Official Government Sources
California Public Records Directory
All links go directly to official California government websites.
California Court Records
California Criminal and Civil Courts
Access the California judicial branch for the general public, self help and law professionals. Information about cases h
California Criminal Courts and Cases
Information about criminal cases, types of cases and how to clean up a criminal record. Trials involving felonies with s
California Courts Official Forms
State Judicial directory of statutory forms, latest changes regarding specific forms, publishers and rules of court. Sea
California Judicial Administrative Records
Public access to records maintained by the state's appellate hearings and trials, judicial council and the administrativ
California Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal Calendar
View a current list of upcoming calendared recent and pending oral arguments. First to sixth appellate courts and the st
California Appellate Courts Case Information System
Updated case information for the supreme and appellate courts. Searches of records can be conducted by party name, case
California Judgments and Liens
Find judgments and liens of individuals in California.
Uniform Commercial Code Filings and Searches
Access the UCC online services to search filings using the secretary of state's online public databases. View financing
California Bankruptcy Search
Conduct a bankruptcy search through public records to find individual or corporate bankruptcy filings.
California Judicial Branch Self Help Center
Online resources when filing and representing yourself. Public assistance with being sued or suing another party, collec
California Tax Law Look Up
Online access to the California revenue and tax codes. Find the latest tax law changes for businesses and residents, par
California State Cases
State of California case information, pending issues, case summaries, calendars of upcoming hearings, briefs, minutes an
General Records
California Criminal Self Service Center
How to see or get a copy of records from criminal cases.
California Department of Justice Background Checks
Background criminal record searches of individuals as a pre-employment requirement, fingerprinting, foreign adoptions, l
California Inmate Locator
Locate inmates held in California correctional facilities. Obtain an inmate's contact information including the current
California Sex Offenders
Information provided by criminal justice departments and local police agencies. Daily updated list of persons required t
California Wanted Alerts
Search for fugitives wanted by the California department of Corrections. The state's wanted person's online database to
California Criminal History Request and Review
Information of arrests and convictions in California
California Criminal Record Expungements
Information and resources to assist in expunging criminal records state and nationwide.
California Highway Patrol
Look up current arrests, CIG alerts (radio stations broadcast of warnings regarding unusual or hazardous traffic conditi
California Department of Fish and Game
Fishing licenses, hunting licenses and more.
California Attorney General
California office of the attorney general.
Commission On Peace Officer Standards and Training
California law enforcement training academy and more.
California County Sheriff Arrest Reports
Directory to county Sheriff offices and reports in California.
California Property Records
Obtain property tax info by contacting the county assessor.
Individual and Business Unclaimed Property Search
Database of unclaimed property reported by various financial institutions, insurance companies, corporations and associa
California Business, Corporation, LLC and LLP Search
Information for corporations, limited liability companies and limited partnerships of record with the California Secreta
California Professional Licenses
Look up and verify professional licenses.
California Official Document Search by Agency
Search Records By individual agencies throughout the state of California. Open access to California state clerks, office
California Business Filings By Name
Search Corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership names and foreign name registrations
State of California Professional License Online Verification
Search all professions in California from accountants to vocational nurses and view status of an individual's or firm's
California Secretary of State Archives
Local and state government recorded historic events. Records are compiled by state agencies, state Supreme and Appellate
Obtaining Certified Copies of Death Records
Online resource for requesting California death records.
California Death Records Registrar All Counties
Local county registrar recorder of deaths
California Death Row
Information from a non-profit resource about California death row inmates.
California Vital Records
Request birth and death certificates, marriage records and divorce filings in California.
California DMV Records
Access online forms from the state DMV to request a drivers license, complete registration and more.
California Genealogy Records
Conduct an online search of historical data and event occurring in the state of California. Find documents by keyword, p
California Lawyer Lookup
Search the state bar of California list of lawyers and find profile information of education background , disciplinary a
California Missing Persons
Search the state database of missing people my name, location, suspects, and more.
California Missing and Exploited Children
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provides a comprehensive statewide and national list of family abduct
California Digital Newspaper Search
Freely accessible repository of digitized California newspapers from 1846 to the present of 59,769 issues comprising 533
California Public and Private School Directory
Listings of all state schools, public and private, nonpublic nonsectarian schools, school districts and education county
California State University Directories
Find a campus in the state university system. Information of 23 campuses, locate and find any of the 44 thousand faculty
University of California Campuses and System
Find any of the 10 UC schools across the state. Find out details about admissions and help with getting started. Transfe
California Teacher's Credentials and Certificates
Look up an educator with credentials to teach in California. Official commission on teacher credentialing provides a fre
Escrow Agents Disciplinary Actions Background Search
View a list of persons that have been disciplined and suspended or barred under the Financial Code by the Department of
California Secretary of State Elections and Voter Information
Look up voter registrations statewide. Find information for both state and local ballots, polling locations in your area
California State Board of Equalization Sales and Use Taxes
State taxes for individuals and companies, fees, business permits, forms and filing returns, making payments and tax inf
California State Employee Directory
Search names of persons employed by the state of California by their full or partial name in all its agencies and depart
California Constitution and Statutes Law Finder
Open public access to look up current California state laws including all 29 codes and statutes online. Directory of bus
Directory of California State Government Agencies
Contact information and web site links, director's names and telephone numbers to all of the California state agencies.
Financial Institutions Operating in California
Check information of banks, credit unions, trust companies, money transmitters commercial, industrial and foreign banks.
California Publicly Traded Company Search
Access online publicly traded disclosure statements filed with the secretary of state. Conduct a search by corporation n
California Demographics and Population Census Information
U.S. Census collected data about the state of California residents and geography. Look up statistics and information of
California Finance and Demographic Information
Look up the demographic data for state budgeting and planning from official sources. Report and periodical data of lates
California State Public Library Online
Services for the general public, teachers and students. Online digital newspaper collections of over six million article
California Government Record Requests
Reports of from the state's various agencies, departments and offices regarding business and labor, crime and courts, de
California Energy Commission Public Records
Index of services from the state's energy commission and data research. Access divisions of electricity's reports and se
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Information on the latest major incidents. Accessing public records not exempt from disclosure under the Public Records
California Visitors Information
Look up popular destinations, the state's art and culture. Find helpful travel tools that provide free online maps index
Directory to California Lobbyists Information
Find Lobbying individuals, employers and firms. See who are the state's lobbyists, how much are spent on their lobby and
California Employment Development Department Job Listings
Search the state's official site for employment openings in various industries. Job seekers can post a resume, browse li
California Apprenticeship Program Search
The state's department of industrial relations offers Californian's a listing of registered program sponsors from variou
California Protected Land and Areas Database
Access the National Conservation Easement Database and a GIS list of all of 49 million protected acres of open space and
Contractor's State License Board Check
Verify an individual's or a business contractor's license or the registration of a Home Improvement Salesperson (HIS). S
California State Contracts Index
Look up current contract service descriptions, start and end dates, contract administrator contact information and other
California Insurance Companies Consumer Data
The California Department of Insurance provides the public information of insurance companies, agents, brokers and other
Public Auctions and Bidder Information
Tax defaulted land public caution location and sale date calendar. Instructions of how to participate, list of propertie
California Adoption Agencies
Search the state's directory to California adoption agencies. Financial assistance and medical coverage programs offered
California Nursing Home Check
Find out about a particular nursing home administrator and view certification and verifications. Other sources include c
Air Quality Check and Data
Look up the quality of air across the state of California and view measurements in twenty four hour periods, trend and s
California Statewide Online Maps
Find resources of information from county data to state offices using online maps. Locate facilities across the state. G
California Title and Escrow Search
Housing and Community Development online title and escrow search. Public search of manufactured homes, mobile homes, com
California Mobile Home and RV Parks Search
Find information about active and inactive mobile home parks in California. Locate information by county, complete list
California Building Codes and Laws
Residential, school, hospital and construction codes. See laws pertaining to access compliance, official codes and polic
California Veteran Benefits Documents and Directories
Look up services, overview of benefits and programs offered to veterans and their families residing in California. List
California Land Use Restrictions
Check sites in California with land use restrictions. Search results reveal area address, site type, status and date whe
Check California Water Quality
See where it is safe to swim from anywhere as listed by the California Water Quality Monitoring Council. View beach clos
Department of Justice Records for Visa or Immigration Applications
Live scan of electronic submissions and locations throughout California. Steps to take in manual fingerprinting card sub
Frequently Asked Questions
About California Public Records
What is included in a California background check?
In California, background checks are governed by the California Public Records Act (CPRA) (California Government Code § 7920.000 - § 7931.000 (recodified January 1, 2023)). They may include criminal history, sex offender status, court filings, arrest records, and vital statistics. Agencies must respond within 10 calendar days to respond. The law is administered by California Attorney General's Office, (916) 210-6276; California State Auditor for state-agency disputes.
Where can I find police reports in California?
Police reports in California are public records under the California Public Records Act (CPRA). Submit your request to the agency that generated the report. Who may request: Any person - no residency requirement; however, state prison. Response deadline: 10 calendar days to respond. If access is denied, you may appeal to district or circuit court. Under the California Public Records Act (Cal. Gov. Code § 6250), most incident and accident reports become public after the investigation is closed. Requests can be submitted to the records division of the reporting agency. The California Department of Justice (DOJ) handles reports generated by state troopers; local police departments and county sheriff offices handle their own reports. Allow 5-10 business days for standard requests; fees typically range from $5-$25 per report.
What are the procedures to obtain California vital records, and what is included in those records with address, not URLs?
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce) in California are maintained by the state Department of Health or Vital Statistics. Standard fees: Direct cost of duplication only (no staff time charges for most requests); elect. Certified copies carry separate fee schedules. Fee waivers may be available for journalists, nonprofits, and public-interest requesters - always ask.
What is the school district and performance data for California?
California's performance data for school districts is gathered by the California Department of Education (CDE). This data includes statewide standardized test results, graduation rates, English learner progress, suspension rates, college and career readiness metrics, English learner reclassification rates, and MyData portal access, as well as a variety of measures related to early learning, school spending and staffing. The CDE also provides a detailed online report card for each school district which includes detailed data from the California School Dashboard, which includes statewide and district specific performance data over a range of subjects, including English learner achievement, college and career readiness, suspension rates, English learners reclassification rates, and many more.
What is the crime statistics for California?
California crime statistics are published by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) at oag.ca.gov and through the FBI UCR program. The CA DOJ publishes an annual Crime in California report. In 2022, California reported a violent crime rate of approximately 500 per 100,000 residents. Local data is available through the CA DOJ OpenJustice portal at openjustice.doj.ca.gov. Major cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego publish live crime dashboards.
If I get arrested in California where would I go to jail and court? include address.
If arrested in California, you would be taken to the local county jail. Court appearances are scheduled in the county where the arrest occurred. Under the California Public Records Act (CPRA), arrest records and booking information are generally public. Oversight: California Attorney General's Office, (916) 210-6276; California State Auditor for state-agency disputes. Appeals go to district or circuit court.
Can I find Public records in California State Library?
Yes. California state and public libraries provide access to public records databases. The California Public Records Act (CPRA) (California Government Code § 7920.000 - § 7931.000 (recodified January 1, 2023)) guarantees public access to government documents. Many libraries offer free access to LexisNexis, court records portals, and vital record indexes.
Where is the California State Library located?
The California State Library is located in Sacramento, California. It is located at 900 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. The library maintains public access to government records, historical archives, genealogy databases, and legal research tools. Under the California Public Records Act (Cal. Gov. Code § 6250), California residents may request government documents through the state library's reference services. Collections include census records, land patents, vital statistics indexes, and digitized newspapers. Most state library services are free to California residents. Contact the library by phone or visit the official CA state library website for research guides and online catalog access.
California State fingerprinting office
California fingerprinting services for background checks are managed by the California Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Criminal Information & Analysis. Live Scan fingerprinting is required for most California employment and licensing purposes. Live Scan sites operate statewide at police stations, libraries, courthouses, and private vendors - find locations at oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations. For federal background checks, IdentoGO operates California locations - schedule at identogo.com.