Berkeley Arrest Records Database

Berkeley arrest records are maintained by the Berkeley Police Department and searchable through the city's public records portal. As home to UC Berkeley, this city has an active police department handling everything from campus incidents to local crime. Arrests in Berkeley lead to bookings at the Alameda County jail. You can search for inmates online, request police reports through NextRequest, and look up criminal court cases.

Berkeley Police Records Portal

The City of Berkeley uses NextRequest for public records requests. You can submit requests for arrest reports and other police documents at cityofberkeleyca.nextrequest.com. Create an account to track your request status. The system sends email updates as your request moves through processing.

NextRequest makes it easy to ask for records online. Fill out the form with details about what you need. Include dates, names, and case numbers if you have them. The more specific you are, the faster staff can find your records. Berkeley generally responds within 10 days, as required by the California Public Records Act.

Incident reports cost $1.00 when requested by mail. This is one of the lowest rates in the Bay Area. Some cities charge $10 to $20 per report. Berkeley keeps it cheap. You can also pick up reports in person. Contact the records division at (510) 981-5750 if you have questions about your request or need help navigating the system.

Note: Victims of crimes can usually get the first copy of their report free by identifying themselves as the victim listed in the report.

Berkeley Arrests and County Jail

Berkeley is part of Alameda County. When Berkeley police arrest someone, that person goes to the county jail for booking. Santa Rita Jail in Dublin handles all county bookings. The Alameda County Sheriff runs the facility.

Search for current inmates at acgov.org/sheriff_app. Enter a name to see who is in custody. The search is free and works around the clock. Results show charges, bail amounts, and housing location. It does not matter which city made the arrest. If they are in Alameda County jail, they appear in this system.

Booking takes time after an arrest. Someone may not show up in the system for several hours. If you cannot find a person right away, check back later. The jail updates its database throughout the day. Call Santa Rita Jail at (925) 551-6500 for help finding an inmate.

UC Berkeley Police Records

UC Berkeley has its own police department separate from the city. UCPD handles crimes that happen on campus. If an arrest occurred on university property, you may need to contact UCPD instead of city police. The campus police maintain their own records.

UCPD can be reached at (510) 642-6760. Their jurisdiction covers the main campus and some surrounding areas. For off-campus incidents in Berkeley, the city police department handles arrests. Make sure you know where the incident happened before requesting records. This determines which agency has the file.

Both agencies book arrestees into the Alameda County jail system. The inmate locator covers everyone in county custody. You can find people arrested by either Berkeley PD or UCPD through the same search tool.

Berkeley Criminal Court Cases

Criminal cases from Berkeley arrests go through Alameda County Superior Court. The main criminal courthouse is in Oakland. You can search for case information online through the court's public access portal. Look up cases by defendant name or case number.

Court records show what happens after an arrest. Did charges get filed? Was there a conviction or dismissal? The court record tells the full story. Not every arrest leads to charges. Not every case ends in conviction. Court records fill in the gaps between the arrest and the final outcome.

The clerk charges fees for copies of court documents. Certified copies cost more than regular ones. Some information is available online for free viewing. Contact the clerk's office for current fees and to learn what documents are available.

Clearing Berkeley Arrest Records

If you were arrested in Berkeley but never charged, you may seal the arrest under Penal Code Section 851.91. File a petition with the court. If granted, the arrest is hidden from most background checks. This helps people whose arrests did not lead to prosecution.

Convictions can be expunged under Penal Code Section 1203.4. After completing probation, you ask the court to dismiss the charges. The conviction shows as dismissed on your record. Most employers cannot use a dismissed conviction against you in hiring decisions.

California also grants automatic relief for some records. The DOJ reviews records monthly. Old arrests with no charges get sealed without you filing anything. The state handles it automatically. Check with the DOJ at (916) 227-3849 to see if your record qualifies for automatic relief.

Note: Berkeley has legal aid organizations that help with expungement at low or no cost for people who qualify based on income.

Background Checks in Berkeley

Employers in Berkeley must follow the Fair Chance Act. This state law bans asking about criminal history on job applications for employers with five or more workers. They must wait until after a conditional job offer. Berkeley has additional local protections that go beyond state law in some areas.

If you need your own criminal record, contact the California DOJ. The fee is $25. You submit fingerprints through Live Scan at a certified location. Results come by mail. This RAP sheet shows all arrests and convictions on file with the state. Visit oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/record-review for instructions.

Several Live Scan sites operate in and around Berkeley. Shipping stores and fingerprinting services offer appointments. Bring valid photo ID. The fingerprints go electronically to the DOJ. Processing takes 48 to 72 hours for records with no history. Records with arrests or convictions may take longer to review.

Victim Notification Services

Crime victims in Berkeley can track offender custody through VINE California. Register at vinelink.vineapps.com or call 1-877-411-5588. The service sends alerts when an offender is released, transferred, or escapes from custody.

VINE is free and confidential. Choose how you want to receive alerts. Options include phone, email, and text. The service runs 24 hours a day. The offender never knows you signed up. Many victims of violent crimes use VINE for safety planning.

Nearby East Bay Cities

Berkeley sits in the heart of the East Bay. Several neighboring cities have their own police departments with separate arrest records. If the incident happened in another city, contact that jurisdiction. Here are nearby cities with populations over 50,000.

All Alameda County cities use the same jail. Inmates from Berkeley, Oakland, Fremont, and other cities all go to Santa Rita. The county inmate locator searches everyone in custody regardless of which city police made the arrest.

California Arrest Record Resources

The California Department of Justice keeps the statewide criminal history database. You can request your own record through the Record Review process. The DOJ also handles background checks for employment and licensing. Contact them at (916) 227-3849 for questions about state records.

The Megan's Law website shows registered sex offenders in California. Search by name, city, or zip code. The database is public and free. It displays photos and addresses based on registration requirements under Penal Code Section 290.

For automatic record relief information, the DOJ website at oag.ca.gov explains how the state reviews records and grants relief. This program seals old arrests and convictions without requiring petitions from the individual.