Criminal records in San Francisco, California, are available through several channels — online tools, official court systems, law enforcement agencies, and the clerk's office. SanFranciscoCourt.us allows you to find publicly available information about criminal cases in the county. Additionally, the Superior Court of San Francisco County provides its own online portal for case searches, and the Sheriff's Office and Police Department maintain separate databases for inmates and police reports.
How to Search Criminal Records in San Francisco
To start your search, you will need at least one of the following:
- Full name of the person (last name, first name)
- Case number
- Date of birth (for law enforcement requests)
Online Search
- SanFranciscoCourt.us — start here to find public information about criminal cases in San Francisco County.
- Case Information — Superior Court — the official court portal allows you to search for civil and criminal cases by case number or by last name and first name. The Cumulative Criminal Index, which is updated weekly, is also available here.
- CDCR CIRIS — if the person is under the custody of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, this tool will show the name, CDCR number, age, current location, and counties of conviction.
- California DOJ — Criminal History Review — to obtain your own criminal history, you need to submit fingerprints and pay $25.
- CRI or CR — indicates a criminal case
- Year — a two-digit or four-digit code for the year of filing
- Sequential number — a unique ordinal number within the year
- Pending — the case is open, and a decision has not yet been made
- Active — proceedings are ongoing, hearings are scheduled
- Disposed — the court has made a final decision
- Closed — the case is closed, and all procedural actions are completed
- Arraignment — the first court hearing where the charges are read to the defendant
- Preliminary Hearing — the judge determines if there is enough evidence to proceed (for felony)
- Pre-trial — parties discuss agreements, file motions
- Sentencing — sentencing after a guilty plea or conviction
- Review — a control hearing to check compliance with conditions
- In Person — visit the records viewing room at the Hall of Justice or Civic Center Courthouse.
- By Mail — send a written request with the case number to the Criminal Division of the court.
- Online — for some documents, check for electronic access through the Obtain Criminal Records page on the court's website.
- Criminal case number
- Full name of the defendant
- Valid ID (when applying in person)
- In Person — certificates are usually prepared within a few business days, but the time depends on the court's workload.
- By Mail — processing may take longer; the court recommends confirming the timeframes when submitting the request.
- California DOJ — processing a criminal history request through fingerprints may take several weeks.
In Person
The court provides access to records at two locations:
In these Records Viewing Rooms (Records Viewing Rooms), you can view case materials for free. Copies are provided for a separate fee.
By Mail or Written Request
Written requests for criminal records can be sent to the Criminal Division of the court. To obtain a complete criminal history at the state level, contact the California Department of Justice — this is the central repository for criminal records in California. Police reports are ordered separately through the San Francisco Police Department.
Search San Francisco Criminal Cases by Case Number
A criminal case number in California typically has a format that includes a case type code and the year of filing. For example:
The full number might look something like this: CRI-23-012345. The format depends on the court's internal system — the San Francisco Superior Court uses the ACES system. If you do not know the exact number, try searching by last name through the court's Case Information portal. One case number corresponds to one indictment, but there may be multiple charges within the case.
Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in San Francisco
Charges
| Element | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Statute Code | Reference to the California Penal Code (e.g., PC 459 — burglary) |
| Severity | Felony, Misdemeanor, Infraction |
| Amended Charges | The prosecutor may change or add charges during the proceedings |
Case Status
Types of Hearings
A criminal case goes through several stages:
Court Results
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Guilty | Found guilty |
| Not Guilty | Found not guilty |
| Dismissed | The case is closed without a verdict |
| Acquitted | Acquitted as a result of the trial |
| Nolo Contendere | The defendant does not contest the charges but does not formally admit guilt |
How to Request Certified Criminal Records in San Francisco
Certified copies of criminal records in San Francisco are issued by the Criminal Division of the Superior Court. A document called the Certificate of the Record certifies the conviction and sentence.
How to Submit a Request
What You Need for the Request
To obtain a complete criminal history at the state level in California, you need to submit fingerprints to the Department of Justice and pay the appropriate fee.
Contact Information for the Criminal Division
San Francisco Sheriff's Office manages the county jail and can provide information about inmates but does not issue certified court documents — this is the court's responsibility.
Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in San Francisco
| Service | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of the Record (conviction certificate) | $40 per case number | SF Superior Court — Obtain Criminal Records |
| Viewing records in the court room | Free | SF Superior Court — Records |
| Checking your own criminal history (California DOJ) | $25 | California DOJ — Record Review |
Processing Time
The court accepts payment by check or money order payable to the Clerk of the Court. Check with the Criminal Division for current payment methods, as rules may change.