San Juan County, Puerto Rico Arrest Records

San Juan arrest records are official documentation of the apprehension of individuals by local law enforcement agencies within the municipality. These records are typically created by the San Juan Department of Police and Public Security to document arrests they conduct. The agency has a network of precincts across San Juan and is responsible for maintaining law and order, including conducting arrests, in the local communities. Generally, arrest records serve public interest by ensuring arrests are properly and transparently documented. These records also provide a basis for holding law enforcement agencies accountable for their actions. 

In San Juan, the Puerto Rico Transparency and Expedited Procedure for Public Record Access Act governs the release of arrest records. Meanwhile, the Law of Puerto Rico Annotated (LPRA) Title 34 § 1725 controls the release of criminal record certificates. 

Are Arrest Records Public Information in San Juan, Puerto Rico?

Yes. San Juan arrest records are presumably public per the Puerto Rico Transparency and Expedited Procedure for Public Record Access Act, codified in Puerto Rico Act No 141. The Act states that every person has the right to access records and documents generated or maintained by government entities in connection with their official actions and operations. Law enforcement agencies, including those in San Juan, and the records they generate, such as arrest records, are subject to the Act. 

Generally, residency in San Juan is not required to access local arrest records. However, record seekers may need to present a valid identification when requesting a record. 

What Do Public San Juan County Arrest Records Contain?

Public information that San Juan arrest records may contain includes, but is not limited to, the following: 

• The arrestee’s personal information, such as full name and date of birth
• Arrest details (i.e., date, time, and location of the arrest)
• Offense details, such as a description of the crime that warranted the arrest and charges
• Incarcration details
• Bond information (if applicable)

The Puerto Rico Transparency and Expedited Procedure for Public Record Access Act is not absolute. As a result, certain types of arrest records in San Juan are exempt from public access under the act and other applicable state and federal laws. Most notably, juvenile records are protected from unauthorized access under the Puerto Rico Minors' Act. Additionally, expunged records are also exempt from public access.    

San Juan County, Puerto Rico Arrest Search

Interested persons may conduct San Juan arrest searches by obtaining a Criminal Record Certificate, also known as a Good Conduct Certificate or Certificado de Antecedentes Penales, from the Puerto Rico Police Department. The certificate contains information from databases of Puerto Rico’s police departments, Justice Department, and Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP).

Per the Law of Puerto Rico Annotated (LPRA) Title 34 § 1725, only local residents may request Criminal Record Certificates from the Puerto Rico Police Department. They are typically required to present their Puerto Rico Driver’s License or DTOP digital identification to prove their residency when making requests. Additionally, certain items and information are required to facilitate requests. These include the subject’s full name, date of birth, Social Security Number (SSN), their father’s last name, and their mother’s surname.

Interested persons may request Criminal Record Certificates in person by visiting the Puerto Rico Police Department at:

601 Franklin Delano Roosevelt Ave, 

San Juan, 00936

Phone: (787) 793-1234

Alternatively, record seekers may use the Puerto Rico Police Department’s Criminal Record Certificate request portal to make a request online. Generally, both in-person and online Criminal Record Certificate requests are subject to certain fees and varying processing times.

Interested persons may also contact the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) to obtain inmate records of individuals arrested and booked in San Juan. These records may contain an inmate’s arrest information. Unfortunately, the DCR does not provide an online resource for accessing inmate records. Notwithstanding, individuals may make inmate inquiries by contacting or visiting the DCR at:

Ave. Teniente César González

Esq. Calle Juan Calaf #34 

Urb. Industrial Tres Monjitas
San Juan, PR 00917

Phone: (787) 273-6464

Meanwhile, the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Inmate Locator may be used to find information about individuals arrested in San Juan but booked in a federal prison facility. 

San Juan County Inmate Locator

The San Juan Department of Police and Public Security does not provide an inmate locator. Thus, the only way individuals may find arrest records through the agency is by visiting or contacting its local precincts serving different San Juan barrios. The addresses and contact information of these precincts are outlined on the agency’s official website. For instance, the precinct in Santurce may be contacted at:

100 Ave. Eduardo Conde 

Barrio Obrero 

Santurce, PR

Phone: (787) 480-4880

Fax : (787) 268-7384

Active Warrant Search in San Juan County

A San Juan arrest warrant is a judicial order that directs a law enforcement officer(s) to take a person into custody. The Laws of Puerto Rico, Title 34A II, Rule 6, permit magistrates to issue an arrest warrant when a filed complaint or affidavit establishes sufficient probable cause to believe that a person has committed a crime. According to Rule 6(b), an arrest must be issued in writing and in the name of the people of Puerto Rico and must contain:

• The issuing magistrate's signature and official title. 
• A description of the charged crime.
• The name of the person(s) to be arrested or a description that identifies them with reasonable certainty.
• The date and place of the warrant’s issuance. 
• The bail amount set by the issuing magistrate (if applicable). 

Unfortunately, there is no government-run centralized online database for accessing information about warrants in San Juan. Thus, the only way to inquire about active warrants in San Juan is by contacting local court clerks or precincts. A local court clerk may provide information about warrants issued by their court, while local precincts may provide information about warrants they are responsible for executing. Active warrant inquiries may be made in person, by phone, or by mail, depending on how the record custodian operates. Notwithstanding, inquirers must possess sufficient information about a warrant’s subject, such as their full name, date of birth, or Social Security Number (SSN), to facilitate their search.   

Agency / Resource	Purpose	Search Methods	Notes
San Juan Department of Police and Public Security Precincts	Maintains and serves warrants	Phone and in person	Availability may vary
Local courthouses	Maintains and issues warrants	Phone and in person	May only provide information about warrants that individual courts issued

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in San Juan County

The San Juan Department of Police and Public Security does not provide any free resources for accessing local arrest records. The primary way to access arrest records through the agency is by contacting or visiting the agency’s precincts to make requests. Individuals may be charged a minimal fee for their requests. Additionally, they must provide acceptable form identification and sufficient information about the sought-after record, such as the arrestee’s name, date of birth, or Social Security Number (SSN), to facilitate their request.   

It is worth noting that local news agencies may publish recent and noteworthy arrests on their websites. However, these free publication typically only provides basic arrest details.

San Juan County Arrest Report

After an arrest in San Juan, the arresting officer typically prepares an arrest report to document their account of what happened during and after the incident. These records usually contain the arrestee’s personal information, details about the arrest process, the arrestee’s statement (if any), and the arresting officer’s noteworthy observations. Arrest reports play a crucial role in investigations and court proceedings, serving as a key point of reference throughout the legal process. 

Conversely, an arrest record captures basic details about an arrest and is usually featured in law enforcement and judicial databases. An arrest record is also typically created following an arrest. The content of these records is limited to factual information, including but not limited to the arrestee’s personal information, offense details, and the arrest location, time, and date.  

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in San Juan County

In San Juan, interested persons may apply to get their arrest record expunged under Puerto Rico Law No. 254 of 1974. Generally, the law permits expungement of arrests for most misdemeanors and certain felonies. However, individuals listed in the Registry for Convicted Violent Sexual Crime and Child Abuse or Corruption are ineligible to request record expungement until they are removed from such registries. Additionally, individuals currently serving time or long sentences, such as a person sentenced to 99 years in prison due to a first-degree murder conviction, are also ineligible for record expungement.    

The procedures for applying for the expungement of a criminal record, including related arrest records, differ depending on the type of crime (i.e., misdemeanor or felony):

Misdemeanors

Individuals arrested and convicted of a misdemeanor must wait six (6) months after serving their sentence before they can apply for expungement. After the prescribed waiting period, they may file an expungement application under oath and other required documents with the Police Superintendent. These required documents include:

• Their original criminal record certificate
• An affidavit signed before a notary, which contains the following information: 
  • The applicant's personal information
  • Description of the crime as detailed in the criminal record certificate
  • A statement that relevant legal requirements have been met, including having a good reputation in the community. 
• Certified copy of the judgment of conviction 
• Certification issued by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation attesting to their completed sentence, or a copy of a court judgment stating they have served the penalty or paid the applicable fine.
• $20 in internal revenue stamps. 

Subsequently, the expungement application may be denied or granted. If the application is granted but the record still appears on the applicant’s criminal record certificate, they must submit the following to the Police Headquarters:

• Police Superintendent’s letter attesting to the expungement of the misdemeanor charge(s).
• A copy of the internal revenue stamp receipt for $20 and the affidavit stamped by the police during the expungement proceeding.  

Felonies 

Individuals arrested and convicted of an eligible felony must wait five (5) months after serving their sentence before applying for record expungement. Thereafter, they may file an expungement application in the Court of First Instance that handled their case. The application must be composed of the following documents: 

• Their criminal record certificate
• Certified copy of the judgment of conviction issued by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation attesting that the sentence has been served. 
• Copy of the judgment of the presiding court that states the applicant has served the penalty, paid any imposed fines, or completed probation and rehabilitation program (if applicable)
• Sworn statements from two or more witnesses who are aware of the applicant’s offense that attest to the applicant's good reputation in the community. 
• Certification showing that the applicant has provided a DNA sample for the DNA Data Bank.
• Any other relevant documents that support the application

After filing the application, the court may set a hearing where a prosecutor may state the Department of Justice's position regarding the expungement application. Subsequently, a judge may deny or grant the expungement request. If the expungement is granted, the applicant, their legal representative, or any other authorized person must file an application with the Department of Justice to request the removal of the expunged record from their criminal records. The application must consist of the following documents:

• A certified copy of the expungement order signed by the judge of the Court of First Instance. 
• The original and a copy of the applicant's valid photo ID (i.e., driver’s license, passport, or ID issued by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico)  
• The original and a copy of the applicant’s Social Security Card 
• Other required supplementary document. 

Note: if an expungement application for a misdemeanor or felony was denied, the applicant may seek a review of the decision with the Puerto Rico Court of Appeals   

How Do You Remove San Juan County Arrest Records From the Internet?

The first step in ensuring the removal of the San Juan arrest records from the internet is applying to get the record expunged. Once a record is expunged, unauthorized access to the record is prohibited. As a result, government and private entities are required to remove such records from their website, where they are publicly accessible. Repeated failure to do so may attract legal consequences. Most third-party aggregate websites also offer opt-out request forms that individuals may use to request the removal of public records, including arrest records, published on their website.