General Information

Santa Barbara Police Department
215 East Figueroa Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 897-2300 (805) 897-2434 Fax

In case of emergency, call 9-1-1   Non-Emergency Dispatch, 805-882-8900

Santa Barbara Police Authority Letter

 **  UPDATED INFORMATION AS OF 02-01-2020  ** 

The SBPD Authority Letter is now submitted online – please read both the information below and see the link to submit the form directly into our system.  

The SBPD Authority Letter is completed by the business/property owner, manager, or an authorized designee. The letter authorizes the SBPD to enter the location after the property is posted as CLOSED to enforce law violations and make any necessary arrests. These violations include, but are not limited to, illegal lodging, public intoxication, and prowling.

If an arrest is made at the property, the individual who has signed the letter agrees to appear in court to assist in the prosecution of any arrest made pursuant to this letter.

The Authority Letter is valid for twelve (12) months, as specified by the person who fills out the Authority Letter. It is the business/property owner’s responsibility to renew the Authority Letter after the twelve month time frame. 

You are required to have a NO TRESPASSING sign posted in view on the property.

You are required to post a CLOSED sign when the property is closed. 

We recommend that you post the Authority Letter in a window so that an officer sees it when addressing a problem. This expedites police assistance.  Please black-out or cut off your personal information when posting the letter.

Submit your SBPD Authority Letter via this link:

https://secure.coplogic.com/dors/startreport/127444700/300002391/en

With this direct link, your information is deposited directly into our system.  You must submit one Authority Letter for each property address.  If you have any questions about online entry, please contact our Records personnel at 805-897-2355 for assistance.

Appointments are offered Monday thru Friday.  Please call Records at (805) 897-2355 to make an appointment. 

LiveScan and Fingerprinting procedures are performed at the Police Department, 215 E. Figueroa St., Santa Barbara. We currently do not offer walk-in services for LiveScan. 

• Anyone with more than two LiveScan forms will require another separate appointment.  Anyone with more than 3 ink cards will require another separate appointment.
• Only one person may sign up per time slot.

Please arrive 10 minutes early for your scheduled appointment to allow sufficient time to find parking and check-in.  If you arrive late, we may not be able to fingerprint you and you will have to reschedule your appointment.  Only a 5 minute grace period is allowed. 

Identification

You must have a valid government-issued photo identification, examples of acceptable photo identification include a State Drivers’ License or I.D. card or Passport.  (We do not accept the Mexican Matricula without a birth certificate or a utility bill with applicants name on it).

We require 2 copies of the LiveScan form completely filled out, including personal information. Please refer with the agency you are applying with to find out if you can access the form online.   We can provide the ink card but please allow extra time to complete the ink card.  Ink cards must be complete in black or blue ink only, do not sign the card; the card is signed in front of the LiveScan technician.

Payment

We accept Cash, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover.  We do not quote fees over the phone!  The fees are dependent upon two things: the level (type) of service and the requesting agency.  We cannot quote the cost until we review the forms in person.  The Billing Number does not include our rolling fee, you will still be responsible for our rolling fee (accepted in cash, check or charge) unless prior arrangements have been made with our Business Office to bill for the rolling fee. 

The fee for fingerprint ink cards is $30 for the first two cards and $12 for every card after the second card.

Alternative LiveScan / Fingerprint service providers can be found on the website of the Office of the Attorney General at oag.ca.gov; the tab you will query is Criminal Justice / Fingerprint Submissions

To find out where your prints/LiveScan are in the process, you can visit applicantstatus.doj.ca.gov/.  

Miscellaneous Information

Two people cannot be printed at the same time; each will require their own appointment. 

We do not provide LiveScan forms, as we do not have the necessary information.

We do not have a cancellation list; we do not call people when there is a cancellation. 

Special appointments are at the discretion of the LiveScan/Fingerprint Technician and/or Supervisor on duty; please refer to the assigned LiveScan/Fingerprint Technician or Supervisor. 

If someone is late or has missed their appointment, it is the discretion of the LiveScan/Fingerprint Technician and/or Supervisor whether or not the individual can still be seen or if they will need to reschedule.

Parking restrictions (and enforcement) are in effect on ALL Holidays. Restrictions include, but are not limited to, 90 and 75 minute zones, green zones, yellow zones, white zones, red zones, permit required zones and most bike lanes (the only exception are those bike lanes that state "school days" as most schools are not in session on legal Holidays).

For the Street Sweeping schedule and enforcement on Holidays please call the Street Sweeping hotline at 805-897-1903 as the sweep enforcement schedule varies depending on the particular Holiday.

Visit the California Department of Justice Megan’s Law Website where California is embracing technology to enhance community safety.

Police Property & Evidence

The Property Room is open Monday through Thursday (closed holidays) from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.  We may be contacted at 805-897-2375.

Property Retrieval

• All Property Retrieval is by Appointment Only.
• Safekeeping-Safekeeping property may be claimed by appointment only. You will need your agency case number and a government issued identification. To schedule an appointment contact 805-897-2375.
• Found Property – Found Property belonging to you may be claimed by appointment only. You will need your agency case number and a government issued identification (with the exception that you are retrieving your identification).
• Found Property Claims- Per CA Civil Code Section 2080-2080.10, the finder may claim the property after 90 days and relinquishes claim after an additional 10 days. For items valued in excess of $250, the finder shall publish notice of the property in a newspaper of general circulation for 7 days. If the property remains unclaimed, the finder shall bring in a copy of the published notice at the time of their appointment to claim the found item.
• Evidence Retrieval- The Property & Evidence Room is a storage facility only and no decisions will be made by the staff regarding the return of evidence. Evidence may be released with prior authorization from the case detective/investigating officer, by Court Order, or with a Property Release Authorization Form from the District Attorney’s Office. The District Attorney’s Office is located at 1112 Santa Barbara St. It is suggested that your attorney request the return of items at the time your case is concluded. When we have received authorization for the release of your items, you will be contacted to schedule an appointment.
• Third Party Property Retrieval- You may have another individual retrieve your property for you with a notarized authorization from you stating the person’s name that will be claiming the property,  if it is stipulated on the District Attorney’s Property Release Authorization, or the arrestee’s safekeeping notice.

Shipping of Property

Prior arrangements may be made to ship items out of the area. We require a mailed or faxed (fax # 805-897-2434) notarized authorization including the agency case number, your name and address, and must state that ‘You do not hold the City of Santa Barbara nor the Santa Barbara Police Department liable for loss or damage during the course of shipping’. Shipping must be arranged and paid for in advance by you through FedEx or UPS and the Property Room provided with a label. After shipping arrangements have been made, contact the Property Room so that the item may be prepared for shipment.

Lost Property

A police report should be filed as soon as possible and may be done so online or in person at the Santa Barbara Police Department. It is extremely helpful to obtain serial numbers for any serialized items that were lost. You may contact the Property Room to check if the item has been turned in at 805-897-2375.

Emergency: 911 - For police assistance in emergency situations and crimes that are in progress.

Non-Emergency: 805-882-8900 - For police assistance in non-life threatening situations.

When requesting services for non-emergency/non-life threatening situations, we ask for your patience in waiting for the arrival of a police officer, as emergency calls have priority over non-emergency calls. The officer will respond to your call as soon as possible.

When calling, have the following information ready:

1. Type of incident.
2. Is the crime still in progress?
3. Location.
4. Number of suspects, if any; and whether they are armed.
5. Suspect description (race, sex, age, height, weight, clothing) and last known direction of travel.
6. Vehicle description (color, year, make, model, license plate number), if any; and last known direction of travel.

National Crime Prevention Council
1000 Connecticut Avenue, NW
13th Floor
Washington, DC 20036

Don't give burglars, muggers, pickpockets, or scammers a chance to do their dirty work. Click on the link above to learn more about how to protect yourself and your home. 

Do you know a wanted person? If you know the whereabouts of any wanted person, do not take action on your own! Please call the Santa Barbara Jail at 805-681-4260.

Are you a wanted person? If there is an outstanding warrant for your arrest, we will allow you to turn yourself in at a specific time in order for you to get your affairs in order. We can assure you that your treatment will be handled in a highly professional manner with the dignity that it deserves for taking the responsibility to turn yourself in. You can be accompanied by your attorney or loved one to the police department prior to arrest. Your cooperation will be duly noted and properly recorded.

Court-Issued Warrants

The Court will generally issue a warrant when:

• Failure to Meet the Orders of a Judge
• If you have appeared before a judge and have agreed to a payment plan, community service or other judicial orders, you must complete these orders as specified or a warrant will be issued for your arrest.
• Failure to show up for a scheduled court appearance.
• Failure to show up or be represented by an attorney for any court appearance will automatically generate a warrant by the court.

Getting Specific Information About Outstanding Warrants

• To find out whether you have an outstanding warrant, you may call the Santa Barbara County Sheriff at (805) 681-4330. Choose the Warrants option from the voice menu.
• To find out which courtroom your appearance is scheduled, you may call the court located at 118 E. Figueroa Street in Santa Barbara during normal business hours at (805) 568-2780.   

   

Warrant Process Overview

There are different types of warrants which may be issued, with different procedures outlined by the courts.

Bench Warrants

A Bench Warrant of arrest may be issued whenever a defendant fails to appear in court as required by law including, but not limited to, the following situations:

• If the defendant is ordered by a judge or magistrate to personally appear in court at a specific time and place.
• If the defendant is released from custody on bail and is ordered by a judge or magistrate, or other person authorized to accept bail, to personally appear in court at a specific time and place.
• If the defendant is released from custody on his own recognizance and promises to personally appear at court at a specific time and place.
• If the defendant is released from custody or arrest upon citation by a peace officer or other person authorized to issue citations and the defendant has signed a promise to appear in court at a specific time and place.
• If a defendant is authorized to appear by counsel and the court or magistrate orders that the defendant personally appear in court at a specific time and place.
• If an information charge or indictment has been filed in the superior court and the court has fixed the date and place for the defendant personally to appear for arraignment.
• The bench warrant may be served in any county in the same manner as a warrant of arrest.

Arrest Warrants

A warrant of arrest may be issued when a complaint is filed with a magistrate charging a public offense, if the magistrate is satisfied from the complaint that the offense charged has been committed and that there is reasonable ground to believe that the defendant has committed it, the magistrate shall issue a warrant for the arrest of the defendant.

• The warrant of arrest shall specify the name of the defendant or, if unknown, the defendant may be designated therein by any name. It shall also state the time of issuing it, and the city or county where it is issued, and shall be signed by the magistrate issuing it with the title of his office and the name of the court or other issuing agency.

• At the time of issuing a warrant of arrest, the magistrate shall fix the amount of bail which in his judgment in accordance with the provisions of section 1275 PC. (this section deals with considerations the magistrate makes when determining the setting of bail). The amount will be reasonable and sufficient for the appearance of the defendant following his arrest, if the offense is bailable, and said magistrate shall endorse upon said warrant a statement signed by him, with the name of his office, dated at the county, city or town where it is made to the following effect "The defendant is to be admitted to bail in the sum of ______ dollars". (Stating the amount).

The Santa Barbara Police Department actively works outstanding fugitive cases and will arrest and extradite fugitives anywhere with the Continental United States. On more serious cases the Santa Barbara Police Department has worked with Interpol and many Foreign Countries in conjunction with the District Attorney’s Office in order to track down and bring to justice Felony Fugitives anywhere they may hide.

Entering Homes to Serve Arrest Warrants

Is a search warrant needed if the home belongs to someone else?

The officer must have a valid reason to believe that the named offender will be present in the home.

Most police officers know that when an arrest warrant has been issued, they can enter the home of the person named in the warrant, without a search warrant, to make an arrest. But can they make a warrantless entry into the home of a person not named in the arrest warrant?

Recently, the Court of Appeals for Cuyahoga County, Ohio, addressed that issue. In State v. Tolbert (1997), officers from the Cleveland Police department had a capias (bench warrant) for the defendant's arrest on a probation violation. After receiving a tip that the defendant was in his girlfriend's apartment, officers went to that apartment and arrested the defendant. The court ruled that the warrantless entry into the home was proper because the police officers had a valid arrest warrant and reason to believe that the defendant was in the apartment. Quoting the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the Ohio court stated:

United States v. Underwood (1983).