Ontario 72 Hour Booking Lookup
Booking records for Ontario are available through both the Ontario Police Department and the San Bernardino County jail system. Ontario has its own police force, unlike some other cities in the county that rely on the sheriff. When Ontario PD makes an arrest, the person is transported to a San Bernardino County detention center for booking. That booking record then becomes public under California law. You can search Ontario booking records through the county's online JIMS tool for free. The Ontario PD also provides records through its administrative services division.
Ontario Booking Quick Facts
Ontario County Booking Search
Ontario is part of San Bernardino County. The county sheriff runs the jail system. Even though Ontario has its own police department, all bookings flow through the county jails. People arrested by Ontario PD get booked at a San Bernardino County facility. The West Valley Detention Center in nearby Rancho Cucamonga handles many of these bookings.
The San Bernardino County JIMS search is the best tool for finding Ontario booking records online. JIMS is the Jail Information Management System. Search by first name, last name, or both. Results show the booking date, charges, bail amount, and whether the person is still in custody. The system covers all San Bernardino County jail facilities, so it does not matter which one processed the booking.
The JIMS search is free and runs 24 hours a day. No account is needed. If you know the person's name, you can look them up in under a minute. The tool shows current inmates and recent bookings. For older records, you may need to file a formal request with the county.
Ontario Police Department Records
The Ontario Police Department Administrative Services division handles records requests for the city. This includes arrest reports, incident reports, and booking-related documents. Ontario PD keeps its own records of every arrest its officers make. These records include the same booking data that ends up in the county system, but the city files may contain additional details about the investigation.
To request records from Ontario PD, you can contact their records unit at the police headquarters. The department is at 2500 South Archibald Avenue, Ontario, CA 91761. The general non-emergency number is (909) 986-6711. Records requests can also be submitted through the city's website. Processing times vary depending on the type of request and how far back the records go.
Ontario PD is one of the larger municipal police departments in the Inland Empire. The city sits near the Ontario International Airport and includes a mix of residential areas, commercial zones, and industrial properties. The department handles a wide range of calls and arrests, from traffic stops to serious felonies.
Note: Ontario PD arrest reports and booking records are separate documents, even though they relate to the same event.
Ontario Booking Screenshot
Below is the Ontario Police Department's administrative services page. This is where Ontario PD handles records requests, including booking and arrest data.
The page outlines the process for getting records from Ontario PD. For the quickest access to booking data, the county JIMS search is usually faster since it is available online without filing a request.
Ontario Booking Laws
California Government Code 7923.610 sets the rules for booking record disclosure. Every person booked at a San Bernardino County jail after an Ontario arrest gets a public record. The statute says agencies must release the full name, date of birth, physical description, arrest time and date, booking time and date, arrest location, bail amount, charges, and holding location. Ontario PD and the county sheriff both follow this mandate.
The law is clear. Booking data cannot be withheld. Police can seal their investigation files, but the booking information stays public. This has been the rule in California since the state updated its Public Records Act. The old statute number was different, but the requirement is the same. Booking records are always available to anyone who asks.
Under Penal Code 851.5, every person booked after an Ontario arrest gets three free phone calls. The calls must be offered within three hours of booking. They can go to a lawyer, a bail agent, or a relative. This is a statewide rule. It applies at every San Bernardino County jail facility where Ontario arrestees are taken.
Ontario Booking Data Fields
An Ontario booking record contains a standard set of data. The person's full legal name heads the record. Date of birth and physical description come next. The arrest section covers the date, time, and location within Ontario where the arrest took place. Booking details show when the person was processed at the county jail. Charges list the specific penal code or vehicle code sections. Bail follows the San Bernardino County bail schedule.
Ontario sees steady arrest activity. The city has about 178,000 residents and sits in the heart of the Inland Empire. Its location near major highways and the airport means the police department handles a diverse range of cases. DUI arrests, theft, drug charges, and domestic violence calls are all common. Each arrest produces a booking record that enters the county system and becomes searchable through JIMS.
Some booking records also include a booking photo. The county takes a photo during the booking process. Whether it appears in the online search results depends on the system. Even if the photo is not displayed online, it exists in the file and can be part of a formal records request.
Ontario Legal Resources
If you need help understanding Ontario booking records or dealing with an arrest, several local resources exist. The Inland Counties Legal Services office provides free legal help to people who qualify based on income. They can assist with questions about booking records, record clearance, and expungement under California Penal Code 1203.4.
The San Bernardino County Public Defender's office also serves Ontario residents who face criminal charges and cannot afford a private attorney. Their office handles cases at the Rancho Cucamonga courthouse, which is where many Ontario criminal cases are heard. The West Valley courthouse at 8303 North Haven Avenue, Rancho Cucamonga, serves the western part of San Bernardino County including Ontario.
Nearby City Booking Records
Ontario is surrounded by other cities in the Inland Empire. Most share the San Bernardino County jail system, so booking records are found through the same JIMS search. Check the links below for pages on specific nearby cities.