Ventura County Arrest Records

Ventura County arrest records are official law enforcement documents relating to the arrest of individuals within the county. Such records are typically generated by the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, city police departments, the California Highway Patrol, and other law enforcement agencies such as the Ventura County Probation Agency and the California State Park Rangers. Generally, Ventura County incarcerates its arrestees (or inmates) at the Ventura County Todd Road Jail or the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility.

Typically, an arrest becomes necessary if there is probable cause to believe that an individual committed a crime, is committing a crime, or is about to commit a crime. If the case proceeds to the court, Ventura County arrest records may become part of Ventura County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Ventura County?

Per the California Public Records Act, Ventura County arrest records are public information and are available on request to anyone who wishes to access them. Nevertheless, California laws exempt sealed and expunged arrest records, arrest records of minors, and records of arrests that did not result in conviction from public access. Also, the personal information of the arrestees and the law enforcement officers who carried out an arrest are exempt from disclosure. In Ventura County, there are no eligibility criteria to access arrest records. However, requesters are required to provide adequate information to locate the arrest records.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Generally, arrest records contain information about individuals who have committed a crime and their specific offenses. A typical Ventura County arrest record information includes:

• Personal information of the arrestee (such as name, age, physical description, and race
• Time, date, and location of arrest)
• Charges against the arrested
• Booking information (including fingerprints and mugshots)
• Bail or Bond Information
• Disposition or outcome of the arrest (this indicates whether the charges were dropped, the individual was convicted or acquitted)
• Details of court appearance if applicable.

Ventura County Crime Rate

The California Department of Justice (DOJ) data show that property-related crimes outrank all other types of crime in Ventura County. Between 2013 and 2022, there were over 146,500 property crime cases in Ventura County compared to 19,092 violent crime cases for the same period. The table below compares the figures for different types of crimes in Ventura County between 2013 and 2022.

Comparison of Different Crime Types in Ventura County from 2013 to 2023

Ventura County Arrest Statistics

According to data from the California Department of Justice, the arrest statistics for Ventura County varied across a four year period. Between 2013 and 2019, misdemeanor crime arrests rose from 19069 to 26,796 cases and decreased from 22,635 to 18,271 between 2020 and 2022. However, felony arrests varied irregularly, and within this period, violent Offenses had the highest occurrence. The table below shows Ventura County arrest statistics between 2013 and 2022.

Ventura County Arrests Statistics 2013 to 2022

Find Ventura County Arrest Records

Several Options are available for persons seeking to access Ventura County arrest records. Ventura County arrest records are available through:

• Ventura Sheriff's Office’s official website
• Ventura County Inmate Information Portal
• Ventura County Jail Roster search page
• Ventura County Superior Court Records Case Information webpage
• Ventura County Superior Court Case Inquiry page.

To access Ventura County through inmate records:

• Visit the Ventura County Sheriff's Office website
• Expand the drop menu, click Inmate Info, and select Inmate Search to access the Inmate Search Portal
• Access inmate information using name or booking number as a search criterion.

Also, interested persons can visit Ventura County jails or use third-party websites with Ventura County inmate databases.

Free Arrest Record Search in Ventura County

To access Ventura County arrest records for free, visit the Ventura County Sheriff's Office Inmate Search and look for inmate records using names and booking numbers as search criteria. Also, some third-party websites may offer access to Ventura County arrest records. In addition, free access to Ventura County arrest records may be available through public records requests at the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. Obtaining hard copies of Ventura County arrest records may involve fee payments.

Get Ventura County Criminal Records

Ventura County criminal records are official documents and files on individuals' criminal activities, prosecutions, and convictions within Ventura County. In Ventura County, criminal records encompass but are not limited to documents and information relating to:

• The circumstances surrounding arrests
• Booking of an arrestee (this includes personal details, fingerprints, mugshots, and charges)
• Court records on arraignment, hearing, trial, and sentencing
• Conviction records if the individual is guilty of the offense
• Probation records (if probation is part of the sentencing)
• Warrant records for the arrest of wanted persons.

Ventura County criminal records are public information, and there are several ways to access them.

Online Access

To access Ventura County criminal records online:

• Visit the Ventura County Superior Court website and navigate to the Case Inquiry page
• Scroll down and expand the Criminal & Traffic Database menu
• Click the Criminal or Traffic Case Inquiries link to access the Online Public Access Portal
• Select Case Information to access the Case Information search page
• Provide the required information to access criminal records.

Public Records Request

• Log in to the Ventura County Case Inquiry page
• Download a Records Request Form
• Fill out the request form, include a check/money order to cover the access fees (as indicated in the form), and mail it to:

Ventura County Superior Court
Attn: Records Department
800 S. Victoria Ave
Ventura, CA 93009

Requesters can also send email requests to RecordsCorrespondence@ventura.courts.ca.gov.

In-person Request for Ventura County criminal records

To request access to Ventura County criminal records in person, visit the Ventura County Superior Court clerk's office at:

Ventura Hall of Justice,
800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009.

Also, copies of criminal arrest records may be available through the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.

Ventura County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

There are distinctions between arrest records and criminal records. In Ventura County (and other California counties), an arrest record outlines the circumstances under which law enforcement takes an individual into custody and charges against the arrestee. In comparison, Ventura County criminal records provide a complete history of an individual's criminal activities and prosecutions within Ventura County. The table below presents some differences between Ventura County arrests and criminal records.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Ventura County, the length of time an arrest stays on a record depends on:

• Nature of the arrest
• The outcome of the case
• Whether the records are sealed or expunged.

An arrest can stay on a record indefinitely if the owner of the record takes no action to seal or expunge it.

Per California Penal Code section 851.8, an individual can request the court to seal their arrest records if they can prove that they are innocent of the charges against them. Also, under Section 1203.4a of the California Penal Code, a defendant can petition the court to expunge their conviction records after they complete their probation. In addition, juvenile records are sealed from public access, or the individual can petition the court to have the records destroyed.

Expunge Ventura County Arrest Records

To have an arrest record expunged in Ventura County, an individual must:

• Prove factual Innocence of the charges
• Complete their sentence or probation if the person is a convict
• Be a minor at the time of committing the crime. In addition, the individual may have to complete probation and avoid subsequent convictions.

The following steps outline how to remove an arrest record in Ventura County.

Arrest with Conviction

• Log in to the California Judicial Branch Self-Help Guide page and download a Petition For Dismissal (CR-180) Form.
• Complete the CR-180 form, including proof of completed sentence, a check/money order to cover the filing fee, and file the petition with the court handling the case.
• Send a copy of the petition to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
• Attend the court hearing for the petition (if the court schedules a hearing)
• If the petition is successful, the court will expunge the arrest record.

Juvenile arrest records

To request for removal of juvenile arrest records in Ventura County

• An individual must be 18 years or older
• Have no adult conviction in addition to the crime committed as a minor
• Complete any penalty or probation imposed by the juvenile court
• Allow for a time lapse between the last involvement with the juvenile court before making a request.

Expungement Process for a Juvenile Arrest Record in Ventura County:

• Visit the California Judicial Branch website, download a Request to Seal Juvenile Records (JV-595), and JV-595-INFO (to read up on how to fill out a JV-595 form)
• Complete the JV-595 form, attach a Proof of Service Form (JV-510) as evidence of the completion of court orders or probation
• File a petition at the Ventura County Juvenile Court
• Serve notice to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office and other agencies involved in juvenile cases within Ventura County.
• Attend any court hearing to review the petition (if the juvenile court mandates one)
• If the petition is successful, the court will issue an order to seal the arrest record.
• The court order will be distributed to relevant agencies to update the records.

Arrest Without Conviction

To expunge Ventura County arrest records when there are no convictions, the affected person must file a petition within two years of the arrest, and the petitioner must not have any subsequent arrest before filing the petition.

Procedures for filing petition:

• Download a Petition to Seal and Destroy Adult Arrest Records (Form BCIA 8270)
• Read and understand the instructions on the BCIA 8270 Form
• Obtain copies of the arrest records from the law enforcement agency responsible for the case
• Gather relevant documents to show the disposition of the case and that there was no conviction
• Fill out the BCIA 8270 Form, attach the supporting documents, and file a petition to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office
• The Sheriff's Office will review the petition and forward it to the California Department of Justice (DOJ)
• The DOJ will grant or deny the petition after the review
• If the Ventura County Sheriff's Office or the DOJ denies the petition, file a new petition to a Ventura County court of competent jurisdiction.
• Attend any hearing on the petition to counter any objections from law enforcement or prosecutors.
• If the petition is successful, the court will order the appropriate agency to destroy the arrest record.
• Send copies of the order to law enforcement and the California Department of Justice.

Ventura County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are documents a judge or magistrate issued to authorize law enforcement to take an individual into custody. In Ventura County, a judge or magistrate of the Superior Court may issue an arrest warrant based on an affidavit by law enforcement that an individual committed a crime, is committing a crime, or is about to commit a crime. Generally, an arrest warrant information includes:

• Name of the wanted person
• Physical description of the intended arrestee
• Charges against the individual
• The conditions for the arrest
• The name of the judge or magistrate who issued the arrest warrants.

A Ventura County Superior Court judge or magistrate may issue an arrest warrant if:

• There is a probable cause for a crime
• There is an affidavit from the law enforcement or prosecutor detailing facts and circumstances about an offense.
• An individual fails to obey Court orders
• There is a violation of the terms of probation or parole
• It will aid an ongoing investigation into a serious crime
• There is an act of domestic violence
• There is an extradition request
• An individual fails to comply with subpoenas.

Ventura County Arrest Warrant Search

To find active arrest warrants in Ventura County, call the Ventura County Sheriff's Office at (805) 654-2380 or visit the office and request information on arrest warrants. Requesters can also contact the Ventura County Superior Court to check for outstanding arrest warrants relating to court orders. Information on Ventura County arrest warrants may also be available through third-party websites that gather public records information from various sources.

Do Ventura County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Ventura County, arrest warrants do not have expiration dates. However, an arrest warrant becomes inactive if:

• The court recalls the warrant
• Law enforcement apprehends the wanted person
• The fugitive dies.