Search Alameda County Criminal Records

Alameda County criminal history records can be searched through several public sources. The county sits on the east side of the San Francisco Bay and has more than 1.7 million residents. Criminal cases here go through the Alameda County Superior Court, which uses the Tyler Odyssey system for public case access. The Sheriff's Office keeps its own set of records for bookings and jail custody. You can look up court cases online at no cost through the court portal. This page walks through the main ways to find criminal records in Alameda County and what to expect from each source.

Alameda County Court Criminal Records

The Alameda County Superior Court handles all criminal cases filed in the county. It runs on the Tyler Odyssey case management system, which gives the public free access to search criminal and traffic cases online. You can look up cases by name or case number. The results show charges, hearing dates, and the current status of each case. Most criminal filings from the past several years are in the system. Older cases may not be digitized, so you might need to visit the courthouse in person for those. The main courthouse is in Oakland, with other locations in Hayward, Fremont, Berkeley, and Dublin.

The Alameda County Superior Court public portal lets you search criminal case records from any location in the county.

This portal covers criminal, traffic, and civil cases across all Alameda County courthouse locations.

When you search the court portal, enter at least a last name. Adding a first name helps narrow your results. Each case listing shows the case number, charges, filing date, and next hearing date if the case is still open. Click a case number to see more detail. You can view the full docket, which lists every court event and filing in the case. Some documents may be restricted from public view if they contain sealed or confidential information. For copies of court records, the clerk charges 50 cents per page. Certified copies cost $40 each. You can request them at any Alameda County courthouse clerk window or by mail.

Note: The online portal does not show sealed or expunged records from Alameda County cases.

Alameda County Inmate and Booking Records

The Alameda County Sheriff runs the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. This is one of the largest jails in Northern California. The Sheriff maintains records for everyone booked into the facility. You can search for current inmates through the Sheriff's online tools. The search shows the person's name, booking date, charges, bail amount, and housing location within the jail. It updates regularly as new bookings and releases come in throughout the day.

For public records requests from the Sheriff's Office, the NextRequest portal handles formal requests for incident reports, booking records, and other law enforcement documents. You create an account and submit your request online. The Sheriff's Office responds based on what records are releasable under California public records law. Response times vary. Simple requests may take a few days. More complex requests can take weeks depending on how much review is needed.

If someone from Alameda County is in state prison rather than county jail, use the CDCR inmate search to find them. The California Department of Corrections runs this tool for anyone in the state prison system. It is free to use and shows the person's current facility, CDCR number, and the county where they were sentenced.

How to Get Criminal Records in Alameda County

There are a few paths to get criminal history information in Alameda County. The right one depends on what you need and who you need it from. Court records, police reports, and state background checks all come from different places. Most people start with the free court portal since it covers the widest range of criminal case data.

For an official state criminal history record, you need to go through the California DOJ Live Scan process. This requires fingerprinting at an authorized Live Scan site. Alameda County has many of these at police stations, UPS stores, and private fingerprinting businesses. You pay the $25 DOJ fee plus a rolling fee that the site charges. Under Penal Code 11105, the DOJ maintains the statewide criminal history repository. Results typically come back in 2 to 3 business days. This is the most complete record available because it pulls from every county in California, not just Alameda.

Police reports come from the specific agency that handled the incident. Oakland has its own police department. So do Berkeley, Fremont, and Hayward. The Sheriff handles unincorporated areas. Each agency has its own records request process. Contact the agency directly for details on fees and turnaround times.

Criminal Record Fees in Alameda County

Fees for criminal records in Alameda County follow state guidelines for court records. The Sheriff and local police departments set their own fees for reports and other documents. Here are the most common costs you can expect when requesting criminal records.

• Court name search (over 10 minutes): $15
• Copies per page: $0.50
• Certified copy per document: $40
• Exemplification: $50
• DOJ background check: $25 plus Live Scan rolling fee

If you cannot pay the fees, the court offers fee waivers for people with low income or who receive public benefits. File a fee waiver request form at the clerk's office. The judge reviews it and decides if you qualify. A fee waiver covers court filing fees and some copy costs in Alameda County. It does not cover DOJ fees or police report fees. Online searches through the court portal are free and do not require any payment.

Criminal Record Clearing in Alameda County

California gives people several ways to clear or reduce criminal records. If you have a conviction in Alameda County, you may be able to get it dismissed under Penal Code 1203.4. You must have finished probation and met all the terms. The court changes the plea to not guilty and dismisses the case. This does not erase the record but shows a dismissal instead of a conviction. For many job applications, a dismissed case does not have to be reported.

AB 1076 made parts of this process automatic. The California DOJ now reviews eligible records and grants relief without the person having to file anything. This covers certain felonies reduced to misdemeanors and completed probation cases. Not every case qualifies. Check with the Alameda County Public Defender's office or a local legal aid group if you are not sure about your eligibility.

Arrest records that did not lead to a conviction can be sealed under Penal Code 851.87. File the petition at the Alameda County Superior Court where the case was originally heard. Once sealed, the arrest no longer shows up on most background checks. The Megan's Law website tracks registered sex offenders across California, including Alameda County. That registry is separate from regular court criminal records and is always public.

Cities in Alameda County

Alameda County has over a dozen cities. All criminal cases from these cities go through the Alameda County Superior Court. The courthouse that handles a case depends on where the crime occurred. Below are major cities with their own criminal history resource pages.

Other cities in Alameda County include San Leandro, Livermore, Pleasanton, Union City, Newark, and Alameda. All criminal cases from these cities are processed through the Alameda County Superior Court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Alameda County. If you are not sure where a criminal case was filed, check the location where the arrest or incident took place. Cases must be filed in the correct county.