Chula Vista Felony Records

Chula Vista felony records are kept by San Diego County Superior Court and Chula Vista Police Department. All criminal cases for the city go through the county court system. CVPD maintains arrest reports and police records for crimes in Chula Vista. San Diego County Sheriff operates jails and tracks inmate status. Court searches are free online. Police reports cost $1 per report from CVPD.

San Diego County Superior Court

Chula Vista is part of San Diego County. All felony cases from the city are heard in San Diego County Superior Court. The South County Regional Center in Chula Vista at 500 Third Avenue handles many local cases.

Search for cases using the free online index at courtindex.sdcourt.ca.gov. Look up by name, case number, or other criteria. The database includes criminal, civil, family court, mental health, and probate cases. Search results show case numbers, filing dates, parties, and basic charge info.

Criminal case documents are not viewable online. You must visit the courthouse where the case was heard or request copies by mail. The court warns that Civil Limited and Misdemeanor records may only be kept for 10 years at some locations. Juvenile cases, traffic citations, and cases from before 1974 are not in the Court Index.

To get copies of documents, fill out a copy request form. Send it to the courthouse listed on the case. Include a check for the copy fees. The court will process your request and mail the documents. This can take two to three weeks.

Chula Vista Police Reports

Chula Vista Police Department charges $1 for a copy of a police report. This is one of the lowest fees in California. Visit the CVPD report request page to start the process.

The department uses an online system to handle report requests. Submit your request through the portal. Include the report number if you have it. If not, provide the incident date, time, location, and names of people involved. CVPD reviews each request to see if the record can be released.

Some reports may be withheld for ongoing investigations or privacy reasons. The department will send an invoice for the $1 fee. Pay online and the report is emailed to you. Processing times range from a few days to a few weeks depending on the complexity of your request.

Call CVPD Records at (619) 691-5151 for questions about your request or fees. Victims of crimes may qualify for fee waivers. Ask when you submit your request.

San Diego County Custody Search

San Diego County Sheriff runs the jail system for the entire county. Use the Who's In Jail database at apps.sdsheriff.net/wij to find inmates. The search is free and open to the public.

Search by last name, first name, or booking number. Results show the booking date, charges, bail amount, and housing facility. The site warns that data should not be relied upon for legal action. It is for informational use only. The website goes offline for maintenance every Wednesday at noon.

For help with inmate searches, call the Sheriff's main office at (858) 974-2222. Staff can look up current custody status and provide basic info over the phone. The office is located at 9621 Ridgehaven Ct in San Diego.

San Diego County DA Office

The San Diego County District Attorney prosecutes all felonies from Chula Vista. The DA office works with CVPD to file charges and pursue cases. Once an arrest is made, police send reports to the DA for review. Prosecutors decide whether to file charges based on the evidence.

Victims of crimes can contact the DA Victim Services for case updates and support. This service is free to victims and their families. Call the main DA office to be connected with victim services. The website has info on upcoming hearings and case status.

Check case information through the DA's portal at caseinformation.sdcda.org. This site shows case status, hearing dates, and outcomes for cases filed by the DA.

Legal Help in Chula Vista

Legal Aid Society of San Diego serves Chula Vista residents. They offer free help to low-income people with criminal record expungements and sealing. Visit lassd.org or call (877) 534-2524 for intake screening.

San Diego County Public Defender represents people who cannot afford a lawyer. If you are charged with a felony and meet income requirements, the court appoints a public defender. Call the Public Defender office for information on how to request representation.

Community groups run legal clinics on criminal records. The Chula Vista Public Library hosts workshops on expungements and sealing records. Check branch calendars for upcoming events.

Other San Diego County Cities

San Diego and Oceanside are the other major cities in San Diego County with pages on this site. All three cities use the same court system and sheriff. Each has its own police department. Felony cases from all county cities go through San Diego County Superior Court.