Criminal court records can show filed charges, hearings, motions, pleas, dispositions, sentencing, appeals and other case events. There is no single court-search system covering every state, county and federal criminal case in the United States. State prosecutions are searched through state or local courts, while federal criminal cases are searched separately through PACER.
What is a criminal court record?
A criminal court record is created after a criminal matter reaches a court. Depending on the jurisdiction and stage of the case, the public record may contain basic case data, a docket or register of actions, and court-file documents.
Basic identifiers
Case number, defendant name, filing date, court, charge information and current case status.
Chronological history
A running list of hearings, filings, motions, orders, pleas and other court events.
Actual filings
Complaints, indictments, motions, judgments, sentencing orders and other records filed in the case.
What is a criminal court docket?
A docket—sometimes called a register of actions or case-event history—is the chronological record of what has happened in a court case.
| Docket entry | What it usually tells you | What to check next |
|---|---|---|
| Complaint / indictment | Charges formally alleged against the defendant. | Later amended charges and disposition. |
| Arraignment | Initial court appearance and plea-related activity. | Future hearing dates. |
| Motion | A request asking the judge to make a legal ruling. | Judge’s order on the motion. |
| Plea | Defendant’s response to the charge. | Whether a plea agreement or sentencing follows. |
| Trial | Case proceeded to adjudication before a judge or jury. | Verdict and judgment. |
| Dismissal | One or more charges were dismissed. | Whether all charges or only some were dismissed. |
| Judgment / conviction | Formal case outcome. | Sentence and appeal history. |
| Sentencing | Penalty and conditions imposed by the court. | Probation, incarceration, fines, restitution or other terms. |
| Notice of appeal | One party has initiated appellate review. | Appellate court case and later mandate. |
How to search state criminal court records
Most criminal prosecutions in the United States occur in state courts. Court structure varies: the trial court may be called a District Court, Circuit Court, Superior Court, County Court, Court of Common Pleas or another state-specific name.
Identify the state where the case was filed
Start with the place where the alleged offense occurred or where the arresting agency referred the case.
Find the official state judiciary
Look for the state’s Judicial Branch, Judiciary, Unified Court System or Administrative Office of the Courts.
Use the statewide portal if one exists
Some states provide statewide trial-court case access. Others require county-by-county searches.
Identify the county or local court
If statewide access is unavailable or incomplete, search the clerk or court in the jurisdiction where the case was filed.
Search the docket and disposition
Do not stop when you find a charge. Determine how each charge was resolved.
A useful official starting point is: USA.gov — Federal, State and Local Courts .
How to find the correct criminal court
If you know the arrest location but not the court, work backward from the jurisdiction.
Higher trial court
Felony cases commonly proceed in a state’s general-jurisdiction trial court, though naming varies by state.
County / lower court
Misdemeanor cases may be handled by county, district, municipal or other limited-jurisdiction courts.
Local court
Lower-level matters may remain in municipal, magistrate, justice or traffic court.
Search by case number when possible
Criminal court portals differ, but common search fields include:
- case / docket number
- defendant first and last name
- date of birth
- filing date range
- citation number
- attorney name
- court location
- case type
Common-name search
If several people share the same name, compare date of birth, middle name, county, filing year and other available identifiers before assuming a record belongs to the person you intended to search.
How to read criminal case-search results
| Field | Meaning | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Charge | Alleged criminal offense. | Treating it as a conviction. |
| Case status | Whether the proceeding is active, closed or otherwise categorized. | Assuming “closed” means conviction. |
| Disposition | Outcome of a charge or case. | Looking only at the original charge. |
| Sentence | Penalty imposed following a qualifying disposition. | Ignoring modifications or appeals. |
| Docket date | Date a court event or filing was entered. | Confusing it with offense or arrest date. |
| Sealed | Public access is restricted. | Assuming the case never existed. |
How to get criminal court documents
An online docket may summarize what happened without displaying the actual filed document. If you need the complaint, indictment, plea agreement, judgment or sentencing order, use the court’s records office.
Commonly requested criminal documents include:
- complaint
- indictment / information
- probable-cause documents where public
- motions
- court orders
- plea documents
- judgment
- sentencing order
- disposition certificate
- appellate mandate
Certified vs. ordinary court copies
For research
An uncertified copy is generally enough when you only need to read or retain the court record for informational purposes.
Official authentication
A certified copy carries the clerk’s formal certification and may be required for legal, immigration, licensing or other official purposes.
Fees vary significantly by jurisdiction. Confirm the receiving agency’s requirements before paying for certification or exemplification.
Search federal criminal court records with PACER
Federal criminal cases are separate from state and county court systems. The official federal electronic system is Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) .
PACER allows registered users to search federal:
- U.S. District Courts
- U.S. Courts of Appeals
- bankruptcy courts
- nationwide federal case index
Search the specific federal court if known
PACER says case information in the court where it was filed is updated as entries are made.
Use the PACER Case Locator if the court is unknown
The Case Locator searches a nationwide federal index and is updated daily.
Open the docket report
Review chronological federal docket activity and click available filings when more detail is needed.
Contact the clerk for unavailable records
Some documents are restricted electronically or available only through the court.
PACER fees in 2026
| PACER access | 2026 rule | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic pages | $0.10/page | Search results and accessed case information can generate billable pages. |
| Most individual documents | $3 maximum | Equivalent to 30 billable pages; some reports/transcripts are not capped. |
| Quarterly charges | $30 or less waived | Users are billed only when charges exceed the quarterly threshold. |
| Federal courthouse terminal | Free to view | Public access terminals can be used at the court where the case is filed. |
| Court opinions | Free | Opinions are available without PACER document charges. |
Older federal criminal court records
U.S. Courts says most federal cases created before 1999 were maintained in paper form rather than modern electronic case files.
Historical records may be held:
- at the federal court where the case was filed
- at a Federal Records Center
- through archival federal records procedures
PACER also limits general electronic access to documents filed in criminal cases before November 1, 2004. Contact the court clerk when the docket exists but the document itself cannot be opened remotely.
Sealed and confidential criminal court records
Criminal cases can contain sealed, restricted or confidential records.
Examples can include:
- sealed criminal cases
- protected witness information
- confidential informant material
- certain search-warrant materials
- ongoing-investigation records
- protected medical or personal data
- juvenile-related material
Juvenile court records are commonly restricted
Juvenile delinquency cases receive stronger privacy protections than ordinary adult criminal proceedings in many jurisdictions.
Public name searches may omit juvenile cases entirely, display limited information or require a specific court order or authorized relationship before records can be viewed.
How to search an old state criminal case
Online court databases often cover only part of a court’s historical records.
Search the modern portal
Even a partial result may reveal the case number, court and filing year.
Contact the clerk
Ask whether older cases are indexed in a legacy database, microfilm or paper archive.
Provide a date range
Full name plus an approximate prosecution year can make manual research easier.
Request only the documents you need
A final judgment or disposition may answer the question without paying for the entire historical file.
Check appeals when the trial-court outcome changed
A trial-court docket may show a conviction or sentence that was later reversed, modified or remanded.
Search the appropriate state appellate court or federal Court of Appeals when you see:
- notice of appeal
- appeal case number
- remand
- appellate mandate
- reversal or modification
Criminal court records vs. arrest records
Police action
Shows that a law-enforcement event occurred. It does not establish guilt.
Filed allegation
Shows that prosecutors or another authorized party initiated a criminal proceeding.
Legal outcome
Shows whether the charge ended in conviction, dismissal, acquittal or another disposition.
Why a criminal court search may show no case
Wrong jurisdiction
The prosecution may be in another county, state or federal court.
Name variation
The case may be indexed under a former surname, middle name or alternate spelling.
Recent filing
A very new arrest or charge may not yet appear in the public portal.
Historical record
The case may predate the court’s online coverage.
Sealed / expunged
The case may have been removed from ordinary public access.
Restricted case
Juvenile or confidential records may not be publicly searchable.
Verify identity before relying on a criminal court record
Name-only court searches can match the wrong person, especially when the defendant has a common name.
Compare available identifiers such as:
- middle name
- date of birth
- case jurisdiction
- filing year
- known address where lawfully displayed
- case number
Using criminal court records for employment or housing decisions
Public court research is not automatically equivalent to a legally compliant consumer background report.
When an employer, landlord or another decision-maker obtains a consumer report from a background-screening company, federal Fair Credit Reporting Act requirements may apply. State and local fair-chance laws can impose additional restrictions.
Criminal court records: frequently asked questions
1. How do I search criminal court records?
Determine whether the case is state or federal. For a state case, use the state judiciary or court clerk where the case was filed. For a federal case, use PACER.
2. What is a criminal court docket?
A docket is the chronological history of a court case. It can list charges, hearings, filings, motions, pleas, court orders, judgment, sentencing and appeal-related events.
3. Are criminal court records public?
Many adult criminal court records are public, but access varies by jurisdiction. Sealed, juvenile, confidential and other protected records may be unavailable, and online access can be more limited than courthouse access.
4. Can I search criminal court records by name?
Many court systems allow name searches, although search fields and public-access rules vary. A known case number is usually more precise than a name-only search.
5. Does a criminal charge mean the defendant was convicted?
No. A charge is an allegation. Review the case disposition to determine whether the charge resulted in conviction, dismissal, acquittal or another outcome.
6. How do I get a certified criminal court record?
Request the document from the clerk of the court that maintains the case and specify that you need a certified copy. Copy and certification fees vary by jurisdiction.
7. How do I search federal criminal court records?
Register for PACER and search the specific federal court or use the PACER Case Locator when you do not know where the federal case was filed.
8. Is PACER free?
PACER charges 10 cents per page in 2026, but quarterly charges of $30 or less are waived. Court opinions and access through federal courthouse public terminals are free.
9. Why can’t I find an old criminal case online?
The case may predate the court’s online coverage or be stored in paper, microfilm, a legacy database or off-site archive. Contact the court clerk for historical-record procedures.
10. Why did a criminal case disappear from public search?
Possible reasons include sealing, expungement, juvenile confidentiality, court-order restrictions, data migration or a change in the court’s public-access system. Contact the court when the historical case needs to be verified.
Official resources for criminal court case and docket research
- USA.gov — Federal, State and Local Courts
- U.S. Courts — Find a Case with PACER
- PACER — Federal Court Records
- PACER — Find a Federal Case
- PACER Case Locator — Nationwide Federal Index
- PACER — Pricing and Free-Access Rules
- PACER — Free Federal Court Opinions
- U.S. Courts — Access to Court Proceedings and Records
- U.S. Courts — Federal Court Website Directory
- FBI — State Identification Bureau Directory