Common Questions About Public Records in San Bernardino
Real questions from people researching records in San Bernardino. Each answer is verified against official agency sources — no third-party services.
⚰️ Where do I order a death record in San Bernardino? ▼
Death certificates for San Bernardino, California come from two offices that share the same database. (1) San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk at https://www.sbcountyarc.org — issues certificates for deaths registered in San Bernardino County. Office at 222 W Hospitality Lane, 1st Floor, San Bernardino CA 92415, phone (909) 387-8306. Fee (effective Jan 1, 2026 under AB 64): $26 per certified copy (was $24); fetal-death certificates also $26. (2) San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, Vital Records — alternative office, same $26 fee. (3) California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Vital Records at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/Pages/Vital-Records-Obtaining-Certified-Copies-of-Death-Records.aspx — slower (4–6 weeks) but covers any California death. Online ordering via VitalChek at https://www.vitalchek.com (express shipping, ~$15 service fee). Eligibility (Cal. H&S Code § 103526): spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, legal representative, person with documented direct interest. Photo ID required for authorized copies; Informational copies (not for legal use, marked 'INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY') available to anyone with sworn statement. Funeral home tip: order 6–10 copies if the deceased had multiple bank accounts, real estate, life insurance, or out-of-state assets — each agency typically wants its own original. Apostille for international use: get the certified copy first, then submit to California Secretary of State, 1500 11th St, Sacramento CA 95814. Free informal confirmations: Social Security Death Master File via FamilySearch.org, Find A Grave at https://www.findagrave.com, San Bernardino Sun obituaries archive. Sources: San Bernardino County Recorder-Clerk, CDPH Vital Records, AB 64 (2025), Cal. H&S Code § 103526.
Tagged: San Bernardino · death
🎓 Where can I find a list of annual pensions for retired school superintendents? ▼
Annual pensions for retired California school superintendents are public records under both CalPERS and CalSTRS — California's two main public retirement systems. (1) Transparent California at https://transparentcalifornia.com — independent FOIA-built database covering all California state, county, city, school district, and special district employees and retirees with names, last salary, and current pension. Search 'San Bernardino County' or specific school district. (2) CalSTRS Member Pension Search — California State Teachers' Retirement System covers most retired school superintendents. Public pension data is FOIA-requestable from CalSTRS at https://www.calstrs.com — submit a public records request via https://www.calstrs.com/contact-us. (3) CalPERS Pensioner Database — for non-classroom administrative staff who participated in CalPERS instead of CalSTRS. https://www.calpers.ca.gov. (4) OpenTheBooks at https://www.openthebooks.com/california-state-employees/ — independent database of California state and local salaries and pensions. (5) California Secretary of State Form 700 at https://fppc.ca.gov/form-700.html — superintendents file annual Statements of Economic Interests disclosing income sources, investments, and gifts; not pensions but useful for context. (6) District-level public records request (CPRA, Cal. Gov. Code § 7920): file a written request with the school district where the superintendent retired — most districts are required to disclose. What's released: name, position, last salary, pension benefit. What's not released: home address, beneficiary info, medical records. Average California school superintendent pension: typical mid-sized-district superintendent retires with $120K–$220K annual pension after 25–30 years of service (CalSTRS 2% formula at age 62). Largest pensions for superintendents of large districts (LAUSD, San Diego Unified, San Bernardino City Unified) can exceed $300K/year. Sources: Transparent California, CalSTRS, CalPERS, OpenTheBooks, California FPPC Form 700, Cal. Gov. Code § 7920.
Tagged: San Bernardino · education
📜 Where do I look up probate records in San Bernardino? ▼
Probate records for San Bernardino County, California are filed at the San Bernardino County Superior Court, Probate Division. Three-step lookup: (1) Find the case at the San Bernardino Superior Court Public Access portal at https://sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov — free name search by decedent's name. Returns case number, executor/administrator, asset summary, and document docket. (2) Probate is heard at multiple courthouses: San Bernardino Justice Center at 247 W 3rd St, San Bernardino CA 92415-0210, phone (909) 521-3500 — main probate hub; Joshua Tree Branch for desert-area cases. Refer to the fee schedule at https://sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov for current filing fees. (3) Order copies at the Clerk's office — certified copy fee $40 first 5 pages + $0.50 each additional page (Cal. Gov. Code § 70626 + San Bernardino's local courthouse-construction surcharge per the 2026 statewide schedule); non-certified $0.50 per page; search-record fee $50 for archived files. Probate filing fees (per the 2026 SB schedule, https://www.swiftprobate.com/probate/california/san-bernardino-county): Petition for Probate $435–$550 (San Bernardino has the local surcharge); Probate Referee fee ~0.1% of appraised non-cash assets (minimum $150); statutory attorney/executor fees under Cal. Prob. Code § 10810: 4% of first $100K, 3% of next $100K, 2% of next $800K. Small estate alternative: estates under $184,500 in personal property + $61,500 in real property can use simplified procedures (Cal. Prob. Code § 13100). Probate Notes are posted before each hearing — check https://sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov for status. Important: a will alone does NOT transfer property — it must be probated to be enforceable. Sources: San Bernardino Superior Court, SwiftProbate SB Guide, Settled Estate, Cal. Prob. Code §§ 10810 and 13100, Cal. Gov. Code § 70626.
Tagged: San Bernardino County · probate
❓ Do I have a restraining order? ▼
To check whether you have a restraining order against you in California, four reliable sources. (1) Search the county Superior Court where the order was likely filed — restraining orders (TROs, DVROs, CHROs, civil harassment, workplace, elder abuse) are civil court filings and most are searchable on the public case-search portals. California Courts directory at https://www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm; LA Superior https://www.lacourt.org; OC https://www.occourts.org; SD https://www.sdcourt.ca.gov; San Bernardino https://sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov; Riverside https://epubaccess.riverside.courts.ca.gov. Search by your name as 'respondent.' (2) California Courts Protective Order Registry (CCPOR) at https://courts.ca.gov/partners/california-courts-protective-order-registry-ccpor — statewide registry of restraining/protective orders accessible to courts and law enforcement. NOT publicly searchable; you'd need to request your own info via the Clerk's office. (3) CLETS (California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System) — internal only; not public. Any law-enforcement officer can run your name and immediately see if you're a respondent. If you call your local PD or sheriff's records line, they can sometimes confirm informally. (4) California DOJ Personal Record Review at https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/record-review — fingerprint-based; $25 + rolling fee. While criminal-history-focused, it includes restraining orders that have triggered firearms restrictions or criminal violations. (5) Self-Help at https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/DV-restraining-order. Important: TROs are typically issued ex parte (without notice) and you may NOT be aware until served. The petitioner (or law enforcement) is required to personally serve you. Show up on background checks? Yes — most CA restraining orders show on civil-court searches and can affect employment. If you find one, contact a defense attorney before any court date — TROs become permanent (3–5 years) at the noticed hearing if you don't appear. Sources: California Courts directory, CCPOR, California DOJ, Cal. Self-Help (DV-restraining-order), AER Law Group analysis, Crone Israels Stark.
Tagged: San Bernardino County · restraining
⚖️ What's the right place to search court cases in San Bernardino? ▼
Court cases for San Bernardino County, California are with the San Bernardino County Superior Court — California's largest county by area, with multiple courthouses. Free public case search at https://sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov — covers Civil, Criminal, Family Law, Probate, Small Claims, Traffic; non-confidential, non-sealed cases. Search by name or case number. Major courthouses: San Bernardino Justice Center (247 W 3rd St, San Bernardino CA 92415-0210, 909-521-3500) — main hub; Victorville District (14455 Civic Dr, Victorville); Rancho Cucamonga District (8303 Haven Ave); Fontana District (17780 Arrow Blvd); Joshua Tree District; Barstow District; Big Bear District; Needles District; Twin Peaks District (mountain communities). Document copies: order from the Clerk's office at the appropriate courthouse — certified copy fee $40 first 5 pages + $0.50 each additional page (Cal. Gov. Code § 70626 + San Bernardino's local surcharge for courthouse construction per the 2026 statewide schedule, see https://courts.ca.gov/system/files/file/statewide-civil-fee-schedule-eff-01012026.pdf); non-certified $0.50 per page; search-record fee $50 for archived files. What's not visible: sealed cases (juvenile, certain DV orders, expunged matters, family-court files involving minors), confidential CHRI. Federal cases (separate system): U.S. District Court Central District of California, Eastern Division (Riverside) at 3470 Twelfth St, Riverside CA 92501; PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov, $0.10/page (capped $3/document). Older cases (pre-2000) often require an in-person archive request. Self-help: https://sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov/general-information/self-help. Sources: San Bernardino Superior Court, California Statewide Civil Fee Schedule 2026, Cal. Gov. Code § 70626.
Tagged: San Bernardino County · court
📄 Where do I look up a divorce in San Bernardino? ▼
Divorce records for San Bernardino County, California are held by the San Bernardino County Superior Court. Two main sources: (1) San Bernardino Superior Court Public Access at https://sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov — free name search; covers Family Law cases countywide. Search returns case number, parties, file date, disposition. Family Law branches: San Bernardino Justice Center at 247 W 3rd St, San Bernardino CA 92415-0210, phone (909) 521-3500 (main); Victorville District at 14455 Civic Dr (High Desert); Rancho Cucamonga District at 8303 Haven Ave (West End); Fontana District at 17780 Arrow Blvd; Joshua Tree District; Big Bear District; Twin Peaks District (mountain communities); Barstow District; Needles District. Certified copy fee $40 first 5 pages + $0.50 each additional page (Cal. Gov. Code § 70626 + San Bernardino's local courthouse-construction surcharge per the 2026 statewide schedule); non-certified $0.50 per page; search-record fee $50 for archived files. (2) CDPH Vital Records at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/Pages/Vital-Records.aspx — issues divorce certificates ONLY for divorces filed 1962–1984. From 1985 onward, copies come ONLY from the Superior Court Clerk in the filing county. Filing fees for new divorces in San Bernardino (with local surcharge): Petition for Dissolution ~$450; Response ~$450; both fees waivable under FW-001. California does NOT issue separate state-level divorce certificates for divorces 1985 onward — the Superior Court Clerk's certified copy IS the legal document. Sealed cases (DV-related, financial-disclosure orders, family files involving minors) are not visible. Apostille for international use: certified copy from Clerk first, then California Secretary of State. Sources: San Bernardino Superior Court, CDPH Vital Records, Cal. Gov. Code § 70626.
Tagged: San Bernardino County · divorce
🚔 How do I look up an arrest in California? ▼
There is no single master arrest list in California. Records sit with the agency that made the arrest. Five-source playbook: (1) County Sheriff inmate locator / jail roster for current detainees and recent bookings — every county has its own portal (LA County https://app5.lasd.org/; San Diego https://apps.sdsheriff.net; Orange County https://ocsheriff.gov; Riverside; Sacramento; Alameda https://www.acgov.org/sheriff_app/; Santa Clara; Fresno; Kern). Statewide aggregator (private): California Jail Roster at https://californiajailroster.com. (2) City PD arrest blotter for arrests inside city limits — LAPD at https://www.lapdcrimemap.org and https://data.lacity.org; SFPD at https://data.sfgov.org; SDPD; Sacramento PD; Long Beach PD; Oakland PD; San Jose PD all maintain blotters. (3) Court records for arrests that produced a charge — each county Superior Court has its own portal (California Courts directory at https://www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm); LA Superior Court at https://www.lacourt.org is the largest. (4) State prison (sentenced felons): California Department of Corrections inmate search at https://inmatelocator.cdcr.ca.gov. (5) Authoritative personal record: California DOJ Live Scan at https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints — fingerprint-based Personal Record Review, $25 state fee plus rolling fee. Older arrests (pre-2000): file a written CPRA request to the originating agency under Cal. Gov. Code § 7920. What's NOT released: juvenile records (always sealed except for serious-offense disclosures), sealed/expunged matters, identifying victim/witness info in sex offenses or DV cases (Penal Code § 6254(f) — recodified at § 7923.600). Booking photos public per Penal Code § 13300; body-cam footage of officer-involved shootings releasable within 45 days under SB 1421/AB 748. For employment use: vendors (Checkr, Sterling, GoodHire) wrap state, FBI, court, county, and MVR into one FCRA-compliant report. Sources: California DOJ, county sheriffs, California Courts, CDCR, Cal. Gov. Code § 7920.
Tagged: California · arrest
❓ Where can I find the California Public Records Act and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)? ▼
California has its own state-level open-records statute, separate from federal FOIA. California Public Records Act (CPRA) — codified at Cal. Gov. Code §§ 7920.000–7931.000 (recodified Jan 1, 2023 from former §§ 6250–6276); full statute at https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayexpandedbranch.xhtml?tocCode=GOV&division=10.&title=1.&part&chapter&article. The CPRA creates a presumption that all state and local government records are public unless covered by a specific exemption. Key features: (a) Applies to all California state, county, city, and special-district agencies; (b) Agencies must respond within 10 calendar days (extendable to 24 days for unusual circumstances) under § 7922.535; (c) Fee structure: agencies can charge for direct copying costs only, not staff time for reviewing/redacting (with limited exceptions for electronic records); (d) Common exemptions (§ 7927 et seq.) include active-investigation files, attorney-client privileged matter, personnel records, certain victim/witness identifying info. 2026 update (AB 794, eff. Jan 1, 2026): expands the definition of 'elected or appointed official' under § 7920.500 to include retired judges or court commissioners — broader transparency for judicial-branch records. How to file a CPRA request: each agency typically has a Public Records portal — examples: California Secretary of State at https://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/public-records-act-requests; many cities use NextRequest (e.g., CPUC at https://cpuc.nextrequest.com); SD County Law Library guide at https://sdlawlibrary.libguides.com/c.php?g=1290791. Federal FOIA (5 U.S.C. § 552) is a separate, parallel system that applies only to federal agencies (FBI, IRS, DEA, USCIS, VA, etc.) — file at https://www.foia.gov. Don't conflate them: a California-state or local-agency record needs a CPRA request; a federal-agency record needs a FOIA request. Litigation aid: First Amendment Coalition at https://firstamendmentcoalition.org runs a free CPRA hotline. Sources: Cal. Gov. Code §§ 7920–7931, AB 794 (2025), California Secretary of State, U.S. FOIA (5 U.S.C. § 552), First Amendment Coalition.
Tagged: California · general
🚔 What's the source for arrest records in California? ▼
California arrest records sit with the agency that made the booking. Five-source playbook: (1) County Sheriff jail roster for current bookings — LA County https://app5.lasd.org/, San Diego https://apps.sdsheriff.net, Orange County https://ocsheriff.gov, Riverside, Sacramento, Alameda, Santa Clara, Fresno, Kern, San Bernardino. Statewide aggregator: California Jail Roster at https://californiajailroster.com. (2) City PD arrest blotter — LAPD https://www.lapdcrimemap.org and https://data.lacity.org; SFPD https://data.sfgov.org; SDPD; Long Beach, Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento all maintain logs. (3) Court records for arrests that produced a charge — California Courts directory at https://www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm; LA Superior Court at https://www.lacourt.org is the largest. (4) State prison (sentenced felons): California Department of Corrections inmate search at https://inmatelocator.cdcr.ca.gov. (5) Authoritative personal record: California DOJ Live Scan at https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints — $25 state fee plus rolling fee. Older arrests (pre-2000): file a written CPRA request to the originating agency under Cal. Gov. Code § 7920. What's NOT released: juvenile records, sealed/expunged matters, identifying victim/witness info in sex offenses or DV cases (Penal Code § 6254(f) recodified at § 7923.600). Booking photos public per Penal Code § 13300; body-cam OIS footage releasable within 45 days under SB 1421/AB 748. California Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code § 12952): employers with 5+ employees cannot ask about convictions before a conditional offer. Sources: California DOJ, county sheriffs, California Courts, CDCR, Cal. Gov. Code § 7920.
Tagged: California · arrest
Have a question about records in San Bernardino? The agencies that hold these records are listed throughout this page — start there.
Records access in San Bernardino
Law enforcement in San Bernardino is primarily managed by the San Bernardino Police Department, which is responsible for maintaining public safety and enforcing laws in the city. The department keeps full arrest and criminal records, accessible to the public, which can be requested through the department’s records division. For people interested in searching inmate records or conducting background checks, the San Bernardino County Jail is the main detention facility, housing those awaiting trial or serving short sentences. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department also is part of law enforcement in unincorporated areas. It's worth noting that the city has faced challenges related to crime rates, but community outreach programs and renewed policing efforts have focused on improving safety and building trust within the community. Residents seeking public records can easily navigate the process under the California Public Records Act (CPRA), which allows access to a wide array of documents maintained by public agencies. The San Bernardino County Clerk’s office is the go-to for vital records, including birth, death, and marriage certificates, and requests can typically be made in person or online. For property records, the San Bernardino County Assessor's office provides detailed information regarding property ownership and assessed values. Court records are accessible through the San Bernardino County Superior Court, where individuals can request case files and legal documents. Online portals are available, making it convenient for residents to find the information they need without needing to visit multiple offices.
Crime statistics · San Bernardino, CA · FBI UCR 2024
Reported offenses for the San Bernardino jurisdiction, total population 224283. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program.
| Violent crimes | Property crimes |
|---|---|
|
Total: 2906 Murder & non-negligent manslaughter: 62 Rape: 158 Robbery: 974 Aggravated assault: 1790 |
Total: 10510 Burglary: 3164 Larceny / theft: 5358 Motor-vehicle theft: 3016 Arson: 120 |
Reporting period: calendar year 2024. Numbers reflect offenses known to law-enforcement agencies serving San Bernardino.
San Bernardino · Population & demographics
| Total population | 209924 |
|---|---|
| White | 45.6% |
| Black or African American | 15% |
| Asian | 4% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 60% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial count.
California Public Records Act
Records held by San Bernardino city offices, the San Bernardino County Sheriff, and the San Bernardino County Superior Court are subject to the California Public Records Act (Cal. Gov. Code § 7920 et seq.). Agencies must respond within 10 calendar days. Booking photos and arrest information are public per Sacramento Bee v. Yuba County and Penal Code § 13300. Body-cam footage related to officer-involved shootings is releasable within 45 days under SB 1421 and AB 748.
Where to file a records request in San Bernardino
Police records: file with the San Bernardino Police Department or via the San Bernardino County Sheriff for unincorporated areas.
Court records: San Bernardino County Superior Court handles criminal, civil, family, and probate matters. Felonies and most misdemeanors flow through the Superior Court system.
Booking and inmate records: San Bernardino County Sheriff publishes a public inmate roster including booking photos and charges.