California criminal-record information is spread across 58 county Superior Courts, local police and sheriff departments, the California Department of Justice, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and specialized public registries. California does not operate one public statewide name-search database that lets anyone view another person’s complete DOJ criminal history. Public criminal case research normally starts with the Superior Court in the county where the case was filed.
Which California criminal record do you need?
California court records, DOJ criminal-history records, jail bookings and prison records are maintained for different purposes. Searching the wrong system can make a record appear to be missing.
Criminal court case
Search the Superior Court in the county where the prosecution was filed for charges, case events and disposition information.
Statewide RAP sheet
DOJ maintains California summary criminal-history records based on arrest and disposition data submitted by criminal-justice agencies.
Arrest or incident record
Contact the agency that created the arrest, incident or investigative record.
Current local custody
County sheriff or detention websites commonly provide inmate or booking information.
State prison record
CIRIS provides selected information on people currently incarcerated in California state prisons.
Public registry information
California DOJ publishes qualifying public information about registered sex offenders.
Search California criminal court records through the county Superior Court
California has 58 Superior Courts—one in each county. These courts maintain trial-level criminal case records.
California does not provide one Judicial Council website that replaces every county’s criminal case portal. Each Superior Court is responsible for maintaining its own case records.
Identify the county where the criminal case was filed
Start with the county where the arrest or prosecution occurred. The defendant’s current home county may be different.
Open that county’s official Superior Court website
Use California Courts’ official Find Your Court directory rather than relying on an unofficial background-search website.
Look for criminal case search / case information
County terminology varies. Look for “Case Search,” “Case Information,” “Online Services,” “Criminal,” or “Public Access.”
Search by case number when possible
A case number is generally more reliable than a common first and last name.
Review the disposition
Determine whether the charge resulted in conviction, dismissal, acquittal, diversion or another outcome.
Find the correct California Superior Court
Use the Judicial Branch of California’s official Find Your Court directory .
You can locate a court by county, city or ZIP code and then open the county court’s own website.
Find a California courtWhy California criminal court documents may not be fully visible online
California’s electronic-record rules deliberately limit remote access to sensitive case types, including criminal cases.
A county court may make online information such as the following available:
- case index
- register of actions
- calendar information
- case number
- charges
- basic disposition information
But the general public may need to visit the courthouse to view many underlying criminal case documents.
California Courts explains the distinction here: Viewing a Court’s Electronic Case Records .
How to get copies of California criminal court records
Certified and ordinary case-document copies are obtained from the Superior Court that maintains the case.
To request a criminal case document:
- Identify the county and Superior Court.
- Find the case number if possible.
- Locate that court’s records/copies page.
- Specify the document you need.
- State whether a certified copy is required.
- Pay the local court’s applicable copy/certification fee.
Copy charges vary by court and document type, so use the local court’s current fee schedule rather than assuming one statewide copy price.
How to find an older California criminal case
Historical case coverage varies considerably between California counties.
Search the county’s modern case portal first
Even when documents are unavailable, an index can give you the case number and filing date.
Contact the court clerk if nothing appears
California Courts says that when case information is unavailable online, users should contact the clerk or visit the court.
Ask whether the record is archived
Older files may be stored on microfilm, in off-site storage or in a legacy system.
Request a specific document
Asking for the complaint, sentencing order or disposition can be faster and less expensive than asking for the entire file.
Request your own California DOJ criminal-history record
California DOJ maintains the state’s summary criminal-history repository. These records are commonly referred to as Records of Arrest and Prosecution, or RAP sheets.
Individuals have the right to request their own DOJ criminal-history record to review it for accuracy and completeness.
Fingerprints required
California residents use Live Scan fingerprints for personal Record Review.
$25
California DOJ currently lists a $25 Record Review processing fee. Fingerprint rolling charges can be separate.
Fee waiver available
DOJ provides a process to request a waiver of its processing fee for eligible applicants.
Download or obtain the Record Review instructions
California residents use the Request for Live Scan Service form associated with personal Record Review.
Complete Live Scan fingerprinting
Fingerprints allow DOJ to match the request to the correct person rather than relying on a name match.
Pay the applicable fees
The DOJ processing charge is separate from any fingerprint rolling fee charged by the Live Scan operator.
Review every arrest and disposition
Compare the RAP sheet against your court documents and identify missing or inaccurate dispositions.
Why California DOJ criminal-history records are not public records
California makes an important distinction between public court cases and state summary criminal-history information.
Generally public unless restricted
Most adult criminal court records are public, although remote online access can be limited and some records are sealed or confidential.
Confidential
California DOJ states that state and local summary criminal-history information is confidential and access is strictly controlled by statute.
What if your California criminal-history record is wrong?
California DOJ’s personal Record Review process is also the starting point for correcting incomplete or inaccurate state criminal-history information.
Get your own RAP sheet
Use the fingerprint-based DOJ Record Review process so you know exactly what the state repository contains.
Identify the incorrect entry
Note the arresting agency, arrest date, case number, court and disputed disposition.
Get supporting court documents
A certified dismissal, disposition, sentence or sealing order can help establish the correct outcome.
Use DOJ’s challenge process
Follow the inaccuracy/incompleteness instructions included with the DOJ response.
California county jail and booking records
California county jails are operated locally, usually by the county sheriff or a county corrections department. There is no single California county-jail search that replaces all 58 counties.
For a recent arrest, search the official county website for:
- inmate locator
- booking search
- jail roster
- current inmates
- custody search
- who’s in jail
California police and arrest records
Arrest and incident reports are generally requested from the agency that created them: city police department, county sheriff, California Highway Patrol or another law-enforcement agency.
Public access depends on the type of record, the status of the investigation and California law. Some information may be released while other details can be redacted or withheld.
How to search warrants in California
California does not provide one unrestricted statewide public warrant-search portal for all counties.
Depending on the jurisdiction, warrant information may be available through:
- county sheriff warrant search
- local police department
- Superior Court criminal case information
- court clerk
- municipal or traffic court resources
Search California state-prison records with CIRIS
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation provides the California Incarcerated Records and Information Search (CIRIS).
CIRIS results can include:
- name
- CDCR number
- age
- current location
- county or counties of commitment
- admission date
- Board of Parole Hearing information
Official California service: California Incarcerated Records and Information Search .
CDCR Identification Unit
Phone:
916-445-6713
Monday–Friday, excluding holidays, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Pacific Time.
California Megan’s Law public registry search
The California Department of Justice operates the California Megan’s Law website for qualifying public sex-offender registry information.
The public data is drawn from California’s statewide sex-offender registry and updated regularly.
California criminal appeals and appellate records
If a criminal conviction was appealed, the trial-level Superior Court record may not tell the entire story.
California appellate opinions and appellate case information may be available through the California Courts of Appeal and Supreme Court.
Use the Judicial Branch: California Courts of Appeal .
California juvenile criminal records are generally confidential
California Courts identifies juvenile delinquency matters as confidential case records that ordinarily are not available to the general public.
Authorized parties may have access under applicable law, but an ordinary public criminal-record search should not be expected to reveal a complete juvenile case history.
California criminal-record sealing and record cleaning
California uses several different forms of criminal-record relief rather than one universal “expungement” process.
Seal the arrest record
Certain arrests that did not result in conviction can qualify for sealing under Penal Code section 851.91.
Dismiss qualifying convictions
Some misdemeanor convictions can be dismissed under California’s record-cleaning procedures.
Dismissal / reduction options
Eligibility depends on offense, sentence, probation/parole status and other statutory factors.
California Courts’ official self-help portal: Clean Your Record .
Arrest with no conviction
California Courts says sealing under Penal Code section 851.91 may be available when:
- no charges were filed
- charges were dismissed
- diversion was completed and charges dismissed
- deferred entry of judgment was completed
- the person was found not guilty
California uses Form CR-409 for qualifying petitions to seal arrest and related records.
California automatic criminal-record relief
California DOJ also applies automatic record-relief statutes to qualifying records.
Penal Code sections 851.93 and 1203.425 provide automatic relief for certain eligible arrest and conviction records.
Automatic relief does not mean every record, offense or legal consequence disappears. Eligibility and the effect of relief depend on the statute and circumstances.
California criminal records and employment screening
California’s Fair Chance Act restricts how many employers can ask about and use criminal history.
California Courts explains that most covered employers generally cannot ask about criminal history before making a conditional employment offer.
After a conditional offer, employers are also restricted from considering certain records, including qualifying records that have been:
- expunged
- sealed
- dismissed
- statutorily eradicated
Official California Courts guidance: Criminal History and Job Applications .
Federal criminal records in California
California Superior Court and DOJ searches do not replace federal criminal-record systems.
Federal court cases
Use PACER for federal district and appellate court cases.
Federal inmates
Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator for qualifying federal custody information.
Your own FBI record
Use the FBI Identity History Summary Check to request your own fingerprint-based FBI identity history.
California criminal-record search tips
Start with the county
California trial-level criminal records are maintained by each county’s Superior Court.
Do not search DOJ for another person’s RAP sheet
California summary criminal-history information is confidential and restricted by law.
Online access may be limited
Criminal case documents that cannot be viewed remotely may still be available at the courthouse.
Recent arrest? Check the county jail
Local custody information can appear before a new criminal case is easy to find online.
State prison means CDCR
CIRIS is the official public tool for selected information on current CDCR incarcerated people.
Search former names
Historical court files may remain indexed under the person’s legal name at the time of prosecution.
Save the case number
It makes courthouse research, copy requests and appellate follow-up much easier.
Check the disposition
A charge listed in the docket does not tell you by itself whether a conviction occurred.
Check for automatic relief
Some California records may already have been automatically sealed or dismissed under state law.
California public criminal records: frequently asked questions
1. Is there a statewide California public criminal-record search?
Not for another person’s complete DOJ criminal history. Public criminal case research generally occurs through the Superior Court in the county where the case was filed. California DOJ summary criminal-history records are confidential and access is restricted by law.
2. How do I search someone’s California criminal court record?
Identify the county where the criminal case was filed, use California Courts’ Find Your Court tool, then open that county Superior Court’s public case-search or criminal case-information system.
3. Are California criminal court records public?
Most adult criminal court records are public unless sealed or made confidential, but remote online access can be more limited than access available at the courthouse.
4. Can I request another person’s California DOJ RAP sheet?
Not through an ordinary public-record request. California DOJ states that summary criminal-history information is confidential and can be released only as authorized by statute.
5. How do I get my own California criminal-history record?
Use the California DOJ Record Review process. California residents submit Live Scan fingerprints and currently pay a $25 DOJ processing fee, although a fee waiver may be available.
6. How do I find someone in California state prison?
Use CDCR’s California Incarcerated Records and Information Search, or CIRIS. It provides selected public information about people currently incarcerated in CDCR facilities.
7. Can I search California sex-offender information online?
Yes. California DOJ operates the official Megan’s Law website. Not every registered person is publicly displayed because disclosure depends on California law.
8. Why can I see the case but not the criminal documents online?
California limits remote public access to many criminal court documents. A register of actions, index or calendar may be visible online while underlying records must be viewed at the courthouse.
9. Can a California criminal record be automatically sealed?
Yes. California has automatic record-relief provisions for certain qualifying arrest and conviction records, including relief under Penal Code sections 851.93 and 1203.425.
10. What should I do if my California RAP sheet contains an error?
Request your own DOJ Record Review, identify the inaccurate arrest or disposition, obtain supporting court records, and follow California DOJ’s process for challenging inaccurate or incomplete criminal-history information.
Official California criminal-record resources
- California Courts — Find Your Court
- California’s 58 Superior Courts
- California Courts — How to Look Up a Court Case
- California Courts — Electronic Case Record Access
- California Rule of Court 2.503
- California DOJ — Request Your Own Criminal Record
- California DOJ Criminal-History FAQs
- California DOJ Public Records
- California Incarcerated Records and Information Search
- California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
- California Megan’s Law Website
- California Courts — Clean Your Record
- California Courts — Seal Arrest With No Conviction
- California Courts — Misdemeanor Record Cleaning
- California Courts — Felony Record Cleaning
- California DOJ — Automatic Record Relief
- California Courts — Fair Chance Act
- PACER — Federal Court Records
- Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator