California Free Criminal Records Search: Public Record Lookup
California court records • Free public lookup guide
California Free Criminal Records Search: Official Court Cases, Public Dockets and Background Check Options
Want to check a California criminal case without paying for a third-party background report? Start with the Superior Court in the county where the case was filed. Many courts publish public case indexes, calendars and docket information online, although some charge for name searches.
California does not offer a free, unrestricted statewide criminal-history search of everyone through its Department of Justice (DOJ). Court case lookup, fingerprint-based personal record review, jail information and state prison records are separate processes.
Official court and California DOJ resources reviewed October 16, 2026.
An official court index is not a DOJ criminal-history report.
Quick answer
Where Can You Search California Criminal Records for Free?
Begin with the public case-search service offered by the Superior Court in the county where a prosecution was filed. California has one Superior Court in each of its 58 counties. Online access is not identical statewide: some courts allow no-charge case-number searches, some charge to search by defendant name, and some older cases require courthouse access.
County Superior Courts
Find a felony, misdemeanor or criminal court case index, register of actions or hearing calendar.
Find County Court ↗California DOJ
Request your own statewide criminal-history summary through the authorized fingerprint-based process.
DOJ Instructions ↗CDCR and Megan’s Law
Use the state incarcerated-person search or official sex-offender registry for those specific purposes.
See Other Sources ↓Know the actual costs
Free vs Paid California Criminal Records Searches
It is possible to look up some California criminal case information for free, but the word “free” does not apply uniformly to every county or service.
Some county case-number searches are free; name searches may have charges or require an account.
DOJ’s current processing fee, with potential waiver eligibility. Fingerprint rolling charges may be additional.
Case-number search is free; a single online defendant-name search credit costs $1.
| Search or service | Published pricing | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| California court directory | Free | Find court websites and contact details; it is not a criminal record database. |
| Some county case-number searches | Free, depending on county | Useful if you already know the complete case number. |
| Los Angeles criminal name search | Fee applies | The court publishes separate pricing for guest and registered users. |
| Riverside criminal name search | $1 per name-search credit | The court lists discounted multi-credit options. Online account required. |
| DOJ own-record review | $25 DOJ processing fee | A qualifying applicant may seek a waiver; Live Scan rolling costs can be separate. |
| Regular court-record copy | Generally $0.50 per page | California Courts’ general self-help guidance; local court service fees may vary. |
| Certified court-record copy | Generally $40 per document | Check the court’s current schedule and any exceptions. |
| Court clerk record search | $15 may apply | May be assessed if locating a record requires more than 10 minutes of clerk time. |
County court fees and user interfaces can change. Prices above are based on official California DOJ, Riverside, Los Angeles and California Courts information reviewed October 16, 2026.
County-by-county official sources
California Criminal Court Case Searches: Major County Portals
Use the court that has jurisdiction over the case. The following official links are especially helpful for large California counties, but no county search should be mistaken for a complete statewide background check.
Los Angeles Superior Court
Use the court’s criminal case services or newer Court Access Portal. The court offers criminal defendant-name searching and case summaries, but defendant-name searches have a fee.
After opening: Choose Criminal Case Access, use your case number if known, or review the fee notice before searching by name. Check case location and filing date.
Local detail: The older criminal name index describes felony coverage from 1980 onward and misdemeanor coverage generally from 1988 onward; older cases may require archives.
Open LA Court ↗Orange County Superior Court
Provides Criminal and Traffic Case Access and a separate Case Name Search option.
After opening: Open Case Access, choose Criminal and Traffic Cases, accept the terms, and search using the permitted case information.
Local detail: The court explicitly warns that online results are not its official record. Certified documents must be requested through the court.
Orange County Search ↗San Diego Superior Court
The Online Case Search Court Index accepts party names, case numbers, and in criminal matters a District Attorney case number where available.
After opening: Select Search Now, enter a party name or case number and open the matching case entry.
Local detail: The result may identify the courthouse holding the file. Criminal case documents generally must be viewed at that courthouse or requested by mail. The online index does not include every older case.
San Diego Case Search ↗Riverside Superior Court
Its Public Access Portal provides a free case-number search and a paid criminal/traffic name search.
After opening: Create or sign in to the required account, choose Case Number Search if the number is known, or Criminal/Traffic Name Search and review the credit price.
Local detail: Riverside lists specific online coverage periods for its Riverside, Banning, Mid-County and Indio court locations. A case not listed online may require a clerk search.
Riverside Public Access ↗Sacramento Superior Court
Sacramento launched a new criminal case management system on August 10, 2026.
After opening: Use the Criminal Portal Public Users Guide. The newer eCourt portal supports criminal searches by case number, full party name or last name and first initial, with publicly available calendar information.
Local detail: Some older paper case files that have not been digitized remain available through in-person records procedures.
Sacramento Portal Guide ↗Santa Clara Superior Court
Provides criminal case index access and courthouse procedures for case files.
After opening: Use the criminal case records page to find the index-search link. For records filed from 2004 onward, the court describes search options involving name with other identifying case information.
Local detail: Criminal cases filed before 2004 may require courthouse microfiche research. Restricted documents are not public merely because they are in the court file.
Santa Clara Records ↗San Bernardino Superior Court
The court’s Public Portal provides the case information permitted by California Rule of Court 2.503.
After opening: Read the portal terms, use its public case-search options, and contact the case-handling clerk when a criminal document or official record is required.
Local detail: The portal states that it limits public online information according to the statewide electronic-access rules.
San Bernardino Portal ↗California Find Your Court
If the case is in Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Kern, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Ventura or another county, use the statewide court directory rather than guessing a portal address.
After opening: Enter the relevant city or ZIP code or use the statewide Superior Court list. Then select the court and look for Criminal, Case Search or Access Court Records.
Find Another Court ↗Practical search workflow
How to Search California Public Criminal Court Records
This process is intended for people who want to find a criminal case and check its public status before requesting documents or purchasing a formal criminal-history check.
- Identify the correct county.
Use the prosecution location, case paperwork or known Superior Court. If you only know a city, start with the California Find Your Court tool.
- Open the county Superior Court website.
Find Criminal Case Access, Online Services, Case Information or Public Access. Avoid unofficial sites that imitate court branding.
- Read the access and fee notice.
Determine whether case-number search is free, whether name lookup carries a charge, and whether an account is required.
- Search using the case number first.
Enter the complete number, including letters and year if the court requires them. A known case number usually reduces mistaken matches.
- Use name search only where available.
Enter the legal name in the portal’s required format. Some courts offer name and case-date filters. Never infer a match solely because the names are identical.
- Read the case type and docket.
Confirm that it is a criminal felony, misdemeanor or qualifying criminal traffic matter rather than a civil case or noncriminal infraction.
- Identify the final outcome.
Look for sentencing, dismissal, acquittal, plea, adjudication, a later court order or appeal. A pending charge is not proof of conviction.
- Request documents from the clerk if necessary.
Ask for the publicly releasable judgment, minute order, register of actions or certified disposition from the court that maintains the file.
- Use a separate official process for broader checks.
If you need your own statewide DOJ history, a federal case, jail custody or sex-offender registration information, follow that specific agency’s official process.
Find the appropriate source
California Criminal Record Lookup Route Finder
Choose the task that matches your goal. This tool works entirely within this page, does not search a person, and does not request names, dates of birth or other private information.
Confidential statewide history
California DOJ Criminal History: How to Request Your Own Records
California DOJ maintains state summary criminal-history records, but they are restricted by Penal Code section 11105 and other applicable laws. The DOJ does not provide an unrestricted public people-search database containing everyone’s statewide criminal history.
Individuals can request their own criminal history for accuracy and completeness review. An employer, landlord or other third party cannot use this personal-review procedure to obtain someone else’s report.
- Open DOJ’s Request Your Own page.
Choose the instructions for California residents or applicants residing outside California.
- For California residents, download BCIA 8016RR.
The DOJ identifies this as the Live Scan form for record review. Select “Record Review” as the application type and enter “Record Review” as the reason for application.
- Complete the identifying information.
Follow the DOJ form instructions exactly. Do not enter someone else’s information for a personal review request.
- Visit an authorized Live Scan provider.
DOJ links to public Live Scan locations, fingerprint rolling charges and payment methods. Some police and sheriff offices also offer fingerprinting.
- Pay the applicable fee or apply for a waiver.
The DOJ processing fee is $25. Fingerprint rolling fees may be additional. Eligible applicants can review the DOJ fee-waiver procedure.
- Review the criminal-history response.
Check whether the information is accurate, which agencies reported it and whether dispositions or later relief are missing.
- Challenge an error through DOJ’s instructions.
Use the review-and-correction process and obtain certified supporting court records where needed.
What if you live outside California?
DOJ provides a separate procedure using an FD-258 fingerprint card and its application form, BCIA 8705, for applicants residing outside California or the United States. Follow its current mailing, fingerprint and payment requirements.
Get the actual document
How to Obtain a Certified California Criminal Court Record
When a court index shows a case, it does not automatically provide a downloadable judgment or certified disposition. The Superior Court maintaining the file is responsible for official court document requests.
Before contacting the clerk
- Identify the filing county and court location.
- Write down the complete case number.
- Record the defendant’s exact name as displayed.
- Note the approximate filing year.
- Specify the judgment, disposition, minute order or document needed.
- Ask whether an ordinary or certified copy is required.
What to ask the clerk
- Is the record publicly accessible?
- Can the document be requested by mail or online?
- Is in-person viewing required?
- What are the current copy and certification fees?
- Is the file archived at another location?
- How should you pay and receive the copies?
California Rule of Court 2.503
Why California Criminal Case Documents Are Often Not Available Online
California Rule of Court 2.503 is an important reason a public search may show a case number or hearing history without displaying the charging document, police report, probation report or judgment image.
Often available remotely
- Public court case indexes
- Registers of actions
- Calendars and hearing dates
- Basic case-number information
- Appellate case dockets
Availability still depends on the court’s technology and the applicable access rules.
Generally restricted from remote public access
- Underlying electronic criminal case documents
- Confidential or sealed case materials
- Juvenile court case records
- Specified sensitive records or information
- Protected victim and private personal information
Some otherwise public criminal documents can be inspected through authorized courthouse processes.
The rule generally requires courts to provide feasible public electronic access to indexes, calendars and registers, but restricts ordinary remote public access to the underlying electronic documents in criminal proceedings. An exception may be authorized by a judge for an extraordinary criminal case.
Read the result correctly
California Criminal Case Status: Charges, Dispositions and Dismissals
Do not treat an arrest entry or filed charge as a final conviction. A reliable court record review looks at each count and the latest judicial action.
| Case entry | General meaning | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Complaint filed | Prosecutors filed criminal charges. | Whether charges were later dismissed, amended, tried or resolved. |
| Arraignment | A court appearance where formal charges and pleas may be addressed. | The case remains pending unless later records indicate otherwise. |
| Dismissed | A specified charge or case was dismissed. | Whether every count was dismissed, the date and any later action. |
| Not guilty / acquitted | Acquittal on specified charges. | Final outcome of all counts. |
| Convicted / judgment entered | Court entered a conviction or judgment. | Offense, sentence, appeals and later orders. |
| Dismissal under Penal Code 1203.4 | A qualifying conviction was dismissed under a statutory relief process. | Scope and legal effects; not the same as erasing the historical case. |
| Sealed | A legal restriction applies to record access. | Do not attempt unauthorized access; relief can be reflected in official orders. |
A misdemeanor, felony, infraction, arrest and conviction should not be described as though they are the same event. Where a case has multiple counts, verify each count’s disposition separately.
Other official public sources
California Jail, State Prison, Megan’s Law and Federal Criminal Records
CDCR Incarcerated Person Search
Use the California Incarcerated Records and Information Search (CIRIS) for the public state incarcerated-person information CDCR makes available.
After opening: Read and accept the disclaimer, then search using a name or CDCR number and check identifying details.
Important limit: This is not a complete statewide criminal-history database. The CDCR information is also not a certified judgment.
CDCR CIRIS ↗Local Sheriff and Detention Records
Recent bookings and county jail custody may be maintained by the county sheriff or another local detention agency rather than CDCR.
After opening: Use the sheriff website for the county, find Inmate Search, Who’s in Jail or Custody Information and follow its specific rules.
Important limit: Booking and custody information does not establish guilt, conviction or final court disposition.
Identify County ↗California Megan’s Law
The California DOJ Megan’s Law website publicly displays certain information on registered sex offenders in accordance with Penal Code section 290.46.
After opening: Read the registry disclaimer, acknowledge the legal restrictions and use the search options permitted on the official website.
Important limit: Not every registered individual appears publicly, and registry information must not be misused.
Official Megan’s Law ↗PACER
Federal criminal prosecutions in California are handled through the federal judiciary and are separate from California’s state Superior Courts.
After opening: Sign in or create a PACER account,