You can find out if a lawsuit has been filed against someone you know, check crime statistics for your city or see if a sex offender lives in your neighborhood. Much of the information is online.
San Diego County Sheriff's Department
www.sdsheriff.net
The Sheriff's Department Web site has a link that shows maps locating sex offenders and a link to photos and locations of high-risk sex offenders. Reports for some crimes are available to victims at Sheriff's substations. The first copy is free.
Additional copies cost 20 cents a page.
California Highway Patrol
cad.chp.ca.gov
The Web site has a link to San Diego County with a real-time listing of traffic incidents.
Reports on traffic collisions and statistics on collisions on specific highways or streets in unincorporated areas are available by calling the CHP office for that area. Traffic collision reports cost $10.
San Diego – (619) 220-5492
El Cajon – (619) 401-2000
Oceanside – (760) 757-1675
Temecula (for inland North County) – (951) 506-2000
San Diego Police Department
www.sandiego.gov/police
The Web site has a monthly listing of crimes by neighborhood, and crime rates per 1,000 people. You can also subscribe to eWatch, which will automatically alert you by e-mail to recent crime activity in your neighborhood.
Crime victims can obtain police reports on some crimes for $7, payable by check or money order made out to the city of San Diego. Requests should name the parties involved and the date and location of the occurrence, and be mailed to SDPD Records MS#726, P.O. Box 121431, San Diego, CA 92112-1431. Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
San Diego Association of Governments
www.sandag.cog.ca.us
SANDAG has crime statistic reports for San Diego County, each city, and several unincorporated areas.
San Diego Fire-Rescue Department
www.sandiego.gov/fireandems
You can request a fire incident report, inspection report, investigation report, or technical services permit information. A fee is charged for each report. Forms are available online.
San Diego Superior Court
www.sdcourt.ca.gov
The Web site contains a court case index, where you can find if a person or business has been named in a lawsuit and where the case was filed. You will need to go to the clerk's office at the courthouse to view a file. Copies cost 50 cents a page.
The site also lists recently filed cases and court calendars for the next five days. Forms are available online for cases in family law, small claims, evictions, domestic violence, and guardianships. The locations of courthouses are listed on the site.
United States District Court, Southern District of California
www.casd.uscourts.gov
United States Bankruptcy Court
www.casb.uscourts.gov
Files can be reviewed for a fee after registering online. Court calendars of judges are available online. Files are also available for review in the clerk's office.
