California does not offer a free statewide public name-search that reveals every person’s complete criminal history. Instead, public criminal case information is kept by each county’s Superior Court, California DOJ criminal-history summaries are restricted by law, state-prison information is available through CDCR, and public sex-offender information is available through Megan’s Law. This guide shows which searches are genuinely free, which records require a courthouse visit, and when a fingerprint-based DOJ request is required.
What California criminal records can you search for free?
Several useful California criminal-record resources are free, but they do not add up to a complete statewide public criminal-history search.
County court case index
Many Superior Courts provide free online access to criminal case indexes, registers of actions, court dates or basic docket information.
Courthouse public terminal
Public electronic court records must generally be made reasonably available at the courthouse, subject to confidentiality and sealing rules.
CDCR incarcerated-person search
California’s CIRIS system provides selected public information about people currently within CDCR’s incarcerated population.
Megan’s Law registry
California DOJ publishes qualifying sex-offender information through the official Megan’s Law website.
Jail and booking searches
Many county sheriffs provide free jail or booking searches, but California has no single statewide county-jail database.
DOJ RAP sheet
California DOJ criminal-history summaries are restricted. An individual can request their own fingerprint-based record, generally for a $25 DOJ processing fee.
Why California has no free statewide public criminal-record name search
California DOJ states that state and local summary criminal-history information is confidential and is not available to the general public through the California Public Records Act.
Access is generally limited to:
- law-enforcement agencies for lawful purposes
- authorized employers and regulatory agencies
- authorized licensing programs
- the person who is the subject of the record
Public court record
Maintained by the county Superior Court and often includes case number, charges, court dates, register of actions and disposition information.
DOJ criminal-history summary
Statewide fingerprint-based record of arrest and prosecution information compiled from criminal-justice agencies. General third-party public access is restricted.
California criminal court records are searched county by county
California has 58 Superior Courts, one in each county. Each court maintains its own trial-court records and determines what public case-search functions are available online.
California Courts specifically says that it does not maintain one statewide database where the public can search all California trial-court criminal cases.
Find the correct California Superior CourtLos Angeles County
Search the Los Angeles Superior Court’s own criminal case-access resources.
San Diego County
Use San Diego Superior Court’s case-search and criminal-record procedures.
Orange County
Search Orange County Superior Court through that court’s public online access system.
All 58 courts
Use California Courts’ Find My Court directory when you do not know the correct county court website.
Why a California criminal case may appear online without the documents
California’s court-access rules deliberately limit remote public access to criminal case documents.
Under California Rule of Court 2.503, courts can provide remote public access to electronic registers of actions, calendars and indexes. But ordinary public remote access to the underlying electronic records in criminal proceedings is generally prohibited.
Those public criminal records must instead be made available electronically at the courthouse to the extent feasible, unless the record is confidential or sealed.
How to perform a free California criminal court lookup
Identify the county where the case was filed
Start with the county of arrest, prosecution or conviction. A city can cross court-service areas, so county is usually the more useful starting point.
Open the official Superior Court website
Use California Courts’ Find My Court directory rather than a commercial people-search site.
Look for “Case Search,” “Online Services,” or “Criminal Records”
Court terminology differs by county. Some courts call the service a public portal, case-access system, criminal index or register-of-actions search.
Search the available identifiers
Case number is usually strongest. Party name and filing year can help where the court permits name searching.
Read the disposition, not only the charge
Look for dismissal, plea, verdict, conviction, sentence or other final outcome.
Move to courthouse access when the online search stops
If documents are unavailable remotely, use the courthouse public terminal or contact the clerk about copies.
Free courthouse access to California criminal case records
California Courts explains that courts maintaining electronic records must make public electronic records reasonably available at the courthouse, except where records are confidential or sealed.
A courthouse visit is often the best next step when:
- the online system shows only a case index
- criminal documents are not remotely accessible
- you need an older case file
- you need to inspect the complete public court record
- the online search does not cover the case year
- you need help locating the correct file
How to get California criminal court copies
California DOJ does not provide local Superior Court case documents. The record must be requested from the Superior Court where the case was filed.
California Courts says court records may generally be requested:
- in person
- by mail
- online in many counties
| Service | Typical statewide guidance | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Regular copy | $0.50 per page | California Courts lists this as the typical one-sided copy price. |
| Certified copy | $40 per document | Used when the recipient requires certification. |
| Clerk record search | Possible $15 fee | Can apply when staff must spend more than 10 minutes locating the record. |
| Fee-waiver case | May be free | California Courts notes that qualifying fee-waiver users can receive copies without ordinary copy charges. |
Individual Superior Courts may publish more detailed fee schedules and ordering procedures. Verify the exact fee with the county court before sending payment.
How to get your own California criminal-history record
Individuals have the right to request their own California DOJ criminal-history record to review it for accuracy and completeness.
California DOJ commonly refers to this as a state summary criminal-history record or a Record of Arrest and Prosecution (RAP) sheet.
Use Form BCIA 8016RR if you live in California
Select Record Review as the application type and reason.
Go to a Live Scan fingerprint location
California residents must submit Live Scan fingerprints for a DOJ record-review request.
Pay the DOJ processing fee
The current California DOJ processing fee is $25, plus the fingerprint provider’s separate rolling fee unless a qualifying waiver applies.
Review the RAP sheet
Compare arrest entries, charges and dispositions for missing or inaccurate information.
Can the California DOJ criminal-record fee be waived?
Yes. California residents who meet the DOJ’s financial-eligibility standards can apply to waive the $25 DOJ processing fee.
Examples of potential eligibility include:
- receiving CalFresh or other qualifying public assistance
- receiving Medi-Cal
- receiving disability benefits
- having sufficiently low household income
- having no income
Why California criminal-history checks use fingerprints
California DOJ maintains the statewide criminal-record repository and compiles arrest and prosecution information submitted by sheriffs, police departments, probation departments, district attorneys and courts.
DOJ criminal-history summaries are fingerprint-based, which means the record is tied to biometric identity rather than merely matching a name and date of birth.
California arrest records, police reports and booking information
Arrest records and police reports are different from Superior Court case files and California DOJ RAP sheets.
For a recent arrest, identify the agency that made the arrest:
- city police department
- county sheriff
- California Highway Patrol
- another state or local law-enforcement agency
Then use that agency’s records unit or public-record procedure for whatever portions of the record are legally public.
How California warrant searches work
California does not maintain one public statewide warrant-search website for all county and city warrants. Warrant access is generally local and can depend on the agency and court involved.
Local warrant information
Some sheriffs publish online warrant tools or warrant-unit contact information.
Court case
If the warrant is associated with a known criminal case, review the court’s public case index and docket.
City warrant questions
Local police or municipal enforcement may maintain separate warrant-related procedures.
Free California state-prison inmate search
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation provides the free California Incarcerated Records and Information Search (CIRIS).
CIRIS can display selected information including:
- name
- age
- CDCR number
- current location
- admission date
- county of commitment
- parole-eligible date where applicable
California Megan’s Law sex-offender search
California DOJ operates the state’s public Megan’s Law website using information from the California Sex and Arson Registry.
The public site provides statutorily authorized information about qualifying registered sex offenders. It should not be interpreted as a list of every person who has ever been convicted of a sex offense.
Search California Megan’s Law registryWhy an old California criminal record may disappear from public search results
California has expanded automatic record relief, arrest sealing and conviction-dismissal rules. As a result, a criminal case that was once readily visible may later be sealed or no longer disclosed through ordinary public access.
Arrest without conviction
California Penal Code section 851.91 allows qualifying people to petition to seal an arrest record when an arrest did not result in conviction, including situations where:
- charges were never filed
- charges were dismissed
- diversion was completed and the case dismissed
- deferred entry of judgment was completed
- the person was found not guilty
California Courts also notes that some arrests may already have been automatically sealed under Penal Code section 851.93.
Automatic conviction relief
California’s record-cleaning laws also provide automatic relief for certain qualifying convictions, including relief associated with Penal Code section 1203.425.
California Courts record-cleaning guidanceAre California juvenile criminal records public?
Juvenile delinquency records are generally confidential and are treated very differently from ordinary adult criminal court records.
California’s electronic-access rules specifically identify juvenile court proceedings as records that the general public may not access like ordinary public adult case files.
What to do if your California criminal record is wrong
The correction path depends on where the error appears.
Contact the Superior Court
If a disposition or case event is wrong in the court file, contact the Superior Court where the criminal case was handled.
Submit a DOJ challenge
After obtaining your own criminal-history record, use Form BCIA 8706 to challenge information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.
DOJ recommends first reviewing your fingerprint-based criminal-history record, identifying the inaccurate or missing information, and obtaining supporting court documentation where needed.
Federal criminal records in California
Federal criminal prosecutions are separate from California Superior Court cases. Use PACER for U.S. District Court and federal appellate records.
Search federal cases with PACERA person seeking their own nationwide FBI Identity History Summary should use the FBI’s official fingerprint-based process rather than a California DOJ-only or county-court search.
California free criminal-record search tips
Start with county, not statewide search
Trial court criminal records are maintained by California’s 58 county Superior Courts.
Use the case number
Case number is usually more reliable than a common-name search.
Expect limited online documents
California’s privacy rules restrict remote access to many criminal case documents.
Use the courthouse terminal
If the case index appears online but the document does not, courthouse access is often the next step.
Read the final disposition
Arrests and charges can end without conviction.
Use DOJ only for your own RAP sheet
General public third-party DOJ criminal-history requests are not permitted.
Search county jail separately
CDCR covers state incarceration, not every county jail booking.
Check for record relief
Automatic sealing or dismissal can explain why an older case no longer appears publicly.
Use fingerprints when identity matters
Fingerprint-based review is much stronger than relying solely on names and birth dates.
Can you use free California criminal records for employment or tenant screening?
A free public court search is not automatically a legally compliant employment or tenant-screening background report. California and federal law can impose separate rules on employers, landlords and consumer-reporting agencies.
California free criminal records FAQs
1. Is there a free statewide California criminal-record search?
No. California does not provide a free public statewide name-search of complete DOJ criminal-history summaries. Public criminal court information must generally be searched through the county Superior Court where the case was filed.
2. Can I search California criminal court cases for free?
Many county Superior Courts provide free online access to indexes, calendars or registers of actions. The exact information available differs by county.
3. Why can I see a criminal case online but not the court documents?
California Rule of Court 2.503 generally restricts remote public access to electronic criminal-case documents. Additional public records may need to be viewed at the courthouse.
4. How can I get my own California DOJ criminal record?
California residents use the DOJ Record Review process and submit Live Scan fingerprints using Form BCIA 8016RR. The current DOJ processing fee is $25, plus the fingerprint provider’s rolling fee.
5. Can I get someone else’s California DOJ RAP sheet?
No. California DOJ states that third-party requests for another person’s state summary criminal-history record are not authorized for ordinary public use.
6. Can the $25 California DOJ record-review fee be waived?
Yes. Qualifying California residents with low income or certain public benefits may apply to waive the DOJ processing fee. The fingerprint rolling fee may still apply.
7. Where can I search California state prisoners for free?
Use CDCR’s California Incarcerated Records and Information Search, known as CIRIS.
8. Are California juvenile criminal records public?
Juvenile delinquency records are generally confidential and are not publicly accessible in the same way as adult criminal records.
9. Can old California criminal records disappear from public search results?
Yes. Arrest sealing, automatic record relief, conviction dismissal, court sealing and other legal restrictions can make qualifying records unavailable to the general public.
10. How much do California court-record copies cost?
California Courts currently lists regular copies at typically $0.50 per page and certified copies at $40 per document. A $15 search fee can apply when clerk staff spend more than 10 minutes locating a record. Verify the exact charge with the county court.
Official California sources used for this guide
- California Courts — Find My Court
- California Courts — How to Look Up a Court Case
- California Courts — Viewing Electronic Case Records
- California Rule of Court 2.503
- California Courts — Getting Court Record Copies
- California DOJ — Request Your Own Criminal Record
- California DOJ — Record Review Fee Waiver
- California DOJ — Fingerprint Background Checks
- California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
- California Incarcerated Records and Information Search
- California Megan’s Law Registry
- California Courts — Clean Your Record