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How to Locate Public Records in California

Posted On : Jul-15-2011 | seen (409) times | Article Word Count : 530 |

Public records are documents that are available for review by any private citizen, and that are recorded and maintained by governmental agencies.
Public records are documents that are available for review by any private citizen, and that are recorded and maintained by governmental agencies. Public records have been maintained since earliest organized society, including even in ancient Babylon where records were kept on clay tablets. Records were even kept in ancient societies where there was no writing, such as in the Inca Empire of South America, where there was no writing, but records were maintained in knots on cords.

Where are Public Records Maintained?

Today, public records consist of records of births, marriages, and deaths, along with records of court proceedings including criminal prosecutions and convictions, and population statistics. Public records today are maintained by various governmental agencies at all levels, including city, county, state, and federal. To gain access to public records, a citizen will make a request in the proper form. Even still, unlimited and unrestricted access are not always available. Government regulations and policies control access to public records, and requests for access can be denied. There are also many records of public interest which are sometimes accessible from government agencies, but which are still not considered public records.

California public records include birth records, death records, marriage records, divorce records, and genealogy records, along with real property records, and court records. Real property records include maps, recorded documents, and records of unclaimed property. California public court records include crime reports, records of convictions, inmate locators, and most wanted persons.

How Can California Public Records be Accessed?

California birth, death, and marriage records are available from the counties where certificates were filed, and are obtained on request from the county clerk or recorder. These records are often sought in certified form, and county recorders are able to provide certified documents on request. Normally there is a fee attached to such requests, though these fees are generally small and can even be waived for proper cause.

Gaining Access to California Court Records

Court records must normally be obtained directly from the courts issuing them, and are not remotely accessible. Even though California records in some cases are accessible through central agencies, California public court records are not. Court records must be requested directly from courts. The State of California maintains on its website a database that allows for searching for inmates by county. Even though the search is done through the state website, records are provided by the individual counties and may vary in contents and accuracy. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation also provides a website search for current Californian prison inmates. Released inmates, new inmates, and inmates in the process of transferring between institutions may not be included in these records.

The California Department of Justice maintains extensive records of many different types of public information. Some of this information constitutes public records in the standard sense, and some does not. In any event, this department makes a concerted effort to provide records for ready access. The Department of Justice website provides lists of available records, along with guidelines for gaining access. In some cases. the Department of Justice offers access to records from agencies other than itself.

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