Reviewed and updated October 9, 2026 by the SearchSystems.net editorial team. The arrest and crime counts are the ones each agency reported to the FBI, as the FBI held them on October 8, 2026. Every office link was opened and checked against the office's own site between September 23, 2026 and September 25, 2026.
Berkeley, California, in Alameda County, has about 122,000 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). A police report belongs to the agency whose officer wrote it, so which office holds a report from Berkeley depends on where the incident happened. This guide names each agency, where its records page is and what the California Public Records Act requires of it.
This guide covers which agency, the city's records page, the sheriff's reports, what the law requires and common questions.
Related guides: Berkeley public records, Alameda County police reports, Berkeley arrest records, Berkeley warrants, Berkeley inmate search, Berkeley criminal records, California arrest records and California inmate search.
Which Agency Holds a Report from Berkeley
The report of an incident is released by the agency that took it; the court and the jail hold their own records of the same event, but not the report.
Inside Berkeley that is the agency that reports to the FBI for the city (filed by the FBI as Berkeley Police Department); outside it, the Alameda County Sheriff's Office.
The FBI's list also places the Highway Patrol's six offices in Alameda County; a report taken on a state highway by one of them comes from that agency's own records office.
The FBI's agency list also places three other agencies, one state agency and three campus police departments in Alameda County, each with a records office of its own.
Reports from the Berkeley Police
For Berkeley, SearchSystems opened and checked the Berkeley police department's page at berkeleyca.gov/safety-health/police (page title: Police | City of Berkeley), which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 25, 2026.
The agency that reports for Berkeley had 775 violent and 4,982 property crimes reported for 2025 and reported 2,111 arrests for 2025.
Reports from the Alameda County Sheriff's Office
The Alameda County Sheriff's Office is the county agency; it had 630 violent and 1,972 property crimes reported for 2025 and reported 2,610 arrests for 2025.
Its reports come from its records unit. The office's page SearchSystems verified is its custody page, at acgov.org/sheriff_app (page title: Inmate Locator), which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 23, 2026.
What the California Public Records Act Requires
Under the California Public Records Act the agency must answer a request within 10 days, with up to 14 more days in unusual circumstances, and it may charge the direct cost of copying only, not staff time. The request goes to the agency that holds the report, in writing, and does not have to say why the report is wanted.
Any other county record goes through the county records request page SearchSystems verified, at auditor.alamedacountyca.gov/public-records-request (page title: Public Records Request | Alameda County Auditor-Controller/Clerk-Recorder).
A defendant who has been charged gets the report through the case: the District Attorney handles discovery for pending cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a police report in Berkeley?
From the agency that took it. The Berkeley police department's page is at berkeleyca.gov/safety-health/police; the sheriff's reports come from the Alameda County Sheriff's Office.
How long does an agency in Berkeley have to answer?
Under the California Public Records Act, within 10 days, with up to 14 more days in unusual circumstances. It may charge the direct cost of copying only, not staff time.
Who has a crash report from a state highway in Berkeley?
The state agency whose officer took it; the FBI lists the Highway Patrol's six offices in Alameda County.
How do I get a report from the Alameda County Sheriff's Office?
From its records unit. Under the California Public Records Act the answer is due within 10 days, with up to 14 more days in unusual circumstances.
Is this the official Berkeley website?
No. SearchSystems.net is an independent public records guide, online since 1997. It links to the official city, county, court and state offices described above and does not hold records, charge for them or take requests.