Department Of Justice in California

The California Department of Justice is the state's law office and its main support agency for law enforcement. It is led by the Attorney General, who is elected statewide and serves as the chief law officer of California. The department does not patrol streets or run county jails. Instead, it represents the state in court, enforces consumer and civil rights laws, keeps criminal history records, regulates firearm sales, and runs forensic laboratories used by police and sheriffs.

That mix of duties explains why the offices in our directory look so different from one another. Some are regional hubs for investigators and attorneys. Others are laboratories or specialized bureaus. Only some are set up for routine contact with the public, so a little preparation can save you a wasted trip.

How California Organizes Its Department of Justice

The department is built around bureaus and sections, each with a narrow job. Knowing which one handles your issue is the fastest way to reach the right person. These are the functions residents deal with most often:

• Criminal records and background checks: the department keeps state-level criminal history files and processes fingerprint-based checks for employment, licensing, volunteering, and adoption.
• Firearms: the Bureau of Firearms oversees dealer sales records, firearm safety certificates, and the Armed and Prohibited Persons System.
• Forensic services: regional crime laboratories analyze DNA, drugs, and other evidence, mainly for local agencies that have no lab of their own.
• Consumer and civil enforcement: attorneys pursue fraud, antitrust violations, privacy breaches, civil rights cases, and environmental claims on behalf of the state.
• Charities and registries: the Registry of Charitable Trusts oversees nonprofits and fundraisers that solicit donations in California.

The California Constitution names the Attorney General as the state's chief law officer. It also gives the Attorney General direct supervision over every district attorney and sheriff in matters of law enforcement. The Government Code sets out the department's duties, and many of the rules you will meet in practice, such as firearm waiting periods or fingerprint requirements, come from the Penal Code.

Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Francisco: The Largest Offices

Three metro areas hold the largest concentration of department locations. In Los Angeles, the Los Angeles California Department of Justice office at 888 South Figueroa Street is in the downtown core, and its listing shows 213-894-2941. Other Southern California listings include the Commerce California Department of Justice office at 5700 South Eastern Avenue and the Long Beach California Department of Justice office at 501 West Ocean Boulevard. All three fall within Los Angeles County, the most populous county in the nation.

Sacramento is the department's institutional center because the Attorney General's headquarters are in the state capital. The Sacramento California Department of Justice listing at 4949 Broadway shows a toll-free number, 800-952-5225. In the same metro area, the Rancho Cordova California Department of Justice office at 3046 Prospect Park Drive can be reached at 916-464-2030. Both sit in Sacramento County. Residents with a statewide question, such as a records matter, often end up working with Sacramento staff wherever they live.

San Francisco is both a city and a county, which is why our directory groups it under City and County of San Francisco County. The San Francisco California Department of Justice office at 301 Howard Street, phone 415-744-6491, serves the Bay Area core. Farther south on the peninsula, the San Bruno California Department of Justice office at 1200 Bayhill Drive, phone 650-876-9058, falls under San Mateo County.

Inland, Coastal and Northern California: Why Service Differs by Region

California is a long state, and distance shapes how people reach state services. In the Inland Empire, the Riverside California Department of Justice office at 7425 Mission Boulevard (951-361-5000) and the Temecula California Department of Justice office at 43136 Rancho Way (951-676-2261) both fall in Riverside County. Having two locations in one county means many residents can reach an office without crossing into Los Angeles or San Diego.

Along the southern coast, the San Diego California Department of Justice office is at 9425 Chesapeake Drive (858-268-5300), and the Orange California Department of Justice office is at 770 The City Drive South (714-489-6025). On the Central Coast, the Lompoc California Department of Justice listing at 3600 Guard Road (805-736-4154) and the Watsonville California Department of Justice listing at 440 Airport Boulevard (831-761-7620) cover communities that are far from the big metro offices. In the Central Valley, the Fresno California Department of Justice office at 2550 Mariposa Mall (559-477-1691) anchors a wide agricultural region.

The far north is the clearest contrast with Los Angeles. The Eureka California Department of Justice office at 1011 West Wabash Avenue (707-445-6682) and the Redding California Department of Justice office at 9737 Tanqueray Ct (530-224-7800) each serve large, thinly populated areas. A resident of the North Coast or the upper Sacramento Valley may face a long drive, so a phone call before you leave is not optional there. It is the difference between a useful visit and a wasted afternoon.

Metro versus rural: what to expect

In Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, you will find more bureaus, more specialized staff, and more nearby Live Scan fingerprinting sites run by private operators, police departments, and sheriffs. In rural counties, a single regional office or laboratory may cover several counties, and walk-in help may be limited. Many routine transactions, including fingerprint-based record checks, are completed at local Live Scan sites rather than at a department office, no matter where you live.

What to Bring and When to Go in California

Most delays come from missing paperwork. Before you contact any California Department of Justice office, gather the items that apply to your request:

• A current government photo ID, such as a California driver license, ID card, or passport.
• For fingerprinting, the Request for Live Scan Service form (BCIA 8016) with the requesting agency's Originating Agency Identifier number filled in. The employer or licensing board supplies that number.
• A payment method accepted by the Live Scan operator. Fees vary by site, so ask when you book.
• For consumer or civil rights complaints, copies of contracts, receipts, emails, photos, and dates. Keep the originals.
• Any case, application, or reference number you have already received.

Timing matters too. Weekday mornings after the opening rush tend to be quieter than Mondays or the lunch hour. State offices close on state holidays, including Cesar Chavez Day on March 31, so check the calendar before you travel. Confirm hours and services by phone using the number in the listing, since a location that houses investigators or a laboratory may not have a public counter at all.

If you are not sure which bureau handles your matter, start with the main Sacramento line shown above and ask to be transferred. Writing down the name of the person you spoke with and the date of the call gives you something to refer back to if your request takes longer than expected.

Department of Justice resources in California include U.S. Attorney's Office district operations, FBI field offices, and the California Attorney General's Office, which enforces state law and consumer protection statutes at the state level while coordinating with federal DOJ components on major investigations.

Department Of Justice locations are available in 16 cities across California. They are spread across 12 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, reflecting federal district headquarters and major cities where DOJ field offices, U.S. Attorneys, and federal law enforcement units are based.

Residents of California who need to engage with the DOJ should identify the correct agency division for their matter — whether it involves civil rights, a federal crime, antitrust, or a FOIA request — before contacting the appropriate office.

Residents of California who need to file a civil rights complaint, report federal fraud, or access victim assistance programs should visit justice.gov to identify the appropriate DOJ division or contact the U.S. Attorney's Office for the federal district covering their area.

Browse Department Of Justice by county across California to find the nearest location.

Finding the Right California Department of Justice Contact Near You

Start by deciding whether you need a person, a form, or a database. Records and background checks begin at a Live Scan site, not at a department counter. Firearm purchases go through a licensed dealer, who transmits your information to the state. Complaints against a business or public agency are handled by attorneys and a public inquiry unit, usually by mail or online form first.

Use the listings on this page to find the closest regional location, then phone ahead. A Los Angeles resident may choose between the downtown office, Commerce, and Long Beach. Someone in the Central Valley can look at the Fresno California Department of Justice office on Mariposa Mall. In the Bay Area, San Francisco and San Bruno are the nearest options.

Keep the legal context in mind. The Attorney General represents the people of California, not individual clients, so staff cannot give you personal legal advice. If you need a lawyer, contact your county bar association or a legal aid group. If your matter involves a local crime, your city police or county sheriff remains your first call.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Department of Justice in California