Arrest records are public in Ventura, California, pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Government Code § 6250-6270). This legislation establishes the public's right to access government records, including arrest information maintained by law enforcement agencies within Ventura County. The California Public Records Act mandates that all government records shall be disclosed to the public upon request, unless there is a specific exemption that prohibits such disclosure.
Certain arrest records may be exempt from public disclosure under specific circumstances as outlined in Government Code § 6254, including:
Members of the public seeking arrest records should be aware that while these records are generally accessible, certain information within them may be redacted to protect privacy interests or comply with other legal restrictions.
The Ventura County criminal justice system maintains multiple channels through which members of the public may access arrest records. Individuals seeking arrest information have several options available:
The Ventura County Sheriff's Office and Ventura Police Department maintain digital databases that allow for public access to arrest information. These online systems permit searches by:
Online access is available 24 hours per day through the Ventura Police Department Records Division and may require registration or payment of nominal fees for certain detailed reports.
Individuals may obtain arrest records by visiting the following agencies in person:
Ventura Police Department Records Division
1425 Dowell Drive
Ventura, CA 93003
(805) 339-4400
Ventura Police Department
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Ventura County Sheriff's Office Records Division
800 South Victoria Avenue
Ventura, CA 93009
(805) 654-2380
Ventura County Sheriff's Office
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Arrest records that have resulted in court proceedings may be accessed through:
Ventura County Superior Court
Hall of Justice
800 South Victoria Avenue
Ventura, CA 93009
(805) 289-8900
Ventura County Superior Court
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
The Criminal-Traffic Public Window at the Ventura Courthouse provides access to criminal case information related to arrests within the county.
Arrest records maintained by Ventura County law enforcement agencies typically contain comprehensive information about the arrest event and the individual taken into custody. Standard arrest records include the following elements:
Pursuant to California law, certain sensitive information may be redacted from public arrest records, including:
California law provides mechanisms through which eligible individuals may petition for the expungement of arrest records in Ventura County. Expungement is the legal process that removes arrests and certain convictions from an individual's criminal record.
Under California Penal Code § 1203.4, individuals may qualify for expungement if they:
Additionally, pursuant to Penal Code § 851.8, individuals who were arrested but never charged, or whose charges were dismissed, may petition for a finding of factual innocence, which results in the sealing and destruction of arrest records.
The expungement process in Ventura County requires petitioners to:
Petitioners may file expungement requests at:
Ventura County Superior Court
Records and Exhibits Division
800 South Victoria Avenue
Ventura, CA 93009
(805) 289-8900
Ventura County Superior Court Case Inquiry
The court reviews each petition individually, considering factors such as the nature of the offense, the petitioner's criminal history, and evidence of rehabilitation. If granted, the expungement order directs all relevant agencies to update their records accordingly.