Start with the court for the case — not a generic background-search website
Los Angeles County criminal information is spread across several agencies. The Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles keeps criminal case records; the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department maintains county jail, booking and Sheriff’s records; city police departments maintain their own police reports; California DOJ maintains statewide fingerprint-based criminal-history records; and CDCR maintains state-prison information. The fastest route depends on what you are actually trying to verify.
Los Angeles County does not keep every criminal record in one database
“Criminal records” can mean several things. A court case, booking record, sheriff report, LAPD arrest summary and California DOJ criminal-history record are separate records maintained under different access rules.
Criminal court case
Filed criminal charges, court dates, case events, pleas, dispositions and sentencing information.
County booking / jail
Booking details, custody location, bail, court dates, release information and holds.
Arrest or crime report
Records maintained by whichever law-enforcement agency created the report.
State RAP sheet
Fingerprint-based California criminal-history information; access is restricted by state law.
State prison record
Selected information for people within California’s state correctional system.
Federal criminal case
Federal prosecutions are separate from Los Angeles Superior Court and use PACER.
Search a Los Angeles criminal case when you know the case number
The Los Angeles Superior Court provides Criminal Case Access for publicly available case-summary information.
The court expressly warns that information displayed online is not the official court record. For anything important, compare online data with the official file or obtain a certified court document.
Open Criminal Case AccessEnter the criminal case number
A known case number is the most precise way to reach the correct Los Angeles Superior Court file.
Confirm the defendant
Compare the defendant’s name and filing information before reading the case as belonging to the person you are researching.
Review charges and case events
Look at the criminal counts, hearings and other publicly available case-summary information.
Check the disposition
Determine how each count ended instead of assuming the original charge remained unchanged.
Request the document if you need proof
Criminal document images are not generally provided through the court’s ordinary online document-image service. Contact the courthouse maintaining the criminal case for copies.
If you do not know the case number, search the Criminal Defendant Index
Los Angeles Superior Court operates an official Search for Case Number by Defendant Name service.
A successful name search returns information including:
- case number
- defendant name
- filing date
- filing location
Once you locate the case number, move to Criminal Case Access to review additional publicly available case information.
How far back does the online criminal index go?
| Case type | Online search range | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | 1980 to present | For earlier records, contact court Archives. |
| Misdemeanor | 1988 to present | Some locations have misdemeanor index data going back to 1983. |
| Traffic / infractions | Not included in the criminal defendant-name index | Use the court’s Traffic Division instead. |
Use the right matching method
Los Angeles Superior Court’s name-search system supports different matching approaches. These are especially useful with common Los Angeles County names.
Exact Match
Returns defendants whose searched first or last name matches the entered value exactly.
Starts With
Useful when you know only the beginning of a name or are unsure of the full spelling.
Sounds Like
Can return names that sound similar even when spelling differs.
Current Los Angeles criminal defendant-name search fees
Los Angeles Superior Court charges a public-access fee for defendant-name searches. You can search as a registered user or continue as a guest.
| User type | Monthly search number | Current fee per search |
|---|---|---|
| Registered | 1–10 | $1.00 |
| Registered | 11–99 | $4.75 |
| Registered | 100–999 | $4.50 |
| Registered | 1,000–10,000 | $4.25 |
| Registered | 10,001+ | $4.00 |
| Guest | Any name search | $4.75 |
Los Angeles Superior Court currently accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover and qualifying debit cards for online name-search transactions. The online FAQ states that American Express and checks are not accepted for those online searches.
Search fees can change. Verify the current court Online Services fee schedule before purchasing.
Read the final Los Angeles case outcome — not just the original charge
Criminal cases can contain several counts, and those counts can end differently. A useful record search should answer what happened to each material charge.
| Information | What it generally means | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Filed charge | An allegation formally presented in court. | Check whether it was later amended or dismissed. |
| Plea | The defendant’s response to the charge. | An early plea entry may not be the final result. |
| Disposition | How a count or case was resolved. | This is usually more important than the arrest allegation. |
| Sentence | Penalty or court conditions imposed after a qualifying disposition. | Confirm which count the sentence belongs to. |
| Dismissal | A charge did not result in conviction on that count. | Check whether other counts remained. |
| Appeal | The case later moved into an appellate process. | Search the appellate courts separately. |
Older Los Angeles criminal records may require Archives or an in-person index search
The online criminal index has date limits. If a felony predates 1980 or a misdemeanor falls outside available online coverage, the absence of an online result does not prove no case exists.
Los Angeles Superior Court directs users to Archives for availability of older cases. The court’s appointment system identifies its Archives & Records service at:
Los Angeles Superior Court — Archives & Records
222 North Hill StreetRoom 212
Los Angeles, CA 90012
How to obtain Los Angeles criminal court copies and certified records
The online Criminal Case Access page is useful for research, but it is not a certified court record. Los Angeles Superior Court’s online “Case Document Images” service also specifically excludes ordinary criminal case documents.
For a criminal complaint, minute order, plea record, judgment, sentencing document or other official criminal filing, contact the courthouse where the criminal file is maintained.
Current general court copy costs
| Service | Current court guidance | When useful |
|---|---|---|
| Paper court copy | $0.50 per page | Ordinary copy when certification is not required. |
| Certification | $40 per certification | When an authenticated court copy is required. |
| Record/file search longer than 10 minutes | $15 search fee | May apply when staff must perform a lengthy manual search. |
Mail request
The court recommends sending a completed request for copies to the courthouse where the record is located, along with the required payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope with sufficient postage.
Checks or money orders should be made payable according to current Los Angeles Superior Court instructions. Do not send cash.
For certified-record questions, the court’s online FAQ also identifies its Certification Unit at:
Certification Unit, Room 112C
111 N. Hill Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Central Los Angeles criminal courthouse information
Many major downtown criminal matters are handled at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center. Los Angeles County has many additional criminal court locations, so verify the filing location shown in the case before traveling.
Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
210 West Temple StreetLos Angeles, CA 90012
General information: (213) 628-7700
Criminal Clerk’s Office:
2nd Floor, Room M6
Plan the visit before you arrive
Building: 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Clerk’s Office: 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Monday–Friday, excluding court holidays.
The court strongly encourages appointments for clerk services.
Schedule court appointmentMap to the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
This map is useful for the central downtown criminal courthouse. Confirm that your specific case is filed there before visiting.
How to check Los Angeles County jail and booking information
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department provides a public Inmate Information Center.
LASD’s current custody policy says public inmate information may include:
- booking details
- arrest information
- bail amount
- housing location
- court dates and court location
- release date
- hold information
- visiting days and hours
Request Los Angeles County Sheriff’s criminal and arrest records from the right LASD unit
LASD’s Record Requests page separates law-enforcement records, jail-related public records, non-custody CPRA requests, subpoenas and other record categories.
The Records and Identification Bureau handles services including:
- booking/arrest information
- criminal-history requests
- crime reports for eligible requesters
- clearance and incarceration letters
- Live Scan fingerprint services
- record-sealing matters
LASD Records and Identification Bureau
12440 East Imperial HighwayNorwalk, CA 90650
Public Services: (562) 345-4441
LASD currently requires appointments for Public Services pickups. Call before visiting.
Requesting a report by mail
LASD asks mail requesters to provide identifying information and documentation showing that they are legally entitled to receive the record.
Useful details include:
- full name and aliases
- date of birth
- incident date
- incident location
- report number if known
- valid identification
- mailing address
LAPD records and LASD records are not interchangeable
Los Angeles County contains dozens of incorporated cities, unincorporated communities and separate law-enforcement jurisdictions.
If the Los Angeles Police Department made the arrest or created the report, use LAPD’s records process. If LASD created it, use the Sheriff’s Records and Identification Bureau. Other cities may operate their own police departments.
LAPD crime report requests
LAPD states that a crime report can generally be released only to an authorized requester, such as a victim or another person authorized by law.
LAPD currently lists an ordinary crime-report request fee of $28, subject to exceptions for qualifying victims.
LAPD crime-report mailing address
Los Angeles Police DepartmentR&I Division — Document Processing Unit
P.O. Box 30158
Los Angeles, CA 90030
Recorded report information: (213) 486-8130
Your own LAPD arrest summary
If you were arrested by LAPD, you can request an LAPD arrest summary. LAPD says it covers LAPD arrests only and does not include arrests by other agencies.
The current LAPD arrest-summary fee is $25, and a fingerprint card is required.
How to check whether you may have a Los Angeles County warrant
LASD’s Records FAQ says a person who wants to know whether they have a warrant can go to a local police department or Sheriff’s station, where law enforcement can conduct a warrant check.
If you already know the related Los Angeles Superior Court case number, check the case and contact the courthouse handling it for current instructions.
California DOJ does not offer a public name search for everyone’s full RAP sheet
California DOJ maintains statewide summary criminal-history records, but those records are confidential and access is strictly controlled by law.
DOJ specifically states that third-party Record Review requests are not authorized. An individual may request their own California criminal-history record to check it for accuracy and completeness.
How to request your own California record
Download the Record Review Live Scan form
California residents use Form BCIA 8016RR and select “Record Review.”
Complete your personal information
Make sure the identification data on the form are accurate before fingerprinting.
Visit an authorized Live Scan site
California residents submit fingerprints electronically through a Live Scan provider.
Pay the DOJ fee and rolling fee
DOJ currently lists a $25 processing fee. The fingerprint provider may charge an additional rolling fee.
Review the returned RAP sheet
If information is inaccurate or incomplete, follow DOJ’s challenge procedure.
How to correct inaccurate California criminal-history information
When you receive your DOJ Record Review, California provides Form BCIA 8706 — Claim of Alleged Inaccuracy or Incompleteness for disputes.
DOJ instructs people to identify the specific inaccurate entry and provide documentation supporting the correction.
Search California state-prison information through CDCR CIRIS
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation operates California Incarcerated Records and Information Search (CIRIS).
The service provides selected information concerning people in California’s state correctional system, such as name, CDCR number, current location, commitment county and other qualifying public information.
Open CDCR CIRISIf you cannot locate someone through CIRIS, CDCR currently lists its Identification Unit at (916) 445-6713, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Pacific Time.
California Megan’s Law search is a separate specialized database
The California Department of Justice operates the California Megan’s Law website for qualifying publicly disclosable sex-offender registration information.
The database is not a complete criminal-history system, and not every person required to register is necessarily displayed publicly.
Search the California appellate courts if the Los Angeles case was appealed
Felony appeals from Los Angeles County generally move through the Second District Court of Appeal. California provides a statewide appellate case-information system separate from the Superior Court.
Search California appellate casesSearch options can include appellate case number, trial-court number, case name or party name. The appellate database also provides opinions and other publicly available appellate information.
Second District Court of Appeal
Ronald Reagan State Building300 S. Spring Street
2nd Floor, North Tower
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Phone: (213) 830-7000
Federal criminal cases in Los Angeles County use PACER
Federal prosecutions are separate from Los Angeles Superior Court. Los Angeles County lies within the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Use PACER to find federal criminal case dockets.
Search PACER Central District of CaliforniaIf the correct federal courthouse is unknown, PACER’s Case Locator searches the nationwide federal index.
Why a Los Angeles criminal case may later disappear or look different
California has several forms of record relief, and some qualifying records can also receive automatic relief.
Arrest sealing
Penal Code section 851.91 can allow qualifying arrests that did not result in conviction to be sealed.
Dismissal
Qualifying misdemeanor or felony convictions may be eligible for dismissal under California record-cleaning laws.
DOJ updates
Some qualifying arrests or convictions may receive automatic relief under California law.
Los Angeles Superior Court directs users to California Courts’ record-cleaning guidance for dismissal, sealing and other forms of post-conviction relief.
LA Court — Clearing Your Record California Courts record-cleaning guideJuvenile records use a different access process
Juvenile justice records are not handled like ordinary public adult criminal cases. California provides stronger confidentiality protections for juvenile court and law-enforcement records.
If your search concerns a juvenile matter, contact the appropriate Los Angeles juvenile court and follow the specific petition or access procedure rather than using the adult criminal defendant index as though the case were an ordinary public criminal prosecution.
Public Los Angeles court searches are not automatically compliant employment checks
A public criminal-case search can help someone understand a court record, but hiring, housing, licensing and other eligibility decisions can involve separate California and federal requirements.
California DOJ fingerprint background checks are available only through authorized procedures, and an individual’s personal DOJ Record Review is not an unrestricted third-party screening product.
Los Angeles County search tips that prevent common mistakes
Save the case number immediately
Once a paid defendant-name search finds the case, save the number so you do not keep paying to repeat the same name search.
Use Exact Match for common names
Los Angeles County has a huge population. Broad phonetic matching can produce many unrelated defendants.
Add a filing-date range
If you know approximately when the case happened, limit the defendant-index search.
Old case? Think Archives
Felonies before 1980 and many older misdemeanors require an Archives or courthouse route.
Police agency matters
LAPD and LASD are different record custodians. Identify which agency made the arrest or report.
County jail? Use LASD
Do not begin with CDCR when the person is being held in a Los Angeles County jail.
Statewide personal record?
Use California DOJ Record Review rather than collecting local arrest summaries one agency at a time.
Need proof?
Order the court document. An online case summary is expressly not the official court record.
Check every count
One charge may be dismissed while another results in conviction within the same case.
Common questions about Los Angeles County criminal records
1. Can I search Los Angeles County criminal cases online?
Yes. Los Angeles Superior Court provides Criminal Case Access when you know the case number, and a separate paid Criminal Defendant Index when you need to search by defendant name.
2. How far back does the Los Angeles criminal name search go?
The court currently lists felony index coverage from 1980 to the present and misdemeanor coverage from 1988 to the present. Some misdemeanor information goes back to 1983 depending on when former Municipal Court locations automated their records.
3. How much does a Los Angeles criminal name search cost?
Registered users currently pay $1 for each of their first 10 monthly searches, with different fees applying at higher search volumes. Guest users currently pay $4.75 per search. The fee applies even if the search returns no match.
4. Can I download Los Angeles criminal court documents online?
The Superior Court’s ordinary Case Document Images service does not provide criminal-case document images. Contact the courthouse where the criminal file is maintained to request copies or certified records.
5. Where can I find someone in Los Angeles County jail?
Use the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Inmate Information Center. Public custody information can include booking details, bail, housing location, court dates, release information and holds.
6. Are LAPD and Los Angeles Sheriff criminal records the same?
No. LAPD and LASD are separate law-enforcement agencies. Request a police or arrest record from the agency that created it. Other Los Angeles County cities may also operate their own police departments.
7. Can I search another person’s full California DOJ RAP sheet?
No. California DOJ states that third-party Record Review requests are not authorized. An individual can request their own fingerprint-based California criminal-history record.
8. What if an old Los Angeles criminal case does not appear online?
Contact Los Angeles Superior Court Archives or the courthouse that maintained the case. Online criminal-index coverage has date limits, so older files can require a manual records search.
9. How do I get a certified Los Angeles criminal court record?
Contact the courthouse where the criminal case is maintained and request the specific document. The court currently lists ordinary copies at $0.50 per page and a separate certification fee. Verify current charges before submitting payment.
10. How do I search a federal criminal case from Los Angeles?
Use PACER. Los Angeles County federal matters are within the Central District of California, but PACER’s nationwide Case Locator can also be used when you do not know the exact federal court.
Official sources for verifying Los Angeles criminal-record information
- Los Angeles Superior Court — Criminal Case Access
- Los Angeles Superior Court — Search for Case by Defendant Name
- Los Angeles Superior Court — Online Services Fee Information
- Los Angeles Superior Court — Criminal Case Information
- Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
- Los Angeles Superior Court — Clerk Appointment Scheduling
- Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department — Record Requests
- LASD Records and Identification Bureau FAQ
- LASD — Inmate Information Center
- LAPD — Obtaining Police Information
- LAPD — Arrest Summaries and Detention Letters
- California DOJ — Request Your Own Criminal Record
- California DOJ — Fingerprint Background Checks
- CDCR — California Incarcerated Records and Information Search
- California DOJ — Megan’s Law Website
- California Appellate Courts Case Information
- PACER — Federal Court Records
- U.S. District Court — Central District of California
- California Courts — Clean Your Record