Santa Clara County Criminal Records Search: Cases & Public Records

Select the appropriate records custodian

Where Can You Find Santa Clara County Criminal Records?

Criminal court filings, arrest records, jail bookings and fingerprint-based criminal histories are maintained by different agencies. Start with the service that actually holds the information you need.

Criminal cases filed from 2004 onward

How to Search Santa Clara County Criminal Court Records Online

The Santa Clara Superior Court provides its Criminal Case Index through the official court portal. The court says the index covers cases filed in 2004 or later.

You can search the index using the defendant’s name and date of birth, or the defendant’s name together with the month and year of filing.

1. Open the official Court Public Portal

   Visit portal.scscourt.org using the link above. Select the case-index or case-search feature rather than a traffic fine payment option.

2. Use the criminal case search

   The court distinguishes criminal case indexing from the broader civil case document portal. Choose the appropriate criminal index option.

3. Enter the defendant’s name

   Provide the correct spelling. Use the additional identifying information required by the criminal index rather than assuming a name alone will identify a case.

4. Provide one of the supported search combinations

   The court identifies two standard methods: defendant name with date of birth, or defendant name with the month and year the case was filed.

5. Review available matching case identifiers

   Compare the name, filing information and case number. The online criminal index is intended to help identify cases; it is not the same as a certified final disposition.

6. Write down the complete case number

   Keep the full case identifier and any filing information shown. You will generally need the case number when requesting a specific court document.

7. Identify which courthouse maintains the file

   Santa Clara County criminal matters are handled at the Hall of Justice, Palo Alto Courthouse and South County Courthouse, with specialized proceedings at other locations.

8. Request a court document or disposition

   Contact the original Criminal Clerk’s Office if you need an actual judgment, dismissal, sentencing record or certified copy.

What information is in the criminal index?

The Court’s Criminal Case Index information identifies essential case-index data, including:

• Case number
• Filing date
• Party or defendant name

Access to further case information and documents depends on the court’s public-access rules, the type of proceeding and whether a record is restricted.

How frequently is the criminal index updated?

The Superior Court’s Criminal FAQs identify the index as updated quarterly. Its separate index-information documentation also describes quarterly extraction and update timing.

Therefore, a case filed very recently may not appear in the name index immediately. If a new case is missing, contact the Criminal Clerk before assuming it was never filed.

Can I search Santa Clara criminal records for free?

The court provides a public criminal case index. Ordinary public online indexing does not itself require paying for a certified document.

However, a clerk-assisted historical search, physical copies, certification or specially prepared index files may have fees.

Historical criminal case access

How to Find Santa Clara County Criminal Records Before 2004

Santa Clara’s online criminal index begins with 2004 filings. Cases from 2003 and earlier may require direct courthouse assistance.

Some older court documentation mentions searching microfiche, but the Superior Court’s current Criminal FAQs explicitly say that public criminal records are no longer provided on microfiche.

For a pre-2004 criminal matter, request a name search from the appropriate court clerk instead.

How to request an older case search

1. Identify where the case was heard

   Use any available arrest documents, court notices, old case numbers or city information to identify the likely courthouse.

2. Prepare the defendant’s identifying information

   The court specifies the defendant’s name, date of birth and the years to be searched for a clerk-assisted historical lookup.

3. Contact the appropriate Criminal Clerk’s Office

   Use the Hall of Justice, Palo Alto or South County criminal contact details in the next section.

4. Request a historical name search

   Explain that the case was filed before 2004 and cannot be found in the normal online criminal index.

5. Ask about the research fee

   A clerk search taking longer than ten minutes carries a published records-search fee.

6. Obtain the case number and documents

   Once the clerk locates the case, request the exact judgment, minute order or other available public record you need.

How much does a historical name search cost?

The Court’s records fee schedule lists $15 for each records search taking longer than ten minutes.

This is a clerk-assisted research charge, not necessarily a fee for an ordinary online name-index query.

Find the criminal courthouse responsible for the case

Santa Clara County Criminal Courthouses and Clerk Contacts

The Superior Court directs most public criminal records inquiries to three courthouse locations.

The Hall of Justice is the principal criminal courthouse for San Jose and several central and western Santa Clara County communities.

For document requests, use the Criminal Clerk rather than the civil courthouse at 191 N. First Street, even though the court’s general mailing address may use the downtown First Street location.

Palo Alto Courthouse is relevant to criminal proceedings originating in communities including Mountain View, Sunnyvale and Cupertino.

Do not automatically request a Mountain View criminal case from San Jose simply because San Jose is the county seat.

Specialized drug court cases

Santa Clara Superior Court also identifies drug court proceedings at the Family Justice Center Courthouse in San Jose.

The Family Justice Center Drug Court Clerk can be contacted at 408-491-4811.

If the criminal case has been assigned to a specialty or collaborative court, verify the current department before appearing or requesting documents.

Felonies, misdemeanors and restricted cases

Which Criminal Records Are Available in Santa Clara County?

The Superior Court handles adult felony and misdemeanor cases within its jurisdiction, but not all information in a criminal file is publicly releasable.

Which documents are not automatically public?

The Superior Court lists several categories of criminal-file information that may be protected from ordinary public access, including:

• Documents revealing protected victim-identifying information
• Probation reports
• Protective orders involving minor victims
• Own-recognizance evaluation reports
• Confidential criminal-history information
• Financial and medical information

Some arrest and investigative documents may be releasable in redacted form under specific legal procedures. However, a public case number does not create an unrestricted right to inspect every item in the court file.

Court hearings and criminal dockets

How to Search Santa Clara County Criminal Court Calendars

The Superior Court provides a public calendar search covering criminal court proceedings.

Its portal includes criminal calendars for the Hall of Justice, Palo Alto and South County court locations.

1. Open the court’s Criminal Calendars page

   Follow its official Public Portal Calendar Search link.

2. Select the correct criminal courthouse

   Choose the Hall of Justice, Palo Alto or South County calendar as appropriate.

3. Use the available date or case filters

   Search for the intended hearing and follow the portal’s criteria.

4. Check the defendant and court department

   Confirm the case number, event date, department and courthouse where available.

5. Check whether the hearing is remote or in person

   The court separately provides remote hearing instructions. A video hearing may have access requirements that differ from ordinary public calendar access.

6. Verify any mandatory appearance

   Call the Criminal Clerk or review the most recent court notice if you must appear. Calendars and assignments can change.

Sign up for Santa Clara court hearing reminders

The court’s public portal also links to a Hearing Reminder Service that can send court-date reminders by text message or email.

Hearing reminders are a convenience. They do not replace official court orders, notices or responsibility for a required appearance.

Obtain official court documents

How to Request Certified Santa Clara County Criminal Court Records

Once you know the case number and filing courthouse, you can request eligible court documents from the Clerk’s Office.

The court recommends identifying the specific documents rather than submitting an open-ended request for an entire case file.

What documents can you request?

Publicly available items may include:

• Criminal complaint
• Docket or register of actions
• Minute order from a specified court date
• Judgment of conviction
• Sentencing order
• Dismissal order
• Other qualifying publicly releasable filings

How to order a certified court disposition

1. Locate the exact criminal case number

   Use the Criminal Case Index or request a clerk-assisted historical search.

2. Find the courthouse responsible for the file

   The record request should go to the court that maintains the case.

3. Identify the document title

   For example, request the judgment of conviction, sentencing order or dismissal from the appropriate case.

4. Identify a specific date when possible

   For minute orders, include the precise hearing date. The Court’s instructions specifically ask requesters to identify the date of the requested minute order.

5. Prepare a written request

   Include the defendant’s name, date of birth, case number and specific documents required.

6. Ask for certification if necessary

   If a government agency or another recipient requires an official certified copy, say so clearly in the request.

7. Confirm the total charges

   Ordinary copies are charged per page, and certification adds a separate fee.

8. Submit your request by mail or in person

   Follow the Clerk’s payment instructions. For mailed requests, include a self-addressed stamped envelope.

How to write a criminal records request

Send sensitive information only to the official court’s approved mailing, in-person or secure request channel.

Can you make copies with your phone at the courthouse?

Effective January 1, 2026, California’s AB 1524 allows persons entitled to view certain court records to use personal cameras or mobile phones to photograph records for the purpose of making a copy.

Santa Clara Superior Court acknowledges the law and explains that it applies to qualifying paper records available for inspection and electronic records displayed at public courthouse access terminals.

However, it does not permit photography of confidential records or unrestricted recording inside courtrooms and secure court facilities.

Published records and fingerprint charges

Santa Clara County Criminal Records Search Fees

The Superior Court publishes its records-related fees in its local fee schedule. California DOJ separately charges for personal criminal-history reviews.

How to pay for mailed record copies

Santa Clara Superior Court provides a mailed request procedure involving a check and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

The Criminal Case Records instructions explain that requesters can write a maximum authorized payment amount on the check, such as “not to exceed $10.00”, when the number of pages is unknown.

However, a maximum of $10 would not cover a $40 certification. Ask the clerk to estimate charges before sending payment for a certified document.

County jail and current custody records

Santa Clara County Jail Inmate Search: Who’s in Custody?

The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office offers a separate online inmate search for the county’s custody system.

The service is branded Who’s in Custody and is operated through an ATIMS inmate-search application linked to Sheriff’s resources.

How to look up a jail inmate

1. Open the official Sheriff’s inmate search

   Use the ATIMS Who’s in Custody link above.

2. Complete any human verification

   The search application may request a CAPTCHA before showing current custody results.

3. Search using the requested identifiers

   The county’s inmate-search instructions identify booking number, Personal File Number (PFN), or the person’s name with a date of birth or booking date.

4. Review possible matches

   Compare any displayed identifiers, booking number or additional information before deciding a result belongs to the correct person.

5. Check current custody details

   Review available booking, housing, bond and custody status information.

6. Verify recent changes

   Inmate information can change quickly during booking, release or transfer. Contact the Sheriff’s custody information service when the result must be current.

What are PFN and CEN numbers?

Santa Clara County inmate lookup materials refer to two identifiers:

• PFN: Personal File Number used to identify a person in the county criminal justice system.
• CEN or booking number: An identifier associated with a particular booking into custody.

A PFN is not automatically a Superior Court criminal case number, and a booking number is not the same as a judgment of conviction.

Which county jail facilities are involved?

The Sheriff’s county detention system includes facilities such as the Main Jail in San Jose and Elmwood facilities in Milpitas.

A current inmate may be moved between housing facilities. The custody application and Sheriff’s information service should be used for the latest publicly available location.

What if an inmate is not found?

Possible reasons include recent booking delays, release, transfer, custody in a city facility, or placement under another correctional authority.

If the person is serving a California state prison sentence, use the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation instead.

Sheriff police records and criminal-history services

How to Request Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Arrest and Incident Records

The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office maintains law-enforcement records for incidents investigated by its deputies.

Police reports created by San Jose Police, Santa Clara Police, Palo Alto Police, Mountain View Police or another independent department must generally be requested from the agency that created the report.

Santa Clara Sheriff’s report request form

The Sheriff’s Records Division publishes an official Report Request Form with headquarters and substation contact information.

How to request a Sheriff crime report

1. Verify the Sheriff’s Office is the reporting agency

   Use the incident number or existing paperwork to identify which police department created the report.

2. Download the official request form

   Use the Sheriff’s Records Division form rather than a third-party arrest-record search form.

3. Describe the specific report

   Provide the incident number, date, location, involved names and other requested information.

4. Provide your requester details

   Indicate the relationship to the incident and provide the contact information required by the form.

5. Submit through the approved records procedure

   Follow the Sheriff’s email, postal or office submission instructions.

6. Wait for the agency’s release determination

   Some investigative information, protected identities or records involving juveniles may be withheld or redacted.

What if the incident occurred in Cupertino or San Martin?

The Sheriff also identifies additional report-request locations:

The Sheriff’s published form identifies West Valley as a location for traffic accident report requests. Confirm the reporting division before submitting any incident-related records request.

Can I get a copy of my local criminal history?

Santa Clara Superior Court directs individuals seeking a local criminal-history copy to the Sheriff’s Office at 55 W. Younger Avenue, San Jose.

The court instructs applicants to make an appointment at 408-808-4705, bring identification and be prepared to pay the applicable charge.

This is a local records service, not a substitute for a statewide California DOJ fingerprint review.

How can victims or defendants obtain police reports?

The court’s Criminal Case Records instructions distinguish several situations:

• Crime victim: Contact the investigating law-enforcement agency or the court where the case was filed, as appropriate.
• Defendant: Court or prosecution procedures depend on the case status and applicable disclosure rules.
• Another member of the public: Public access may be restricted; court requests require a case number and are subject to legal exemptions.

California statewide fingerprint-based criminal history

How to Request Your Own California Criminal Record in Santa Clara County

If you want to review your own California criminal history for accuracy and completeness, the California Department of Justice provides a fingerprint-based Record Review process.

Unlike the Santa Clara criminal case index, DOJ’s statewide criminal-history repository is not open for unrestricted searches of another person’s complete history.

How to request your California DOJ record

1. Read the DOJ Record Review instructions

   Use the official California Attorney General’s website.

2. Download the Live Scan Record Review form

   California residents use Form BCIA 8016RR.

3. Select Record Review as the application type

   Enter Record Review as the type of application and reason, following the DOJ form instructions.

4. Enter your identifying information

   Fill in your personal information accurately.

5. Visit an authorized Live Scan location

   Bring the form and acceptable identification for fingerprint collection.

6. Pay the applicable fees

   DOJ charges a $25 processing fee. The Live Scan provider may charge a separate fingerprint rolling fee.

7. Review the report

   Check arrest information, case dispositions and any potentially incorrect entries.

8. Challenge errors if needed

   Use DOJ’s Claim of Alleged Inaccuracy or Incompleteness procedure, supported by relevant court documentation.

What if you live outside California?

California DOJ has a separate process for out-of-state and international applicants requesting their own California summary criminal-history record.

The nonresident procedure uses an FD-258 fingerprint card and Form BCIA 8705 rather than the normal California-resident electronic Live Scan process.

Follow the DOJ’s mailing and payment instructions. The standard state fee remains $25 unless a different authorized provision applies.

Can you waive the DOJ criminal-history fee?

Qualifying California residents may be eligible for a waiver of the $25 DOJ processing fee.

The waiver does not automatically eliminate a Live Scan provider’s rolling fee.

What if your DOJ report shows the wrong conviction?

First, obtain the relevant certified judgment or dismissal from the Superior Court that handled the case.

Then use DOJ’s record-review challenge process to identify the inaccurate or incomplete information and submit supporting evidence.

The court may need to correct or report an updated disposition to DOJ.

Criminal record cleaning and restricted information

Santa Clara County Criminal Record Expungement and Sealing

California law provides different remedies for eligible arrests and convictions.

Some individuals may qualify for automatic criminal record relief, while others need to petition the appropriate court.

Arrest record sealing

California Courts provides a petition procedure for certain arrests that did not result in conviction.

The applicable statewide form for many arrest-sealing requests is CR-409, Petition to Seal Arrest and Related Records.

Conviction dismissal

Certain convictions may qualify for dismissal under California criminal record-cleaning laws.

Statewide forms include:

• CR-180: Petition for Dismissal
• CR-181: Order for Dismissal

A dismissal of a conviction is not identical to deleting every government record associated with the case.

What if the case disappears from the public index?

There are several possible reasons: the record may be sealed or restricted, the case may be older than the index’s historical coverage, or there may be a search or indexing problem.

An absent index result should not be treated as conclusive proof that the case was expunged.

Troubleshoot missing cases and records

Why Can’t I Find Santa Clara County Criminal Records Online?

Cases outside California Superior Court jurisdiction

Federal Criminal Records in Santa Clara County

Federal criminal prosecutions in the San Jose and Silicon Valley area belong to the federal court system rather than the Santa Clara County Superior Court.

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has a San Jose Division.

Use the federal judiciary’s PACER system to locate federal criminal cases and available filings.

PACER uses separate account, fee and document-access procedures.

A federal indictment filed in San Jose does not necessarily appear in the Santa Clara Superior Court Criminal Case Index.

Public-record interpretation and legal screening

Are Santa Clara County Criminal Records Public?

Many adult criminal court case records are publicly accessible, but access is subject to California court rules and statutory protections.

Some case information can be located through the court’s index. Specific documents may require a courthouse request, and protected records cannot be obtained through normal public access.

California’s Fair Chance Act may limit when covered employers ask about or consider criminal-history information.

When an employer or housing provider uses a consumer reporting company, applicable federal and California consumer-reporting laws may also control the screening process.

Official court and government sources

Santa Clara County Criminal Records: Official Search Links

Use the government resources below for criminal case indexes, court records, jail information and authorized criminal-history review.