Find Ventura Criminal Records

Criminal history records in Ventura come from the Ventura Police Department and the Ventura County Superior Court. The city of Ventura, officially known as San Buenaventura, is the county seat of Ventura County. That means the main county courthouse sits in the city. Criminal cases from Ventura are filed and heard at the Ventura County courthouse downtown. The police department keeps its own arrest records and police reports. You can search court records online through the county's public portal. Police records need a separate request. This page covers how to access criminal records in Ventura, California.

Ventura Criminal Court Records

Criminal cases filed in Ventura go through the Ventura County Superior Court. The main courthouse is at 800 South Victoria Avenue in the city. As the county seat, Ventura is where most of the county's criminal court business takes place. Felonies, misdemeanors, and criminal traffic cases all flow through this system. The court assigns each case a number when the DA files charges. That number stays with the case through every hearing, motion, and ruling until it is resolved.

The Ventura County court public portal lets you search for criminal cases online. Type in a name or case number. The results show charges, hearing dates, case status, and the assigned courtroom. The portal is free and open to the public. You do not need an account to search.

For cases that are not in the online system, visit the clerk's office at the Ventura courthouse. Some older records have not been added to the digital database. The clerk can pull them up by name or case number. Paper copies are 50 cents per page. Certified copies cost $40 per document. The clerk's office is open during regular business hours on weekdays.

Ventura Police Criminal Records

The Ventura Police Department keeps its own records that are separate from the court. Police reports, arrest records, incident reports, and booking data all come from the department. When an arrest happens in Ventura, the officers write a report. That report stays with the department. The district attorney uses it to decide whether to file charges. Getting a copy of a police report means going through the city's public records process rather than the court system.

The City of Ventura public records request portal is where you submit requests for police reports and other city documents.

This portal handles requests for police reports, arrest records, and other public documents from the city of Ventura. Fill out the online form with as much detail as you can. A report number, date of incident, or names of people involved will speed things up. The city processes requests under the California Public Records Act. Most straightforward requests are handled within a couple of weeks. There is no fee to submit a request. The city may charge for copies of large record sets if the work involved is significant.

Getting Criminal Records in Ventura

There are several ways to get criminal records in Ventura. The approach depends on what type of record you need. Court records, police reports, and state background checks each come from a different place. Most people start with the free court search online. If that does not have what you need, try the police records portal or request a background check through the California DOJ.

For a full criminal history from the state, go to a Live Scan site in the Ventura area. The California DOJ maintains the statewide criminal record database under Penal Code 11105. You get fingerprinted, pay the $25 DOJ processing fee and the site's rolling fee, and results come back in a few business days. This is the most thorough option because it pulls records from every county in the state. There are Live Scan locations in Ventura, Oxnard, and other nearby cities.

The Ventura Police Department is at 1425 Dowell Drive. You can visit in person to request records during business hours. The CDCR inmate search covers anyone in the state prison system. The Megan's Law website tracks registered sex offenders in Ventura and across California.

Ventura Criminal Record Fees

Fees for criminal records in Ventura depend on the source. Court fees follow state law. The police department and city set their own rates for copies of police records and documents.

Common fees for criminal records in Ventura:

• 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

If you cannot pay court fees, ask about a fee waiver at the clerk's office. You fill out a form and provide proof of low income or public benefits. The judge decides. Fee waivers cover court costs only. They do not apply to DOJ fees or charges from the police department.

Clearing Criminal Records in Ventura

California law lets people clear some criminal records. A conviction from Ventura may qualify for dismissal under Penal Code 1203.4. You file a petition with the court after finishing probation. If the judge grants it, the conviction gets changed to a dismissal on your record. This is helpful for job applications and housing. AB 1076 made some of this automatic. The DOJ identifies eligible records and grants relief without the person having to file anything. This has helped thousands of people across the state who did not know they could get their records cleared.

If you were arrested in Ventura but charges were never filed or the case was dismissed, Penal Code 851.87 lets you petition to seal the arrest record. Once sealed, the arrest does not show up on most background checks. File the petition at the Ventura County courthouse. You can do it yourself or get a lawyer involved.

Note: Clearing a record does not make it vanish from law enforcement databases. Police and certain agencies can still access the original record.

Nearby Cities

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

Ventura County Criminal Records

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