Chico Criminal Records
Criminal history searches in Chico pull from the city police department and the Butte County Superior Court. Chico is the largest city in Butte County, and all criminal cases from the city are processed through that court system. The Chico Police Department maintains its own arrest records, incident reports, and police files. You can search court records through the county's online portal and request police records through the city. This page lays out how to access each type of criminal record in Chico, California.
Chico Quick Facts
Chico Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases from Chico are filed in the Butte County Superior Court. The county has court locations in Oroville and Chico. The Butte County Superior Court North Butte Courthouse at One Court Street in Chico handles many of the criminal cases from the city. The main courthouse in Oroville also takes cases from across the county. Which location your case ends up at depends on the type of charge and how the court assigns its calendar.
You can look up Chico criminal cases through the Butte County Superior Court online case information page. The court provides case lookup tools on its website. You can search by name or case number to find basic case details. The search shows charges, scheduled hearing dates, and case status. It is free to use and does not require an account. The system includes cases from both the Chico and Oroville courthouses.
If the online search does not have what you need, visit the clerk's office in person. Some older records may only be available at the courthouse. Copies cost 50 cents per page. Certified copies are $40 each. The clerk at either location can help you find what you are looking for.
Note: Butte County is a smaller court system than what you find in urban counties, so wait times for in-person requests tend to be shorter.
Chico Police Criminal Records
The Chico Police Department keeps arrest records, incident reports, and other police files for the city. These are separate from court records. If you need a copy of a police report from Chico, the request goes directly to the department. Individual reports are not posted online. You submit a request for the specific record you want.
Submit requests through the Chico Police records request portal for police reports and other department records.
The portal runs on NextRequest. You fill out the form with what you need and submit it. Include a report number if you have one. If not, provide the date, location, and any names involved. The city processes requests under the California Public Records Act. Standard requests usually get a response within about 10 days. Some records cannot be released if they fall under an exemption. The department will explain why if a request is denied. There is no fee to submit the request itself, but charges for copies may apply.
How to Get Chico Criminal Records
Getting criminal records in Chico works a few different ways. The approach depends on what type of record you are after. Court case information is the easiest to get online. Police reports take a formal request. A full state background check requires a trip to a Live Scan location. Most people start with the court search since it is free and gives quick results.
A Live Scan background check is the most thorough option. The California DOJ maintains the state criminal record database. You go to a Live Scan site, get fingerprinted, and pay the $25 DOJ fee plus whatever the site charges for rolling your prints. Results typically come back within a few business days. This search covers all 58 counties in California, so it catches records a single county lookup might miss. Chico has Live Scan sites at shipping stores and private vendors. You can find them by searching the DOJ's Live Scan site list for Butte County. The authority for these checks comes from Penal Code 11105.
The Chico Police Department is at 1460 Humboldt Road. You can walk in during business hours to request records. Call (530) 897-4900 first to check their current walk-in schedule.
Chico Criminal Record Fees
Fees for getting criminal records in Chico depend on the source. The court follows the statewide fee schedule. The police department sets its own rates. Here are the costs you should plan for.
Common fees for Chico criminal records:
- Court name search (over 10 minutes): $15
- Court copies per page: $0.50
- Certified court copy: $40 per document
- DOJ background check: $25 plus Live Scan rolling fee
- Police report copies: varies
If you cannot pay court fees, you can ask the clerk for a fee waiver form. You will need to show that your income is low or that you get government benefits. The judge decides. A fee waiver covers court costs only. It does not cover DOJ fees, Live Scan rolling fees, or police department charges. Most people spend between $50 and $75 total for a Live Scan background check when all fees are added up.
Record Clearing in Chico
People with criminal records from Chico have options for clearing them. A conviction can be dismissed under Penal Code 1203.4 after probation is done. You petition the Butte County Superior Court. The court changes the guilty plea and enters a dismissal. It does not erase the record completely, but most private employers will not see it on a standard background check. AB 1076 has automated parts of this. The state DOJ now reviews records and gives automatic relief for qualifying cases without the person filing paperwork.
Arrest records from Chico can be sealed under Penal Code 851.87. This works when charges were never filed or the case ended in dismissal. You file a petition at the courthouse. Once sealed, the arrest record is hidden from most background checks. You can do this yourself or get help from a lawyer. Butte County has some legal aid resources that may assist with record clearing. The process is not complicated, but having someone walk you through it can make it easier, especially if you have multiple records to deal with.
Note: Some sex offenses and serious felonies are not eligible for record clearing under California law.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Chico. Criminal cases from each city go through their county's Superior Court system.
Butte County Criminal Records
Chico is in Butte County. All criminal cases from the city are filed through the Butte County Superior Court. Visit the county page for more on court searches, sheriff records, and county resources.