San Francisco Background Check Records

San Francisco is both a city and county combined into one government. Background check records are available through the Superior Court and sheriff department. With about 870,000 residents, it is one of the most densely populated places in California. Court records can be accessed through their criminal division. This guide shows how to find and obtain criminal records in San Francisco.

San Francisco Superior Court Criminal Records

San Francisco Superior Court has information about obtaining criminal records on their website. Visit the court criminal records page to learn about the process. The court handles all criminal cases that occur within San Francisco city limits.

Certificates of criminal records cost $40 per court number. Contact the court at (415) 551-0651 for questions. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. You can request records in person at the courthouse or by mail with the proper forms and payment.

Criminal records are public in California unless sealed by court order. San Francisco follows state law on record access. Anyone can request to view public criminal records. You do not need to be a party to the case. Sealed records and juvenile matters are not accessible to the public.

Live Scan Services in San Francisco

San Francisco has several options for Live Scan fingerprinting. The sheriff department and police department may offer services. Private Live Scan operators are also located throughout the city. Given the small geographic size, any location is fairly easy to reach by transit or car.

Use the DOJ Live Scan locator to find sites in San Francisco. Enter the zip code 94102 or nearby to see all options. The tool shows addresses, phone numbers, and hours for each location. Some are in office buildings downtown. Others are in neighborhood locations.

Rolling fees in San Francisco range from about $25 to $50 depending on the provider. Government offices may have lower fees than private operators. On top of the rolling fee, you pay $32 for state DOJ and $17 for FBI records. Total costs typically run $75 to $100 for a complete background check.

Note: San Francisco has high demand for background checks due to its large professional workforce.

San Francisco Sheriff Department

The San Francisco Sheriff Department handles county jail operations and court security. They also maintain some records related to arrests and bookings. For police reports and most criminal history, the San Francisco Police Department is the primary agency.

The two departments work together but have separate functions. If you need a police report, contact SFPD. If you need jail or custody records, contact the sheriff. Both can point you in the right direction if you are not sure where to go for what you need.

Background Check Fees in San Francisco

Fees for background checks in San Francisco follow state guidelines plus local charges. The DOJ fee is $32. The FBI fee is $17. Rolling fees at Live Scan sites range from $25 to $50 in the city.

Court record fees are standard for California. Certificates cost $40 per court number. Copies are charged by the page at the clerk window. Certified copies have higher fees than regular copies. Contact the clerk for exact pricing on specific documents you need.

Nearby California Counties

San Francisco sits at the tip of a peninsula surrounded by water on three sides. Only one county shares a land border. Other Bay Area counties are accessible by bridge.

The only land neighbor is San Mateo County to the south. Across the bay to the east are Alameda County and Contra Costa County. Marin County is across the Golden Gate Bridge to the north.

San Francisco City and County

San Francisco is unique in California as a combined city and county. There is only one jurisdiction here. All criminal cases are handled by San Francisco Superior Court. All local law enforcement is by SFPD and the sheriff.