Los Angeles Criminal Records Search: Cases & Public Records
How to Search Los Angeles Criminal Records, Court Cases and Public Arrest Information
To search Los Angeles criminal records, start with the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. The court provides an official Criminal Defendant Name Search, Criminal Case Summary and Criminal Case Calendar. You can look up eligible felony and misdemeanor proceedings using a defendant’s name or a known court case number.
The most important cost difference is that Los Angeles Superior Court charges for online defendant-name searches, while case-number lookup and courthouse public access provide other ways to examine eligible case information. If you need arrest records, jail custody details or your own statewide criminal-history report, separate law-enforcement and California Department of Justice services apply.
Official Los Angeles Superior Court, LASD, LAPD and California DOJ sources reviewed October 20, 2026.
Official Los Angeles Criminal Records Search Websites
Los Angeles County has several criminal records systems, but they answer different questions. The Superior Court maintains criminal case records, the Sheriff’s Department maintains county custody information, the LAPD maintains its own arrest reports, and the California DOJ maintains statewide criminal-history data.
| Information needed | Official source | What you can find |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal case by defendant name | LA Superior Court Defendant Name Search | Felony and misdemeanor case numbers, filing dates and courthouse locations. Search fees apply. |
| Criminal case with known case number | Los Angeles Superior Court Find a Case | Eligible public criminal case summary information. |
| Criminal hearing or court date | Criminal Case Calendar | Available criminal court hearing schedules and case-calendar information. |
| Original criminal complaint or judgment | Superior Court Records and Copies | Eligible public criminal filings, certified copies and courthouse inspection. |
| Current county jail inmate | LA Sheriff’s Inmate Information Center | Available booking, custody, bail, court and release-related information. |
| LAPD arrest history | LAPD Arrest Summary Request | An individual’s own LAPD arrest summary; mail and fingerprint requirements. |
| Your own California criminal history | California DOJ Record Review | Fingerprint-based personal statewide criminal-history record. |
| Federal criminal cases in Los Angeles | Federal PACER | Eligible federal criminal prosecutions and dockets. |
How to Search Los Angeles Criminal Records by Name
The Los Angeles Superior Court’s Criminal Defendant Name Search is the official countywide online name index for eligible felony and misdemeanor court proceedings.
It returns a list containing the criminal case number, defendant name, filing date and case filing location. The index is updated daily.
Step-by-step online criminal name search
- Open the official criminal name search.
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Read the index coverage and fee notice.
The system explains the available felony and misdemeanor years and requires payment for an online name search.
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Choose registered or guest access.
Create or use a registered account if appropriate, or continue as a guest.
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Enter the defendant’s name.
Use the person’s full legal name when known. The search supports Exact Match and Starts With matching options.
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Review the payment amount.
Registered users pay $1 for each of their first 10 monthly name searches. Guest searches are $4.75 each. The website shows the applicable charge before the transaction.
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Complete the authorized payment.
Use the accepted card payment method. The search fee applies even if no result is found.
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Review the matching cases.
Compare the defendant’s name, case number, filing date and courthouse location.
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Record the exact criminal case number.
This identifier allows you to retrieve the case summary and contact the correct court without repeating unnecessary name searches.
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Open the Criminal Case Summary service.
Review the available case information, including charges, court events and dispositions.
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Verify the final outcome.
If the person was charged with several offenses, examine the disposition of each charge before describing the result as a conviction, dismissal or acquittal.
Exact Match vs. Starts With: Which should you choose?
The court offers two useful search methods.
Exact Match searches for the name entered. It is useful when you know the recorded spelling.
Starts With searches names beginning with the characters entered. It may help locate names with alternative spellings or longer surnames, but can return more unrelated results.
A name search for “Garcia” may identify multiple unrelated defendants across Los Angeles County.
You cannot determine that every case belongs to one person simply because the surname matches.
Compare the first and middle names, court location and other reliably available details. If the identity cannot be established, contact the court about the appropriate records verification procedure.
Is the Los Angeles Criminal Records Search Free?
Not all Los Angeles criminal records searches are free. The Superior Court charges for online defendant-name searches, but provides public courthouse access and other case-information services.
Los Angeles criminal defendant-name search fees
| Search account | Number of monthly searches | Cost per search |
|---|---|---|
| Registered user | 1–10 | $1.00 |
| Registered user | 11–99 | $4.75 |
| Registered user | 100–999 | $4.50 |
| Registered user | 1,000–10,000 | $4.25 |
| Registered user | 10,001 and above | $4.00 |
| Guest user | Every name search | $4.75 |
The court maintains a monthly count of registered-user searches, reset at the beginning of each month.
A registered account is not necessarily the least expensive option for every situation, but it offers the published $1 introductory monthly search tier.
What if you already know the criminal case number?
Use the Find a Case service or the court’s Criminal Case Summary without performing an additional paid defendant-name index search.
The case-number service provides available case information without requiring a new name lookup. Consult the website if any separate service charge is displayed.
Can you search Los Angeles criminal records at a courthouse?
Yes. The Superior Court explains that members of the public can use public-access computer terminals available inside courthouses to search eligible electronic case records.
A staff-assisted name indexing request may incur a $15 fee if it takes more than 10 minutes to complete under Government Code section 70627(c).
Official published prices: Los Angeles Superior Court Online Services Fee Schedule.
What Los Angeles Criminal Cases Can You Search Online?
The court’s defendant-name index covers eligible felony and misdemeanor criminal cases. Traffic citations and other infractions are handled through separate court information systems.
| Case type | Online name-index coverage | Important notes |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | 1980–present | Searchable eligible felony cases filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. |
| Misdemeanor | Generally 1988–present | Some former Municipal Court misdemeanor information dates to 1983. |
| Traffic infractions | Separate system | Traffic and other infractions are excluded from the criminal defendant-name index. |
| Older felony or misdemeanor | May require Archives & Records Center | Historical or microfilmed cases may not appear in online results. |
| Sealed or confidential matters | Restricted | Access depends on court orders and applicable law. |
How to search Los Angeles felony records
Felony cases are generally prosecuted in California Superior Court. Use the Los Angeles Criminal Defendant Name Search or the case-number lookup for an identified felony proceeding.
The court’s online felony name index dates to 1980, but older original case files can require archive research.
If the case proceeded to sentencing, check the final Judgment or sentencing minute order to verify the exact conviction and sentence.
How to search Los Angeles misdemeanor records
The same Los Angeles Superior Court system provides eligible misdemeanor case information.
The index generally begins in 1988, although some former Municipal Court locations have records dating to 1983.
This variation matters when researching a misdemeanor filed decades ago. The absence of an old case from the index does not conclusively establish that no prosecution occurred.
Where are Los Angeles traffic citations?
The criminal defendant-name index explicitly excludes traffic and other infractions.
For a traffic ticket, use the court’s Traffic Division lookup or follow the instructions printed on the citation.
How to Find Los Angeles Criminal Court Dates and Dockets
The Superior Court provides a Criminal Case Calendar for looking up available hearing information.
If you already know the defendant’s criminal case number, you can also use the Find a Case page to access the case calendar.
How to check your next criminal court appearance
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Open the official Criminal Case Calendar.
Use the calendar service on the Los Angeles Superior Court website.
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Enter the permitted search details.
Use the case number or defendant search fields available in the system.
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Locate the matching criminal case.
Check the filing courthouse and case number.
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Review the scheduled hearing.
Confirm the date, assigned location and other details displayed.
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Check for updated information.
Court calendars can change because of continuances, transfers or other proceedings.
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Follow the court’s current notice.
If you are a defendant, witness or other person required to appear, contact your attorney or the assigned courthouse if any uncertainty remains.
Can Los Angeles Superior Court send hearing reminders?
Yes. The court links to an official Hearing Reminder Service that allows eligible users to schedule email or text reminders.
A reminder is not a substitute for a court notice or a legal obligation to appear.
How to Obtain Certified Los Angeles Criminal Court Records
The public online Criminal Case Summary does not replace the official court file.
If you need the criminal complaint, a minute order, the judgment, a dismissal order or a certified disposition, request the eligible document through Los Angeles Superior Court.
Why criminal case documents cannot usually be downloaded online
California Rule of Court 2.503(c)(5) generally prohibits remote public access to electronic documents filed in criminal proceedings.
The rule distinguishes between public registers of actions, calendars and indexes, which may be available online, and the underlying criminal case documents, which generally must be inspected through the courthouse.
The rule includes a narrow exception allowing remote access in an individual extraordinary criminal case where unusually high public demand would significantly burden the court, subject to a judge’s determination.
How to request a criminal judgment or minute order
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Find the exact criminal case number.
Use the defendant-name index, case summary or original criminal court paperwork.
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Identify the filing courthouse.
Note the courthouse listed in the case record. Los Angeles County has multiple criminal court locations.
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Choose the document you need.
Common requests include a criminal complaint, final Judgment of Conviction, dismissal order, sentencing minute order or another publicly accessible filing.
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Contact the courthouse before visiting.
Court officials recommend checking whether the record is available and whether it can be copied.
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Use the court’s copy-request procedure.
The court provides a Request for Copies form, identified as ADM-080.
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Specify certified or uncertified copies.
A certified copy includes official court certification; a regular copy does not.
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Confirm fees and payment.
The amount depends on the document, pages, certification and any applicable retrieval or delivery charges.
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Submit the request through the approved method.
Depending on the records location, the court may accept in-person or mailed requests.
How much are Los Angeles court record copies?
The Superior Court publishes a standard copying charge of $0.50 per page in its records-copy guidance. Its current posted traffic-records guidance lists $40 per certification.
However, the court’s archived records pages contain older certification amounts, so confirm the current criminal-document fee directly with the filing courthouse before sending a payment.
Do not confuse these clerk-issued paper copy fees with the online Case Document Images service, which applies to other eligible case types and has its own digital document pricing.
Can you request a certified criminal disposition by mail?
Yes, subject to the appropriate case-record procedure.
The court’s online services FAQ identifies a Certification Unit mailing address:
Certification Unit
Los Angeles Superior Court
111 North Hill Street
Room 112C
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Before mailing a criminal records request, confirm with the assigned criminal courthouse or Certification Unit that this is the correct destination for the specific document.
The court states that certified copies must be prepaid and that its Certification Unit does not accept credit cards.
I am requesting a certified copy of the final criminal judgment or disposition in Los Angeles Superior Court case [Case Number], involving [Defendant Name], filed at [Courthouse Name].
Please confirm the document’s public availability, copy and certification fees, accepted payment method and whether this request can be completed by mail.
If the record has been archived, please advise whether an Archives & Records Center request is required.
Where to Find Los Angeles County Criminal Courthouses
A criminal case from Los Angeles County is not necessarily assigned to the downtown Los Angeles courthouse.
The Superior Court operates criminal departments across the county, including locations serving Los Angeles, Long Beach, Van Nuys, Burbank, Glendale, Lancaster and other communities.
Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
210 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
General information: 213-628-7700
Clerk’s office: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., excluding court holidays.
This is a major Los Angeles criminal courthouse, but it is not the location of every criminal case in the county.
Official Criminal Justice Center Details →Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse
275 Magnolia Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90802
The courthouse handles qualifying proceedings for the Long Beach area, with services assigned according to the court’s current jurisdictional and departmental arrangements.
Verify the courthouse listed on your case record before requesting criminal documents or attending a hearing.
Find Courthouse Appointments →Archives & Records Center
222 North Hill Street
Room 212
Los Angeles, CA 90012
The center assists with archived court case records, historical case-number searches and eligible record copies.
Older criminal records may require manual index or microfilm research.
Official Archives Information →Find the Assigned Criminal Courthouse
Los Angeles County criminal proceedings may be assigned to courthouses serving areas such as Van Nuys, Pasadena, Compton, Torrance, Glendale, Burbank, Lancaster or Pomona.
Assignments can change, so use the official case result and court directory rather than assuming the nearest courthouse maintains the case.
Search All LA County Courthouses →Can you schedule a clerk’s office appointment?
Yes. The Superior Court recommends appointments for many clerk services, although walk-in services may be available.
You can arrange assistance with inspecting a court file, requesting minute orders, obtaining records or asking about other court services.
The court lists criminal clerk phone assistance hours as Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., excluding court holidays.
How to Search Old Los Angeles Criminal Records Before 1980
The Los Angeles Superior Court’s online defendant-name index has historical limits.
Older felony cases may not be represented in the electronic index, and some misdemeanor cases from before court automation require separate research.
The court’s Archives & Records Center maintains older case information, including records that may exist only in legacy formats.
How to research an older Los Angeles criminal case
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Write down everything known about the case.
Useful details include the defendant’s name, approximate year, case type and original courthouse.
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Check the modern criminal index first.
Some historical records may have been migrated to the electronic system.
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Contact the Archives & Records Center.
Ask whether older criminal case indexes, microfilm or paper records are available for the relevant period.
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Provide an approximate filing year.
The court may require a narrower date range to locate older material efficiently.
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Confirm whether the record was retained.
Court records are subject to statutory retention schedules. Some older records may no longer exist.
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Request an accessible copy if located.
Ask about normal copying charges, certification and possible archive retrieval requirements.
Are archived criminal records public?
Many retained adult criminal court files may remain publicly accessible, but an archived record is not automatically open to everyone.
Sealed, confidential, juvenile and other restricted documents remain subject to applicable law and court orders.
How to Find Los Angeles Arrest Records and Police Reports
Criminal court records and police arrest records come from different agencies.
The court records what happens after charges are filed. Police departments and sheriff’s offices maintain reports concerning their own law-enforcement activity.
Los Angeles Police Department arrest summary
If you were arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), you can request a personal arrest summary from its Records and Identification Division.
This summary concerns LAPD arrests only. It does not include arrests made by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, other California law-enforcement agencies or federal authorities.
The LAPD’s July 2026 instructions list a fee of $25 for an Arrest Summary and $26 for a Detention Letter.
How to request your own LAPD arrest summary
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Open the LAPD arrest summary instructions.
Review the current Records and Identification Division requirements.
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Complete a standard fingerprint card.
The LAPD requires a properly completed FD-258 card obtained through an authorized fingerprint provider or law-enforcement agency.
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Prepare a written request.
Include the information and contact details specified by LAPD.
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Provide an acceptable identification copy.
Follow the department’s current personal identity verification instructions.
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Include payment.
For an arrest summary, provide a $25 check or money order payable to LAPD. Do not send cash.
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Mail the materials to the Records and Identification Division.
Use the official address shown below.
LAPD Records & Identification Division
ATTN: CSRRU – Arrest Summary
P.O. Box 30158
Los Angeles, CA 90030
Records telephone: 213-486-8320
The LAPD says in-person arrest-summary services are not available under its current instructions.
Official LAPD Arrest Summary Instructions →How do you request an LAPD police incident report?
A crime report is different from a personal arrest summary.
The LAPD generally restricts release of full crime reports to authorized people, such as qualifying victims, representatives and others legally entitled to receive them.
The department’s published standard crime report charge is $28. Certain qualifying victims—including victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, elder abuse or identity theft—may be entitled to a free report under applicable rules.
For details, use the official LAPD police report request guide.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department arrest records
If an arrest was made by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department rather than LAPD, contact LASD.
LASD operates a Records and Identification Bureau and provides separate request procedures for law-enforcement records, booking information, custody records and California Public Records Act requests.
LASD’s public services section currently lists appointment-only pickup hours Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., with appointment assistance at 562-345-4441.
Free Los Angeles County Inmate Search and Booking Records
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department operates an Inmate Information Center for available information about people in its custody.
This service is separate from the criminal case index maintained by the Superior Court.
How to search for someone in Los Angeles County jail
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Open the Inmate Information Center.
Use the official lasd.org-linked custody search.
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Enter the required inmate details.
Use the person’s name and the identifying information requested by the system.
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Review any matching custody result.
Compare available identifying details carefully.
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Check booking and housing information.
The system may provide booking details, custody location, bail amount, court date and release status where available.
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Confirm important details with the department.
Booking status and facility location can change as people are transferred or released.
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Check the actual criminal case separately.
Use the Superior Court docket to determine the charge and its legal outcome.
Can you request information by telephone?
Yes. The Sheriff’s Department identifies an inmate information telephone service:
213-473-6002
Department procedures authorize the release of certain public booking, housing and court information, subject to applicable limits.
Does the inmate locator include everyone ever arrested?
No. A county jail search is primarily a custody-information tool.
Someone who was arrested years ago, released shortly after booking or housed by another agency may not appear in the current inmate information system.
For historical court outcomes, use the Superior Court case search instead.
How to Get Your Own California Criminal Record From the DOJ
If you want a more comprehensive record of your own criminal history reported within California, use the California Department of Justice (DOJ) Record Review procedure.
This service is different from searching a public court case.
California DOJ criminal-history summary information is restricted by law. Individuals have the right to review their own records, but ordinary third-party requests for another person’s confidential criminal-history report are not authorized.
How to request your own California criminal-history record
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Open the California DOJ Record Review page.
Read the current applicant instructions.
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Download the correct application form.
California residents use the Live Scan Record Review form, BCIA 8016RR.
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Complete the identifying information.
Select Record Review as the application type and reason.
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Find an authorized Live Scan location.
Many police departments, sheriff’s offices and approved private fingerprint providers offer Live Scan.
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Provide fingerprints.
The provider electronically submits the fingerprints through the required system.
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Pay the processing charge.
The California DOJ fee is $25, plus any separate fingerprint rolling fee charged by the provider.
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Receive and examine the report.
Review the listed identifying information, arrests and dispositions.
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Challenge incorrect information when appropriate.
Use the DOJ Record Review challenge procedure and supporting documents, if necessary.
Can the $25 California DOJ fee be waived?
California residents may qualify for a DOJ fee waiver based on financial circumstances, such as receiving certain public assistance or having sufficiently low income.
The waiver covers the DOJ processing fee, but applicants may still need to pay the Live Scan fingerprint service provider.
What if you live outside California?
The DOJ provides a separate manual fingerprint-card procedure for people outside California or the United States.
Applicants use the appropriate state application, submit an FD-258 fingerprint card and follow the published payment and mailing requirements.
Can you request someone else’s statewide California criminal history?
Not through the ordinary personal Record Review procedure.
California DOJ specifically states that requests from unauthorized third parties are not processed.
Public criminal court records, authorized employment screening and the individual’s own DOJ criminal-history request are separate services governed by different rules.
How to Read a Los Angeles Criminal Case Summary
A Los Angeles criminal case may include original charges, later amended charges, court hearings, sentencing and other proceedings.
The presence of a case number does not necessarily mean the defendant was convicted.
| Case entry | What it generally means | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Complaint filed | Prosecutors filed a criminal allegation. | Later court findings and disposition. |
| Arraignment | The defendant appears to address the charges and plea process. | Subsequent plea and case events. |
| Preliminary hearing | A proceeding to determine whether there is sufficient evidence for an applicable felony case to proceed. | Court ruling and subsequent charge information. |
| Held to answer | The court found sufficient evidence to require further felony proceedings. | This does not constitute a conviction. |
| Dismissed | A charge or proceeding was dismissed. | Whether other counts remained or a new case was filed. |
| Not guilty / Acquitted | A not-guilty result was entered for the applicable offense. | Which charges were covered. |
| Guilty / No contest | A plea with legal consequences under California law. | Court acceptance, judgment and sentencing details. |
| Convicted | A conviction was entered for a specified offense. | Exact offense, judgment and any later changes. |
| Probation | Conditions of supervision or sentencing apply. | Sentence terms and completion or later modification. |
| Appeal | A higher court was asked to review the decision. | Appeal result and subsequent trial-court orders. |
| Dismissal after conviction | California record-relief procedures may have affected the judgment. | The specific statutory relief and its legal limitations. |
Suppose a Los Angeles case starts with a felony allegation and later resolves as a misdemeanor conviction after an amended charge.
It would be inaccurate to describe the person as having a felony conviction solely because the original case began as a felony.
The correct description depends on the final offense of conviction, judgment and any later orders affecting the case.
Expunged and Sealed Los Angeles Criminal Records
California has several procedures affecting the public availability or legal consequences of criminal records.
These include petition-based dismissals, arrest sealing and certain forms of automatic record relief.
Dismissal of eligible convictions
California Penal Code section 1203.4 allows qualifying individuals to petition for relief from certain convictions.
A successful petition generally results in a withdrawal or setting aside of the plea or verdict and a dismissal under the applicable law.
It does not necessarily erase every record or eliminate every legal consequence of the original case.
The California Courts Self-Help Guide explains how to use Form CR-180 to request eligible conviction dismissal and Form CR-181 for the court’s order.
Arrests that did not result in conviction
California Penal Code section 851.91 provides a procedure for sealing qualifying arrest records when no conviction resulted.
The Judicial Branch identifies possible qualifying circumstances including:
- No charges were filed after the arrest.
- The charges were filed but dismissed.
- The person was acquitted.
- Certain diversion proceedings were completed and dismissed.
Other restrictions, eligibility conditions and exceptions may apply.
Automatic record relief under California law
California also provides certain forms of automatic arrest sealing and conviction relief through Penal Code sections 851.93 and 1203.425.
Whether the relief applies depends on the record, offense, qualifying conditions and statutory exclusions.
How to Search Federal Criminal Court Records in Los Angeles
Federal criminal cases arising in the Los Angeles area are generally filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
These proceedings are not automatically included in the Los Angeles Superior Court’s state criminal case search.
Federal court dockets and eligible filings are available through PACER, the U.S. judiciary’s electronic records system.
How to search a Los Angeles federal criminal case
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Open PACER.
Go to the official federal court case search website.
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Create or sign in to an account.
Account registration is free, but certain electronic record searches and documents have charges.
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Select the Central District of California.
Search this district if you know the federal prosecution was filed in Los Angeles or another location within its jurisdiction.
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Enter a name or case number.
A precise case number can reduce unnecessary searches.
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Open the federal criminal docket.
Review charges, hearings, judicial orders and the final judgment where publicly available.
Why Los Angeles Criminal Records May Not Appear Online
A no-results message does not always mean the person has no criminal history.
| Problem | Possible cause | Recommended next step |
|---|---|---|
| No defendant-name match | Name spelling, indexing limitation or different recorded name. | Check the name carefully and ask about courthouse index access. |
| Search fee charged with no results | Court charges per search, not per match. | Review the official payment FAQ before repeating the search. |
| Felony older than 1980 | Outside ordinary online name-index date range. | Contact the Archives & Records Center. |
| Misdemeanor before 1988 | Historical Municipal Court indexing varies by location. | Ask about archive or legacy index searches. |
| Traffic ticket missing from criminal search | Traffic infractions are not included in the Criminal Defendant Name Search. | Use the Traffic Division service. |
| Criminal document unavailable online | California Rule 2.503 restricts remote criminal document access. | Request eligible documents through the filing courthouse. |
| Inmate absent from LASD search | Release, transfer, booking delay or custody in another system. | Contact LASD custody information or the responsible agency. |
| Statewide DOJ search unavailable for another person | California criminal-history repository information is restricted. | Use public court records or a legally authorized screening program. |
| Record sealed or automatically relieved | State law or court order limits public disclosure. | Follow only the authorized access and record-review procedure. |
| Case was filed in federal court | Federal proceedings use a separate judiciary system. | Search PACER. |
| Similar names return unrelated defendants | Name indexes do not conclusively verify identity. | Compare official identifying information and avoid unsupported conclusions. |
Can a private website provide more complete records?
A commercial criminal records website may aggregate data from several sources, but this does not guarantee greater accuracy.
Private reports may include outdated charges, duplicates, incomplete dispositions or records belonging to a different person.
When a particular Los Angeles criminal case matters, verify it through the original court.
Can You Check Someone’s Los Angeles Criminal Record Without Permission?
Eligible public adult criminal court records can generally be inspected without obtaining the defendant’s permission, subject to court access rules.
However, access to a public case docket is different from obtaining a confidential statewide criminal-history report.
California DOJ’s personal record-review process is restricted to the record subject, and employment or licensing checks must follow their authorized procedures.
What information is commonly restricted?
- Sealed criminal cases and documents.
- Confidential juvenile court proceedings.
- Protected personal identifying information.
- Restricted police investigative records.
- Confidential California DOJ criminal-history reports.
- Certain victim and witness information.
- Records made inaccessible by applicable automatic relief or court orders.
Can an employer use Los Angeles criminal records for screening?
Employers conducting background checks must consider applicable federal, California and local laws.
For covered reports obtained from a consumer reporting agency, the Fair Credit Reporting Act generally requires appropriate disclosures, authorization and adverse-action procedures.
California’s Fair Chance Act and applicable local ordinances can also regulate the timing and use of criminal-history information during employment hiring.
An informal court name search does not automatically satisfy those obligations.
Los Angeles Criminal Records Search FAQs
1. How can I search Los Angeles criminal records online?
Use the Los Angeles Superior Court’s official Criminal Defendant Name Search or its Criminal Case Summary service when you already have a case number. The name search covers eligible felony and misdemeanor cases and charges a fee for each search.
2. Is the Los Angeles criminal records search free?
The online defendant-name search is not free. Registered users pay $1 for each of their first 10 monthly searches, while guest searches cost $4.75 each. Public courthouse terminals and case-number-based services offer other ways to access eligible case information.
3. How far back do Los Angeles criminal court records go?
The court’s online criminal defendant-name index generally covers felony cases from 1980 onward and misdemeanor cases from 1988 onward, with certain misdemeanor records dating to 1983. Older cases may require an Archives & Records Center search.
4. Can I search Los Angeles felony records by name?
Yes. The Los Angeles Superior Court offers a paid defendant-name index for qualifying felony records. The resulting case number can be used to review available criminal case summary information.
5. How do I find a Los Angeles criminal court date?
Use the Superior Court’s Criminal Case Calendar or Find a Case service. Enter the available case details and review the scheduled hearing. Confirm important court appearances directly with the court or attorney.
6. Can I download Los Angeles criminal court documents?
Underlying criminal court documents generally cannot be downloaded remotely by the public under California Rule of Court 2.503. Eligible documents may be inspected at a courthouse or requested through the filing court clerk.
7. How do I request a certified Los Angeles criminal record?
Contact the Superior Court courthouse responsible for the case, supply the case number and specify the judgment, dismissal order or other public document needed. Use the court’s records-copy procedure and confirm the current copy and certification fees.
8. How can I find a Los Angeles County inmate?
Use the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Inmate Information Center at app5.lasd.org/iic/. Available records may show booking, jail location, bail and court information. The Sheriff’s inmate information line is 213-473-6002.
9. Can I get my own California criminal history report?
Yes. The California DOJ provides a fingerprint-based personal Record Review procedure. The DOJ processing fee is $25, plus a fingerprint provider’s rolling fee. Eligible California residents may qualify for a DOJ fee waiver.
10. How do I request an LAPD arrest record?
If you were arrested by LAPD, you can request your own arrest summary through the Records and Identification Division by mail. The published charge is $25 and the procedure requires an accepted fingerprint card and other identifying materials.
11. Why can’t I find someone’s Los Angeles criminal case?
Possible reasons include incorrect name spelling, limited historical indexing, a traffic case stored separately, a federal prosecution or a sealed or otherwise restricted record. A no-results response is not a complete criminal-history clearance.
12. Are expunged Los Angeles criminal records publicly accessible?
California provides several record-relief procedures, including eligible conviction dismissal and arrest sealing. Depending on the applicable statute and order, public access may be restricted while some authorized government access remains.
Official Los Angeles Criminal Records Websites and Sources
The following court and government websites provide the case searches, fees, records-request instructions and privacy rules discussed in this guide.
Los Angeles Superior Court
- Los Angeles Superior Court — Criminal Division
- Los Angeles Superior Court — Search Criminal Cases by Defendant Name
- Los Angeles Superior Court — Online Name Search Fees
- Los Angeles Superior Court — Online Services FAQs
- Los Angeles Superior Court — Find a Case by Number
- Los Angeles Superior Court — Criminal Case Calendar
- California Courts — Los Angeles Hearing Reminder Service
- Los Angeles Superior Court — Obtaining Copies of Court Records
- Los Angeles Superior Court — Forms, Including ADM-080
- Los Angeles Superior Court — Archives & Records Center
- Los Angeles Superior Court — Courthouse Directory
- Los Angeles Superior Court — Clerk’s Office Appointments
Law-enforcement and criminal-history records
- Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department — Inmate Information Center
- Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department — Records Requests
- Los Angeles County Sheriff — Records and Identification Bureau
- LAPD — Arrest Summaries and Detention Letters
- LAPD — Crime and Police Report Requests
- California DOJ — Request Your Own Criminal History
- California DOJ — Criminal History Fee Waiver
- California Department of Corrections — Inmate Locator
California records law and criminal record relief
- California Rules of Court — Rule 2.503, Electronic Criminal Court Records
- California Judicial Branch — How to View Electronic Court Records
- California Courts — Seal an Arrest Without Conviction
- California Courts — Misdemeanor Conviction Dismissal
- California Courts — Felony and Proposition 47 Record Relief
- U.S. Courts — PACER Federal Criminal Case Search
- U.S. District Court — Central District of California