Sacramento Criminal History Search

Criminal history records in Sacramento are managed by the Sacramento County Superior Court and the Sacramento Police Department. Sacramento is the state capital and the county seat of Sacramento County. Criminal cases filed in the city go through the county court system. The Sacramento Police Department maintains arrest records, police reports, and incident logs for the city. You can search court cases online at no cost. Police reports require a separate public records request. This page covers the key ways to access criminal records in Sacramento, California.

Sacramento Criminal Court Records

Criminal cases from Sacramento go through the Sacramento County Superior Court. The main criminal courthouse is the Carol Miller Justice Center at 301 Bicentennial Circle. This is where most felony cases from the city are handled. Misdemeanor cases may be heard at other court locations in the county depending on where the offense took place. The court deals with a high volume of cases given that Sacramento is the largest city in the county and the state capital. Each case gets a unique case number at filing.

The Sacramento County Public Case Access portal lets you search criminal cases from Sacramento and the rest of the county for free. Enter a last name and first name to find matching records. The results display case numbers, charges, hearing dates, and case status. You do not need an account to search. The system includes both active and closed cases that have been entered into the digital database.

Cases from years back may not always show online. The court has been putting older records into the system, but some paper-only files still exist. For those, go to the clerk's office at the courthouse. Bring a photo ID. Staff can look up records and provide copies. Standard copies cost 50 cents per page. Certified copies are $40 each.

Note: Sealed and expunged records do not appear in any public court search for Sacramento County.

Sacramento Police Department Records

The Sacramento Police Department keeps records separate from the court. These include police reports, arrest records, incident reports, and booking logs. The SPD serves as the main law enforcement agency for the city of Sacramento. If you need a copy of a police report, you request it through the department. Individual reports are not posted online for open browsing. You must make a specific request for the record you want.

The Sacramento Police Department records request page explains how to get copies of police reports from the SPD.

This page walks you through the process of requesting a police report from the Sacramento Police Department. You can request reports for incidents where you were a victim, a witness, or an involved party. Reports can also be requested for insurance purposes. The department provides different options depending on the type of report. Some reports are available at the front counter of the police station. Others need to go through a formal public records request.

For broader public records requests, the SPD uses the Sacramento Police NextRequest portal where you can file and track requests online.

The NextRequest system lets you submit detailed requests for police records, track the status of pending requests, and receive documents electronically. It is the primary tool for obtaining records under the California Public Records Act from the Sacramento PD. Most responses come back within 10 days. The department may charge fees for large document requests, but standard requests typically have no cost.

Getting Criminal Records in Sacramento

Sacramento gives you several ways to access criminal records. Court records, police reports, and state background checks each come from a different place. Most people start with the free online court search. If that does not have what you need, the police records portal is the next step. For a statewide criminal history, you go through the California DOJ.

For a complete criminal history report from the state, visit a Live Scan site in Sacramento. The California DOJ runs the statewide criminal record database under Penal Code 11105. You get fingerprinted and pay the $25 DOJ fee plus the site's rolling fee. Results come back in a few business days. Sacramento has many Live Scan locations since it is the state capital. You can find them at police stations, government buildings, shipping stores, and private vendors throughout the city. This check pulls records from all 58 counties, which makes it the most complete criminal history available.

The Sacramento County Sheriff handles the county jail system. People arrested in Sacramento are booked into the county facility. Check the Sheriff's inmate search for current custody information. The CDCR inmate search covers state prison inmates. The Megan's Law website tracks registered sex offenders in Sacramento and statewide.

Sacramento Criminal Record Fees

Fees for criminal records in Sacramento depend on the source. Court fees follow state schedules. Police report fees vary by request type and size. Knowing the costs ahead of time helps you prepare before making a request or visiting an office.

Common fees for criminal records in Sacramento:

• 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 by request
• Online court case search: free

If court fees are a problem, you can file for a fee waiver with the clerk's office. You need to show proof of low income or that you receive public benefits. The judge reviews and approves the waiver. Fee waivers cover court costs only. They do not apply to DOJ background check fees or police department charges.

Clearing Criminal Records in Sacramento

California law allows certain criminal records to be cleared. If you have a conviction from Sacramento, you may qualify for a dismissal under Penal Code 1203.4. You petition the Sacramento County Superior Court after finishing your probation. The court changes the record to reflect a dismissal rather than a conviction. This does not completely erase the record, but it changes how it appears. AB 1076 has automated this process for many qualifying offenses. The DOJ now reviews records and grants automatic relief without requiring a petition.

Arrest records can also be sealed in Sacramento. If you were arrested but charges were never filed or the case was dismissed, Penal Code 851.87 allows you to petition for the arrest record to be sealed. Once sealed, the arrest does not show on most background checks. You file the petition at the courthouse where the case was handled. Sacramento has legal aid organizations that may help with the paperwork if you meet their income requirements. You can also hire a private attorney to handle it for you.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Sacramento. Criminal cases from each city go through their county's Superior Court system.

Sacramento County Criminal Records

Sacramento is in Sacramento County. All criminal cases from the city go through the Sacramento County Superior Court. Visit the county page for more details on court searches, sheriff records, and county-level resources.