WHERE DO I GET A CLEARANCE LETTER?

Local Police Record Clearance Letter

Any persons currently living in the city of Sacramento or have lived in the city at one time as an adult (18 and over) may request a local Record Clearance letter. The Sacramento Police Department cannot give or obtain a state-wide police record clearance. A Record Clearance letter for adoption purposes only will be notarized at no additional cost pending availability of a Police Department Notary. A requestor can arrange to provide a Notary of their choice when the Police Department Notary is not available.

Requestor lives in the Sacramento Area
If you live in the Sacramento area, please bring picture identification to the public counter at 5770 Freeport Blvd. There is a fee of $62 per letter and you will be required to have a thumb print taken (used for comparison if a possible record is found). Be sure to indicate if multiple letters are needed and/or if any special wording needs to be included in the clearance letter. You have the option of having your Record Clearance letter mailed to you or you may request a phone call to pick up the letter. If picking up the letter, be sure to bring your photo identification. Allow 10 working days.

Requestor lives outside of the Sacramento Area
If you live outside of the Sacramento area, forward your request and be sure to include the following:

Date of birth
Social security number (when available)
Last Sacramento address
Return address
Copy of your picture identification
$62 money order or cashier's check payable to "City of Sacramento"

Send all of the above to:

Sacramento Police Department
Attn: Records-Clearance Letters
5770 Freeport Blvd., Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95822

A search will be conducted using provided information. Be sure to indicate if multiple letters are needed and/or if any special wording needs to be included in the clearance letter. Your Record Clearance letter will be mailed out to you after 10 working days.

STATE AND NATIONAL RECORD CLEARANCE LETTER

California Department of Justice - The California Department of Justice (DOJ) will provide a statewide criminal clearance if you are an immigration applicant and you have been directed to obtain California or local clearances by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, by a United States consulate or embassy, or by a foreign government for emigration from the United States. Processing time is approximately three to four weeks. For DOJ clearance letter information contact:

California Department of Justice
4949 Broadway
Sacramento, CA 95820
(916) 227-3822

Federal Bureau of Investigation - You may also request a clearance letter for the purposes of immigration, emigration and visas from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI furnishes national clearances directly to the embassy or consulate that is processing the applicant. For further information regarding an FBI clearance letter, please call the FBI at (202) 324-3000.

HOW CAN I GET A COPY OF MY CRIMINAL ARREST RECORD?

Local Police Criminal Record Summary
Any person cited or arrested by the Sacramento Police Department may obtain a summary of his/her local criminal arrest record maintained by our department. The Sacramento Police Department cannot give or obtain a statewide police record.

Requestor lives in the Sacramento Area
If you live in the Sacramento area, please bring picture identification to the public counter at 5770 Freeport Blvd., Suite 100. The record summary consists of dates, charges and dispositions (when available) of arrests/citations with this department only. There is a fee of $288 and you will be required to be fingerprinted. Your record summary will be mailed out to you after 10 working days.

Requestor lives outside of the Sacramento Area
If you live outside the Sacramento area, a set of fingerprints is required from your local law enforcement agency. Forward your request and be sure to include the following:

Date of birth
Social security number (when available)
Fingerprints obtained from your local law enforcement agency
Return address
Copy of your picture identification

Payment accepted: $288 money order or cashier's check payable to "City of Sacramento."

Send all of the above to:

Sacramento Police Department
Attn: Records-Arrest Summaries
5770 Freeport Blvd., Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95822

The record summary consists of dates, charges and dispositions (when available) of arrests and citations with this Department only. Your record summary will be mailed out to you after 10 working days.

STATE CRIMINAL RECORD SUMMARY

A personal criminal history report can be ordered for current or former California residents by requesting a Record Review Packet from the State of California. The fee for the Record Review Packet is $32.

A packet can be requested by phone by calling (916) 227-3849 or (916) 322-2209. Select option 3, then 1, then 1, and leave your request for a packet.

A packet can also be requested by mail at the following address (Please do not send the fee with your written packet request):

California Department of Justice
Attn: Records Review Unit
P.O. Box 903417
Sacramento, CA 94203-4170

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?

For further questions and clarification, please contact the Police Department's Records Section at (916) 808-0620.