Records Bureau

Criminal Records maintains the Department crime reports and related documents, from which criminal history files are created and updated. The Unit is responsible for distribution and dissemination of Offense / Arrest / Incident reports created by Deputies in the field, Detectives, Jail Personnel, Courtesy reports from other Law Enforcement Agencies and any other documentation generated by and for the Sheriff’s Department. Preparing packages of reports and documents to the District Attorney’s Offices, Juvenile Probation and Courts for prosecution including Arrest Disposition Records and Booking Fee forms.

Other duties of this Bureau include:

• maintenance of Local, State, and Federal identification records
• maintaining archived reports placed on microfilm and scanned on to disc
• Processing requests for records from the general public as well as private citizens
• Maintaining integrity of confidential reports
• Generate mandated crime statistics reporting to Department of Justice and FBI
• Oversees the collection of thousands of dollars in revenue from parking citations.

The Criminal Records section is the hub of an automated Records Management System utilized throughout the Department.

Report Request Guidelines

Before requesting a copy of an SBSO report, contact the Records Unit at (805) 681-4180 to confirm if the report is available. Depending on the complexity of the report, it takes on average 7-10 days for a report to be finalized by the deputy; approved by the Sergeant, and submitted to the Records Unit. Once the report is available, please submit your request using the guidelines provided. The Records unit may take up to 10 days to review your request and determine whether to release the report to you. Please be advised that not all requests for reports will be granted. The Records Unit must consider the nature of the report and whether an investigation or criminal prosecution is pending.

Department Guidelines followed to determine when/who a report can be released.

Crime and Incident Reports Released to:

• Victim(s)
• Authorized representative of victim
• Insurance carrier against which a claim has been made and/or might be made
• Person suffering bodily injury, property damage or loss

Not released:

• If the disclosure would endanger the safety of a witness or other involved party
• If disclosure could endanger the successful completion of an investigation and/or related investigation
• Name and address of a victim(s) of certain specified crimes will not be disclosed
• If the Department is prohibited by law from releasing the report (e.g. child abuse reports)

Traffic Collision Reports Released to:

• Drivers involved in the collision
• Registered owners of vehicles involved
• Parents of a minor driver involved
• Passengers involved listed in the report
• Insurance companies
• Those incurring property damage as a result of the accident
• Those who may incur civil liability as a result of the accident
• Any attorney who declares under penalty of perjury that he or she represents any of the above persons

Juvenile Reports Released to:

• Parents of a juvenile may receive a copy of certain types of reports if their child is the only juvenile identified in the report.

All other requesters must petition the Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court directly for the release of juvenile records. The Juvenile Court has the exclusive authority to determine whom, and the extent to which juvenile record information may be released.

REPORT COPIES-Sheriff’s Criminal Records

When a member of the public requests a copy of a report, the fee begins at $9.50 per report for up to ten pages:

STANDARD REPORTS – $15.00
ADDITIONAL PAGES AFTER 10 – $.10
PHOTO-AUDIO CD – $25.00
VIDEO DVD – $40
CALLS FOR SERVICE – $20.00
NOTARY – $15.00 ADDITIONAL
IV RESTORATIVE JUSTICE CLASS – $28.00/STUDENT
BOOKING PHOTO* – $25.00

LOCAL CRIMINAL HISTORY* – $25.00          or          CLEARANCE LETTER* – $37.00
*(Requestor must be the subject of the requested item or have written permission from the subject. Permission must be verified by government photo ID of the subject)

Click here to download Local Criminal History Form or Clearance Letter Form

To Make a Report Request by Email

In an effort to save processing time, an electronic version of the Request For Information or Records form is available. To request a report via email, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Download Report Request form.
• Step 2: Save the document to your computer and fill it out.
• Step 3: Email your request to records@sbsheriff.org and attach your completed document to the email.

To Make a Report Request in Person, via U.S. Mail or by Fax

The Report Request Form will assist the department in responding to your report request. In person: Mon-Fri, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 4434 Calle Real Santa Barbara, CA 93110, via U.S. Mail: P.O. Box 6427, Santa Barbara, CA 93110. Fax: 805-681-5346.

Reports and other documents requested without a subpoena, court order or specific statutory authority will be treated as a request made under the California Public Records Act (CPRA). Many of the Sheriff’s records may be exempt from disclosure under the provisions of the CRPA. Cal. Gov. Code §6254. In order to identify responsive records and review them for possible exemptions, the Sheriff’s may take up to 10 days to respond to a CPRA request (Cal Gov. Code §6253(c) and, if necessary, may take a reasonable period of time thereafter to produce the non-exempt records that are responsive to the request.

California Public Records Act (CPRA)

The Records Bureau is responsible for processing all CPRA requests, received from members of the public and media. Their job is to act as the department’s clearinghouse; once they take receipt of a CPRA request, they forward it to the appropriate division commander for responsive records.

Guidelines for Making a California Public Records Act (CPRA) Request

Reports and other documents requested without a subpoena, court order or specific statutory authority will be treated as a request made under the California Public Records Act (CPRA). Many of the Sheriff’s records may be exempt from disclosure under the provisions of the CRPA. Cal. Gov. Code §6254. In order to identify responsive records and review them for possible exemptions, the Sheriff’s may take up to 10 days to respond to a CPRA request (Cal Gov. Code §6253(c) and, if necessary, may take a reasonable period of time thereafter to produce the non-exempt records that are responsive to the request (Motorola Communication & Electronics v. Dept. of General Svcs, 55 Cal. App. 4th 1340, 1349 (1997)).

To Make a CPRA request, please use our online portal (click on button below) to create an account, fill out the request page, and receive your requested public documents through a secure web-based program.

You can also make a CPRA request by one of the following:

• Send an e-mail to: records@sbsheriff.org
• Mail a written request to: 4434 Calle Real Santa Barbara, CA 93110 ATTN: CPRA
• Go in person to: 4434 Calle Real Santa Barbara, CA 93110
• Fax a request to: (805) 681-5346
• Telephone: (805) 681-4180