Search Riverside County Records for Free: Warrants, Arrests, Criminal, Court, Marital & More

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Free Riverside County Public Records Search

Access Riverside County Records: marriage, divorce, warrants, arrests, probation, criminal, court, background checks, and all public records.

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Run a free Riverside County public records search today and find information on anyone through databases hosted by official agencies.

While information such as arrests, mugshots, probation information, warrants, criminal history or background check reports, property records, and vital records (death, birth, divorce, or marriage records) are publicly available, figuring out where to look and how to access them can prove tiresome.

To streamline the process, this guide provides searchers with all the necessary resources to find public information on anyone in Riverside County, California, quickly and efficiently.

How To See If Someone Was Arrested in Riverside County California

The California Public Records Act (CPRA) grants public access to all government records within the state–either in paper or electronic format–unless a particular record is legally exempt from disclosure.¹ Public records are made available under this law and include arrest logs and reports.

Riverside County arrest records give a detailed account of a specific incident and include details such as the agency that made the arrest, the time and location of the incident, as well as whether the subject has been detained in a facility or has since been released.

These reports are compiled from law enforcement agencies who made the arrest, such as sheriff or police records. Information from jail records will be listed as well.

Utilize the County Sheriff’s Inmate Information System To Find Riverside County Arrests

When trying to find out if someone is in jail, it is helpful to know an estimation of the time and area where the arrest occurred. A free arrest history lookup is possible by utilizing the inmate information system–a searchable online database or jail roster of inmates held in Riverside County correctional facilities.²

To use this search tool, simply enter the last name of the incarcerated individual along with other optional information such as their first name, gender, and date of birth to help narrow down the search.

Once a search has been performed, a list of recent arrest reports relating to the search criteria will be displayed to browse through. Click on any booking number to be shown the arrestee’s:

• Arresting Agency
• Arrest Date & Time
• Bail Amount
• Booking Date & Time
• Booking Number
• Case Number
• Charge(s)
• Court Type
• Current Facility
• Date of Birth
• Demographic Information (Age, Race, Sex, Height, Weight, Eye & Hair Color)
• Next Court Date
• Release Date

In addition to this free online inmate search, recently released records may be viewed online at no cost.

While the online methods are most efficient and free, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office can be contacted directly to make a request for an arrest report if these electronic options do not turn up the desired results.⁵ Requests for daily arrest reports will come at a nominal fee and can be submitted via electronic record request after creating a free account, by making a verbal request in person at any Riverside County Sheriff patrol stations, or by mailing in a written request to the address below:

Riverside County Sheriff’s Office
Attention: California Public Records Act Unit
4095 Lemon St.
First Floor
Riverside, California 92501

For questions regarding the record request process, the sheriff’s department can be reached by phone at 951.955.2400. Responses will be returned within 10 business days.

Request Arrest Records From City Police Departments

Interested parties can also request arrest reports, find someone’s mugshot and obtain other public records from city or municipal police departments as long as they were the agency that made the arrest or recorded the incident. However, since police departments report arrests to the county, the section above is better suited for finding recent arrests.

While this section is geared towards requesting full arrest reports which can be used to file complaints, for insurance claims, background checks, legal matters, journalism and research and for personal uses.

Many local police agencies allow for records to be requested in person or by mail since most police departments within Riverside County don’t report this information online. The requester will be charged according to the type and number of copies needed.

For example, Murrieta Police Department records can be requested by filling out a form and submitting a copy of identification either by mail or at the police department.

The Murrieta police department’s records division charges members of the public various fees depending on the quantity and type of record or photograph requested. Individuals will receive a response within 10 days of submitting the request form.

Murrieta Police Department
2 Town Square
Murrieta, California 92562
Phone: 951.304.2677
Fax: 951.696.3608
Email: [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The same lies true for other cities in Riverside County and the City of Corona’s even has their own record section or page.

To search for arrest records in other cities within Riverside County, California, individuals can simply type “[city name] police department contact information” into a search engine and find the relevant website, phone number or address.

How To Find Marriage & Divorce Information Through Riverside County Public Records Hosted by the County Recorder

In Riverside County, public marriage and divorce records are available to anyone immediately after the ceremony or finalization.

The best way to check if someone is married is through the county clerk-recorder; this office can provide marriage records for all years in the form of either an informational or authorized copy (only authorized copies can be used for legal purposes).

Riverside County marriage records cost $17 and can be requested online, via mail, by visiting in person, or via drop box, which basically means dropping it off at one of their offices seen below. Individuals who request marriage documents in person will receive them while at the office, while requesters who opt for alternate methods will have the record within approximately a week.

Online requests for marriage records must be accompanied by an electronic identity verification or a sworn statement and notarized certificate and payment made by debit or credit. Certificates will be delivered by mail; expedited shipping is available for an additional $9.20.

In-Person Requests–require the applicant to complete the online application, schedule an appointment at any of the clerk-recorder locations, and then show up to the appointment with a valid form of identification (only necessary for authorized copies) and the appropriate payment by cash, credit, check, or money order.⁶

Mail-In Requests— require the requester to download and complete the Marriage Certificate Application, get it notarized, make out a check or money order to the “Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder” for $17 per certificate, and mail all of the above to the clerk-recorder.

Riverside County Clerk-Recorder
PO Box 751
Riverside, California 92501 – 0751

Drop Box Requests–may be made by completing the Marriage Certificate Application, having it notarized, writing a check or money order out to the “Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder” and depositing each of these items into a drop box at any of the clerk-recorder locations throughout Riverside County.⁶

Aside from the county custodians, the California Department of Health Vital Records Bureau offers certified marriage records for $17 per copy.

Note, some marriage certificates are confidential and will not be disclosed to members of the public.

Riverside County divorce records cannot be obtained through the county clerk recorder and instead should be requested via the Riverside County Family Law Court by either browsing the public access portal for non-certified records or submitting a request for certified copies.⁸

Non-certified divorce records can be found electronically through the portal and downloaded if the case number is known; this costs $1 per page (pages 1-5) and then $0.50 per page beyond the first 5 pages of a document (maximum charge of $50 per document).

A certified divorce decree costs $15, but the record search, postage, and copy fees will cost more if needed.

A certificate of record confirms that the divorce was finalized and can be obtained for $16 per copy through the California Department of Health Vital Records Bureau.

As they’re a part of Riverside County public records, divorce or marriage details can also be accessed through third-party sites, which can be very helpful in providing broad results via a nationwide record check rather than being limited to a search of just the county or state.

These services will also be able to check for aliases and assist with finding records that are not publicly accessible.

As a last resort, if marriage records cannot be tracked down through the previously mentioned options, searchers could try reaching out to churches in the area where the marriage ceremony was held to see if they might still have documentation or records. This could also be useful to individuals tracing genealogy or for research purposes.

How To Determine If Someone Has a Criminal History in Riverside County California

Criminal records–comprehensive reports of a subject’s arrests, charges, convictions, pending court matters, and sentencing information–are publicly available through local law enforcement agencies and the court system.

Use the Riverside County Superior Court To Access Criminal Cases

A free criminal record check of all criminal court case records can be performed electronically via the Public Access portal maintained by the Riverside County Superior Court.^{9, 10} Case records pertaining to criminal proceedings are available in the following date ranges:

• Riverside County Misdemeanors: January 1994 to Now
  Riverside County Felonies: January 1990 to Now

Searches by case number are free and publicly accessible, as is the criminal court calendar of upcoming court dates.

Name-based searches through the Public Access database cost:

• $1 Per Name Search
• $3.50 Per 5 Name Searches (If Purchased Simultaneously)
• $5 Per 10 Name Searches (If Purchased Simultaneously)
• $25 Per 75 Name Searches (If Purchased Simultaneously)
• $250 Per Unlimited Name Search Pass For One Month (If Purchased Simultaneously)

Interested parties can order criminal case records for a fee of $1 per page (pages 1-5) and $0.50 per additional page, maxed out at $50 for each case document.

Criminal case documents may also be purchased in person at any of the criminal courts in Riverside County:

Banning Justice Center
311 East Ramsey St.
Banning, California 92220
Clerk Phone: 951.777.3147
Hours: Weekdays 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Blythe Courthouse
265 North Broadway
Blythe, California 92225
Clerk Phone: 760.393.2617
Hours: Weekdays 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Larson Justice Center
46 – 200 Oasis St.
Indio, California 92201
Clerk Phone: 760.393.2617
Hours: Weekdays 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Riverside Hall of Justice
4100 Main St.
Riverside, California 92501
Clerk Phone: 951.777.3147
Hours: Weekdays 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Southwest Justice Center
30755 – D Auld Rd.
Murrieta, California 92563
Clerk Phone: 951.777.3147
Hours: Weekdays 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Retrieve Criminal Records From Local Law Enforcement Agencies in Riverside County California

Searchers can also find Riverside County criminal records through local law enforcement agencies such as the sheriff’s office and city police departments throughout the county.

For example, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office accepts requests for public records containing criminal history details electronically, in person at patrol station locations, or by mail at the following address:⁵

Riverside County Sheriff’s Office
Attention: California Public Records Act Unit
4095 Lemon St.
First Floor
Riverside, California 92501

Although the previously mentioned criminal reports will come at a small fee, interested parties can opt for a free search of the inmate information system to find a Riverside County jail inmate’s criminal case number, charges, facility, and other relevant details.²

Police reports could also be very useful in gaining insight into a subject’s criminal history; these records are disbursed from city police departments themselves and can be found by typing “[city name] California police department records” into a search engine and finding the appropriate agency and request procedures.

If police records, arrest information, local criminal history reports, or even other public information like warrants, court records, or property ownership details are needed from neighboring counties, searchers can use our California free public record resource to find the best process and custodian to go through to request each record type.

How To Find California Criminal Records via CA State Resources

In addition to county-level custodians, state resources and custodians can be especially beneficial in the search for criminal records.

In the state of California, the option to look up someone’s criminal record is prohibited unless it’s your own–with the exception of authorized law enforcement agencies, the attorney general, and specific pre-approved entities (such as for employment or licensing).

A Criminal History Report Application can be submitted for oneself through the California Department of Justice (DOJ)–California’s primary criminal record repository–but access to other California criminal records will be denied.^{11, 12}

To acquire your own criminal history information from the DOJ, fingerprints should be completed at any live scan fingerprinting sites (fees for fingerprinting vary by location), and applicants will need to pay a separate $25 processing fee to the DOJ.

Individuals searching for someone else’s criminal history can utilize the following state and federal resources since the DOJ will not provide this information to the general public.

The California Megan’s Law website is the state’s public sex offender registry and can be searched by name or address within a 10-mile radius. Profiles of offenders display sex crime information, including:

• Aliases
• Date of Birth
• Demographics (Eye & Hair Color, Height, Weight, Sex & Ethnicity)
• Last Reported Address
• Mugshot
• Offense Code
• Offense Description
• Offender Name
• Risk Assessment
• Physical Descriptors (i.e., Scars & Tattoos)
• Year of Last Conviction
• Year of Last Release

The California Department of Corrections’ CDCR inmate locator is searchable by last name or CDCR number and shows inmates incarcerated in state prisons. Users can search this database for free for each inmate’s details, including their full name, age, CDCR number, facility, and parole eligibility if applicable.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) offers a free-to-use inmate search–a public index of inmates in federal facilities; this tool can be browsed by name or BOP number and indicates each inmate’s age, full name, BOP register number, race, sex, and date of release (if applicable).

The National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) is similar to the California Megan’s Law website but is a database of sex offenders nationwide rather than being restricted to California alone. This registry can be searched by either the offender’s name or location.¹⁷

How To Perform a Background Check in Riverside County (California)

In California, background checks are very beneficial in investigating an individual’s history and can be performed for both personal and professional purposes.

Depending on the reason for the check, the subject may need to be notified and give their written permission for the background check before it can be conducted. A synopsis of the requirements and intricacies of each type of background check can be found below.

Personal Background Checks:

• Useful for looking into colleagues, potential dates, or new neighbors
• Do not necessitate the subject’s permission or even knowledge
• Cannot be used to intimidate, harass or stalk anyone
• Can be conducted by collecting information gleaned from public records such as arrest reports, criminal history, warrant or probation details, records of court case proceedings, or by utilizing third-party sites that can run a quick and low-cost search and provide results on a national level–including information not readily available in public records

Professional Background Checks:

• Aid in decision-making for employment, residency, licensing, security clearance, and other positions or applications
• Provide comprehensive details on the subject’s past, including their education, employment, detainments, convictions, and court cases
• Require written permission from the subject of the check in advance
• Information gleaned from the background check can be disputed by the subject
• Must abide by laws regarding background checks at both the federal and state levels:
  • The Fair Chance Act ensures that employers do not inquire about an applicant, trainee, or employee’s criminal past before offering the job; employees are able to go through the complaint process with the California Civil Rights Department if they have been discriminated against in the workplace
  • The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) prohibits workplace discrimination relating to gender, disabilities, ethnicity, religious beliefs, and other traits; applicants or employees can file a charge of employment discrimination with the EEOC if needed.
  • The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) works to protect consumer information from false, misleading, or inaccurate reporting; individuals may report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) if their rights have been violated.
  • Both the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and State Labor Offices can assist Riverside County, California residents who have experienced employment discrimination.
• Available in two notable forms: Name-based background checks (considered “Level 1”) and fingerprint-based checks run through the FBI’s national database for more accurate verification (often referred to as a “Level 2 background check”)

Riverside County does not provide local background checks, and state-level checks cannot be obtained by members of the public. However, state background checks may be requested–by authorized agencies only–through the California Department of Justice (DOJ).

Fingerprint Background Checks are available via the DOJ as both Level 1 and Level 2 checks; while Level 1 checks are usually name-based, background checks performed by fingerprint verification through the California DOJ are considered Level 1, while fingerprints that are forwarded to the FBI constitute a Level 2 background check. The DOJ will send prints to the FBI for a national database match if requested through authorized agencies or employers.

Level 1 Background Checks–can be done via the DOJ, the agency or employer must provide the applicant with a BCIA 8016 Form to be filled out before the individual visits any Riverside County LiveScan fingerprinting locations to have their prints taken on an official card and sent electronically to the DOJ.

A report of the findings will be sent to the agency that initiated the background check within 72 hours.

Level 2 Background Checks–will be completed in a similar fashion, except the DOJ will forward images of the fingerprints to the FBI for a more comprehensive check against the national criminal history database. The FBI will return a report of all findings to the DOJ, which will notify the requesting agency of the results.

How To Look Up Arrest Warrants in Riverside County

In Riverside County, public records include search, arrest, and bench warrants. There are a couple of ways to determine if someone has a warrant in this county.

First, although they don’t offer an online warrant search tool, the Information Services Bureau of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office can provide information on outstanding warrants either in person or by phone.

Riverside County Sheriff’s Office –– Information Services Bureau
4095 Lemon St.
Fifth Floor
Riverside, California 92501
Warrant Information: 951.955.2430
General Inquiries: 951.955.2400
Hours of Operation: Weekdays 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The county clerk can also provide assistance to members of the public seeking information on active warrants. Contact the clerk by phone at 951.486.7000 Monday-Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or stop into any county clerk office locations throughout Riverside County during these hours.

Lastly, individuals who are worried they themselves may have an outstanding warrant could opt to request their own criminal record from the Department of Justice as these reports display current warrants.¹¹ The fee for ordering one’s own criminal history report is $25, plus a variable fee for having Live Scan Fingerprints taken.

How To Tell Determine If Someone Is on Probation in Riverside County

To access information on probation (release from jail to living and working in the community under supervision), a free public records search can be performed via the Riverside County Probation Custodian of Records.

However, the catch is that this custodian requires a written request for probation records along with a subpoena duces tecum–meaning a court-ordered written command for the document to be disclosed. Members of the public will not be granted probation records without this document.

Individuals who obtain a subpoena duces tecum and submit their written request for probation information to the county probation record custodian can expect a response within 5 days for requests regarding criminal matters or 15 days for requests involving civil cases.

Probation record requests can be submitted by mail, email, or fax by referencing the contact information below:

Riverside County Probation Custodian of Records

Physical Address:
3960 Orange St.
Ste. 600
Riverside, California 92501
Phone: 951.955.2830

Mailing Address:
4075 Main St.
Ste. 200
Riverside, California 92507
Fax – 951.358.7808
Email – [email protected]

Interested parties could also contact or visit any Riverside County probation office locations for general questions pertaining to probation any weekday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., excluding holidays.

As a final option, case information, including probation details, can also be viewed via the Riverside Superior Court Public Access portal, which is searchable by case number and includes records for both criminal and traffic cases.¹⁹

How To Find & Obtain Court Records in Riverside County

California’s court system is the largest in the United States and is composed of the 58 trial or Superior Courts in each county, the Courts of Appeal, and the State of California Supreme Court, which is the state court with the highest authority.

Riverside County public records include case documents and records from each level of the court system, but the fees and methods of accessing Riverside County judicial records vary between courts.

Electronic Riverside County court records are conveniently accessible online to save a trip to the courthouse. Online court case records available through this resource include documents from the county’s criminal, traffic, civil, family law, and probate courts.

Riverside County case searches are free except for name searches, which come at a nominal fee. While searches by case number or simply viewing court dates costs the user nothing, a nominal charge will be assessed for court documents that are downloaded. Users must create a free account to utilize this feature.

Fees for downloading document images from the Public Access database:

• Pages 1-5: $1 Each
• Pages 6 and Beyond: $0.50 Each
• Maximum Cost: $50 Per Document

Copies of court records may also be requested in person from any of the 14 courthouses of the Riverside Superior Court. Individuals can view the courthouse directory and locations for contact information and addresses for each courthouse throughout the county. Copies of case documents will come at a nominal fee.

The Judicial Branch of California offers free public access to court electronic records unless a record has been made confidential by court order.

Riverside County is under the jurisdiction of the 2nd Division of the 4th District Court of Appeals, which typically hears cases reviewing Superior Court decisions that were disputed by one or both parties of the case; the appellate case search can be browsed by party, attorney, case caption (such as Henry vs. Johnson), or case number.²⁰

Appellate self-help guides can be helpful in navigating certain aspects of the court system and searches without having to pay the usual 4th Appellate Court fees.

Lastly, the California Supreme Court docket search lets users search for cases heard by the highest court in the state. Searches can be performed by case name, docket number, or party name.²²

How To Retrieve Birth & Death Certificates in Riverside County

Aside from marriage and divorce records, certificates of birth and death are also considered vital records and are publicly accessible under certain circumstances.

Anyone can request informational records, but authorized certificates will only be granted to immediate family members, legal representatives, or individuals who have court-ordered permission to access the record.

Birth records cost $32, while each copy of death records costs $24.

For births or deaths that occurred this year or the previous year, individuals can obtain these records from the Riverside County Office of Vital Records 8 days after a death occurs or 21 days after birth.

Riverside County Vital Records Office
4065 County Circle Dr.
Ste. 102
Riverside, California 92503
Phone: 951.955.6200
Email: [email protected]
Hours: Weekdays 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Vital records from previous years (dating back to 1893) are obtainable in person or via mail, drop box, or online request through the county clerk-recorder.

Electronic requests require either an electronic identity verification or a sworn statement and notarized certificate with the appropriate debit or credit card payment. Records will be delivered by mail.

In-Person Requests–may be made by appointment at any clerk-recorder locations; before arriving at the appointment, requesters should download and fill out either an Application for Certified Death Record or Birth Certificate Application and bring the form along with proper identification (if desiring authorized copies) and the proper fee payment (by cash, check, credit card or money order).⁶

Mail Requests–can be made if the application is completed and notarized, then sent to the clerk-recorder’s office along with a money order or check to the “Riverside Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder.”

Riverside County Clerk-Recorder
PO Box 751
Riverside, California 92501 – 0751

Birth and death certificate requests could also be left in the drop box of any Riverside County Clerk-Recorder locations as long as the relevant application (above) is notarized in advance and accompanied by a money order or check.⁶

Requesters will receive their records–if available–within 4-6 weeks of the request.

Certified copies of birth records and certified death certificates can also be requested and obtained via the California Department of Public Health Vital Records Bureau for $29 (birth certificates) and $24 (death certificates).

Searchers having trouble tracking down a particular vital record could recruit the assistance of a third-party platform to help find a document or certificate, though these will not be official copies.

How To View Property Information & Property Tax Records in Riverside County California

Property information and land maps are public records in Riverside County and are hosted by the Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder, as the Assessor is the custodian of property documents.²³

Although ownership information is only available in person at the office of the Assessor, the property search and the assessor maps are both free to use and viewable online.^{24, 25}

Hard copies of parcel maps can be purchased from the Assessor by mail for $7 each. A written request, accompanied by a return address and money order or check made out to the “Riverside County Assessor” can be mailed to:

Riverside County Assessor
PO Box 751
Riverside, California 92502 – 0751

Since land ownership is not fully accessible electronically, members of the public who are interested in property records can visit any of the Riverside County locations to view the Assessor’s land ownership information, such as owner names, addresses, and parcel numbers.

Riverside County public records come in many types and from several resources and custodians: court records can be found through the court record search, property information via the county assessor, background checks from the DOJ, and Riverside County bookings through the sheriff’s office.^{23, 2, 5}