Search Berkeley Background Check Records

Background check services in Berkeley are handled by the Berkeley Police Department and Alameda County courts. This East Bay city has its own police force serving over 120,000 residents.

Alameda County Handles Berkeley Court Records

Berkeley is located in Alameda County in the East Bay. All criminal court cases for Berkeley residents are filed in Alameda County Superior Court. The county has courthouses in Oakland and other cities. Court records for Berkeley cases go through this county system.

Alameda County has the Odyssey Portal for online case searches. Visit publicportal.alameda.courts.ca.gov to look up criminal cases. You can search by defendant name or case number. Basic info is free. Getting copies of documents requires a request to the clerk with fees. Contact the court at portal@alameda.courts.ca.gov for help.

The Alameda County Sheriff handles records for unincorporated areas and provides county wide services. Their records section is open Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. The sheriff may also offer Live Scan services as an option for Berkeley residents.

Live Scan Fingerprinting in Berkeley

The Berkeley Police Department may offer Live Scan services. Contact them directly to confirm what public fingerprinting options they have. Not all city police departments provide this service to walk-in customers. Some only do prints for specific permit applications or their own purposes.

If Berkeley PD does not meet your needs, try the DOJ Live Scan locator. Enter your Berkeley zip code at oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations. The tool shows all certified operators nearby. Private sites in the East Bay offer convenient hours and competitive prices.

Rolling fees at East Bay Live Scan sites typically range from $20 to $40. The state DOJ fee is $32 and the FBI fee is $17 on top of that. A full background check with both state and federal runs around $70 to $90 depending on where you go. Compare prices at a few sites before booking.

How to Get Your Background Check Records

California residents can request their own criminal record through a DOJ Record Review. This costs $25 to the state plus the rolling fee at your Live Scan site. Fill out form BCIA 8016RR and bring it to any certified operator. Mark Record Review as your application type. Results typically come back within 3 days.

For Alameda County court records, use the online portal first to find your case. Note the case number and parties involved. Then request copies from the court clerk. You can go to the courthouse in person or mail your request. Standard copy fees apply. Certified copies cost $40.

Police reports from Berkeley PD require a separate request. The records division handles incident reports, arrest reports, and other police documents. Some reports are public record. Others have restrictions on who can access them. Contact Berkeley PD for their specific records request process.

Background Check Processing Times

Live Scan checks from Berkeley get sent electronically to the state DOJ in Sacramento. Processing is quick when there is no record match. Most clear checks finish in 48 to 72 hours. The system handles these automatically without any human review needed.

When prints match existing records in the database, a DOJ technician must review the file. This manual process adds time. Complex records with many entries take longer than simple ones. Most checks still complete within one to two weeks even with records to review.

Track your background check at applicantstatus.doj.ca.gov using your ATI number. This number comes from your Live Scan receipt. The status portal shows where your request is in the process. Call (916) 210-2300 if you need help from DOJ customer support.

Berkeley Background Check Fees

State fees for background checks are set by California law. The DOJ charges $32 for a state criminal history check. The FBI charges $17 for a federal check. These fees are the same no matter where you get fingerprinted. You pay them at your Live Scan appointment.

Rolling fees vary by operator. Private sites set their own prices. Government locations like sheriff offices tend to have set fees. In the East Bay area, expect rolling fees from $20 to $40 at most sites. Some charge additional service fees. Ask for the total before your appointment.

Alameda County court fees follow the standard California schedule. Online searches are free. Paper copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $40 per document. Research fees may apply if you need a clerk to search for records. Call ahead for an estimate.

Legal Resources in Berkeley

The Alameda County Bar Association has a lawyer referral program. Berkeley residents can get connected with attorneys who handle criminal record matters. This includes expungement petitions and record sealing requests. First consultations are usually available for a small fee.

Bay Area Legal Aid serves low income residents of Alameda County including Berkeley. They may help with record relief cases at no charge for qualifying individuals. Income limits apply. The California Courts self-help website at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov has free forms and guides too.

UC Berkeley School of Law runs clinics that sometimes help with criminal records. Check if their clinics are accepting cases. Law school clinics provide free or low cost legal help under attorney supervision. This is another option for Berkeley residents who need assistance.

Nearby Cities

These East Bay cities over 100,000 are near Berkeley.