How California Scores on Public-Records Access
Graded by our newsroom against six criteria — access, fees, turnaround, e-filing, courts, mugshots.
Strong CPRA on paper. 58 county clerks running 58 different things. Mugshots locked statewide.
Full Watchdog report →Recent California Court Cases
Most recent California court filings indexed in the Open Public Records database. Each case links to a public-record summary with docket details and parties.
| Docket | Parties | Indexed |
|---|---|---|
| Bankruptcy26-02023-CL7 | Michael E Fleury, Jr. | 05/09/2026 |
| Bankruptcy26-02024-7 | Corina Santiago | 05/09/2026 |
| Bankruptcy26-02025-CL7 | Luis Angel Villasenor and Nora Evelyn Villasenor | 05/09/2026 |
| Bankruptcy26-02033-7 | Steven Ryan Basurto | 05/09/2026 |
| Bankruptcy26-02034-CL7 | Kayce Lee Rowan | 05/09/2026 |
| Civil26-02035-CL13 | Jeanne L. Wilson | 05/09/2026 |
| Bankruptcy22-00389-7 | Kia, Incorporated | 05/09/2026 |
| Bankruptcy26-00525-CL7 | Laura Tonett Budzynski | 05/09/2026 |
| Bankruptcy26-00525-CL7 | Laura Tonett Budzynski | 05/09/2026 |
| Civil24-02202-CL11 | The Roman Catholic Bishop of San Diego | 05/09/2026 |
| Bankruptcy26-01278-CL7 | Latonda Erica Eastman | 05/09/2026 |
| Bankruptcy26-01123-7 | Mariah Adelgais | 05/09/2026 |
Crime statistics · Torrance, CA · FBI UCR 2024
Reported offenses for the Torrance jurisdiction, total population 149243. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program.
| Violent crimes | Property crimes |
|---|---|
|
Total: 426 Murder & non-negligent manslaughter: 4 Rape: 37 Robbery: 213 Aggravated assault: 231 |
Total: 3800 Burglary: 656 Larceny / theft: 2491 Motor-vehicle theft: 653 Arson: 21 |
Reporting period: calendar year 2024. Numbers reflect offenses known to law-enforcement agencies serving Torrance.
California Public Records Act
Records held by Torrance city offices, the Los Angeles County Sheriff, and the Los Angeles 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 Torrance
Police records: file with the Torrance Police Department or via the Los Angeles County Sheriff for unincorporated areas.
Court records: Los Angeles County Superior Court handles criminal, civil, family, and probate matters. Felonies and most misdemeanors flow through the Superior Court system.
Booking and inmate records: Los Angeles County Sheriff publishes a public inmate roster including booking photos and charges.
Common Questions
Answers verified against official agency websites and state statutes.
How do I get a criminal background check in Torrance? ▼
An official Torrance, California criminal background check comes from the California Department of Justice (DOJ) — Torrance PD cannot issue your statewide record. The process: (1) Get a Live Scan fingerprint capture. Local options: Torrance Police Department Records Division at 3300 Civic Center Dr, Torrance CA 90503, phone (310) 618-5529; plus IdentoGO, Certifix Live Scan, A1 Live Scan vendors throughout the South Bay. Find a vendor at https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations. (2) Complete BCIA 8016RR form at https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/record-review (Personal Record Review of your own DOJ criminal history). (3) Pay $25 California DOJ state fee plus rolling fee ($20–$50). For an FBI national check, add the federal fee. Fee waiver at https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/record-review/fee-waiver. Turnarou…
Where do I look up probate records in Lancaster? ▼
Probate cases for Lancaster, California are filed at the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Antelope Valley Courthouse — Probate Department at 42011 4th St West, Lancaster CA 93534, phone (661) 974-7311. Three steps: (1) Find the case via LA Superior Court Online Services at https://www.lacourt.org — free name search of probate cases (decedent, conservator, guardian); returns case number and document docket. (2) Order copies at the Clerk's office — certified copy fee $40 first 5 pages + $0.50 each additional page (Cal. Gov. Code § 70626); non-certified $0.50 per page; search-record fee $50 for archived files. Online ordering also available at https://www.lacourt.org. (3) Visit in person if the case is older than ~20 years and not yet digitized; the LA Pr…
Where can I find a police case number? ▼
A police case number (also called DR number, incident number, or report number) is the unique identifier assigned when officers create an incident report. For Inglewood, California, four ways to find it. (1) Online via Inglewood PD's MyCaseNumber portal at https://inglewoodpd.mycasenumber.us/ — submit a citizen police report online, get an immediate case number, and print a copy of YOUR own filed report for free. (2) In person or by phone with the Inglewood Police Department Records Unit, 1 W Manchester Blvd, Inglewood CA 90301, phone (310) 412-5246. Standard report-copy fee $12.50 per report (per the city's official Report Request Form at https://www.cityofinglewood.org/1323/Report-Request-Form). (3) CPRA request via the Inglewood City Clerk under Cal. Gov. Code § 7920 — submit through …
Where do recent arrests show up in Los Angeles? ▼
Recent Los Angeles arrests show up across three layers, in order of speed. (1) Within hours — LASD Inmate Locator at https://app5.lasd.org/ — current detainees countywide across the LA County jail system (Men's Central, Twin Towers, CRDF, North County). General custody questions: (213) 473-6100. LASD Booking Log at https://app5.lasd.org/bklog/ for registered users (journalists, attorneys, government). (2) Within 24–48 hours — city PD arrest blotter for arrests inside city limits — LAPD Adult Arrests / Crime Mapping at https://www.lapdcrimemap.org and bulk download at https://data.lacity.org/Public-Safety/Arrest-Data-from-2020-to-Present/amvf-fr72/about_data; LBPD, Pasadena PD, Glendale PD, Burbank PD, Santa Monica PD, Beverly Hills PD, Inglewood PD, Long Beach PD, Torrance PD, El Monte PD, Pomona PD, etc. (3) Onc…
Where do recent arrests show up in Pomona? ▼
Pomona, California has its own city police force — the Pomona Police Department — and its own city jail. Recent arrests show up at three places. (1) Pomona Police Department Records Bureau at 490 W Mission Blvd, Pomona CA 91766, phone (909) 620-2161, https://www.pomonaca.gov/government/departments/police-department. Online police-report tool, evidence/property unit (909) 620-2103, jail operations (909) 620-2131. The Pomona City Jail is a Type I facility. (2) CPRA records request via https://www.pomonaca.gov — submit a Public Records Request for incident reports, arrest reports, and CFS records. (3) LASD Inmate Locator at https://app5.lasd.org/ — most Pomona PD arrestees transfer to LA County jails (Men's Central, Twin Towers) within 72 hours. General custody questions: (213) 473-6100. (4) Court r…
How do I find a divorce record in Norwalk? ▼
Divorce records for Norwalk, California are held by the Los Angeles Superior Court — specifically at the Norwalk Courthouse, 12720 Norwalk Blvd, Norwalk CA 90650, phone (562) 807-7300, where Family Law cases are heard for the southeast LA region. Three ways to obtain a copy: (1) Online via LA Superior Court Divorce Judgment Documents at https://www.lacourt.ca.gov/pages/lp/access-a-case/tp/os-access-court-documents/cp/divorce-judgment-documents — public ordering of divorce judgments without visiting the Archives & Records Center. (2) In person or mail at the Norwalk Courthouse Clerk's office. Certified copy fee $40 first 5 pages + $0.50 each additional page (Cal. Gov. Code § 70626); non-certified $0.50 per page; search-record fee $50 for archived files. (3) Archiv…