. A name, date, and location of the incident can help too. San Jose police reports cover the arrest itself and what led up to it. The booking report is a separate document held by the county. If you need both, plan on making two requests to two different agencies.

Note: San Jose police report copies cost $0.22 per page under California's direct cost rules.

Access Laws for San Jose Booking Reports

Under Government Code Section 7920.000, the California Public Records Act gives everyone the right to request booking reports from San Jose area agencies. Government Code Section 7923.600 requires police agencies to release specific booking details. This includes the name of the arrested person, their physical description, dates and times of arrest and booking, all charges, bail amount, and custody location. San Jose booking reports contain all of this data.

There are limits though. Penal Code Section 13300 restricts full criminal history records. You can see basic booking data from a single San Jose arrest. You cannot access a complete criminal history unless you are the subject of that record or an authorized agency. Juvenile bookings are also kept confidential in San Jose and across California.

The California DOJ charges $25 for a personal criminal history review. Use the DOJ Record Review page to start that process. It covers all California arrests, not just those in San Jose. You will need Live Scan fingerprints.

San Jose Booking Records and State Tools

California runs statewide tools that cover San Jose booking records alongside every other jurisdiction. The CDCR inmate search system lets you find people sentenced to state prison after a San Jose arrest.

Use the CDCR tool when a person arrested in San Jose has been transferred to the state prison system after sentencing.

For people still in county custody awaiting trial, the Santa Clara County inmate locator is the right tool. The state CDCR database only shows inmates who have been convicted and sentenced to state prison. These are two very different stages of the process. Most people looking for recent San Jose booking reports want the county tool, not the state prison search. Know the difference before you start.

Sealing San Jose Arrest Records

If you were arrested in San Jose but never convicted, you may be able to seal the booking record. Penal Code Section 851.91 allows petitions to seal arrest records when charges were dismissed, the case was not filed, or you were acquitted. File the petition in Santa Clara County Superior Court. Once sealed, the San Jose booking report will not appear in public searches.

Penal Code Section 851.8 offers an even stronger remedy for people found factually innocent. Records get sealed immediately and destroyed after three years. Legal aid groups in San Jose and Santa Clara County can help you figure out which option fits your situation and walk you through the paperwork.

Custody Alerts for San Jose Bookings

The VINE notification system lets you track custody status for someone booked in San Jose. Sign up free. Get alerts by phone, email, or text when the person is released or moved. This is a statewide service supported by the California State Sheriffs' Association. It works for people held in Santa Clara County facilities and across the state.

Nearby Cities Booking Reports

Other cities in the South Bay and Santa Clara County share the same county booking system. Check these for booking report information.