Find Records in Amador County

Amador County criminal history records are available through the Superior Court and the Sheriff's Office. The county has about 40,000 residents and is located in the Sierra Nevada foothills east of Sacramento. Criminal cases filed here go through the Amador County Superior Court in Jackson. The court offers an online portal for case searches. The Sheriff runs a jail and provides public access to booking data through a separate system. This page covers the main ways to find and request criminal records in Amador County.

Amador County Court Criminal Records

The Amador County Superior Court is in Jackson at 500 Argonaut Lane. It handles all criminal cases for the county. There is one courthouse location. The court provides an online portal where you can search for criminal and other case types at no charge. Enter a name or case number and the system shows matching records. Results include the case type, charges, hearing dates, and current case status. Most recent criminal filings are available in the system. Older records may need to be checked at the clerk's office in person.

The Amador County court portal gives the public access to search criminal case records online.

This portal lets you look up cases from the Amador County Superior Court without visiting the courthouse.

To get copies of court documents, visit the clerk at the Jackson courthouse. Copies cost 50 cents per page. Certified copies are $40 per document. You can also send a written request by mail with the proper fees. Include the case number if you have it, or provide enough identifying information for the clerk to locate the case. The court processes mail requests as they come in, but it can take a couple of weeks to get a response. If you need records quickly, visiting in person is the fastest option in Amador County.

Amador County Sheriff Booking Records

The Amador County Sheriff operates the county jail in Jackson. Booking and custody data is available through the Sheriff's online crime graphics system. You can search for people currently in custody or recently booked. The system shows the person's name, charges, booking date, and bail amount. It updates as new bookings happen.

The Amador County Sheriff crime graphics portal provides public access to booking and crime data. This covers arrests made by the Sheriff's Office as well as bookings from city police departments within Amador County. The Sheriff is the main law enforcement agency for the unincorporated areas, which make up most of the county. Cities like Jackson, Sutter Creek, and Ione have small police departments, but their arrestees are booked into the county jail.

For people in state prison rather than county jail, use the CDCR inmate search. This covers anyone sentenced from Amador County who is serving time in a California state prison facility. The search is free and shows current location and commitment details.

Note: Booking records from the Sheriff may be removed from the online system after a certain period.

How to Get Amador County Criminal Records

Getting criminal records in Amador County starts with figuring out which agency has what you need. Court records come from the Superior Court. Booking and arrest records come from the Sheriff. State background checks go through the California DOJ. Each source has its own process and fees.

For an official criminal history from the state, the California DOJ runs the Live Scan fingerprint process. Under Penal Code 11105, the DOJ holds the statewide criminal record repository. You get fingerprinted at an authorized Live Scan site and pay the $25 DOJ fee plus a rolling fee. Amador County has limited Live Scan locations, so you may need to travel to nearby Sacramento or El Dorado County for fingerprinting. Results typically arrive within 2 to 3 business days and include records from every county in California, not just Amador.

Police reports from local agencies can be requested directly. Contact the Jackson Police Department, the Ione Police Department, or the Amador County Sheriff depending on which agency handled the incident. Each has its own records request form and fee schedule.

Amador County Criminal Record Fees

Court fees in Amador County follow the standard California fee schedule. All Superior Courts in the state charge the same amounts for basic services like copies, certifications, and name searches. These fees are set by state law and do not vary by county.

• 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
• Online court case search: Free

If the fees are a hardship, you can ask for a fee waiver. Fill out a fee waiver request form and submit it to the Amador County Superior Court clerk. The court looks at your income and whether you receive public benefits. Approved waivers cover court fees and some copying costs. They do not apply to DOJ or law enforcement record fees.

Clearing Criminal Records in Amador County

People with criminal records in Amador County have options for clearing or reducing their record under California law. Penal Code 1203.4 allows you to petition the court to dismiss a conviction once you have completed probation. The court withdraws the guilty plea, enters a not guilty plea, and dismisses the case. This is sometimes called expungement, though the record still exists. It just shows as dismissed rather than convicted. You file the petition at the Amador County Superior Court.

AB 1076 added an automatic review process. The California DOJ identifies eligible cases and grants relief without requiring the person to file any paperwork. This covers many misdemeanor and some felony cases where probation was completed. If you are not sure whether your Amador County case qualifies for automatic relief, check with a local attorney or legal aid organization.

For arrests that did not result in a conviction, Penal Code 851.87 lets you seal the arrest record. File the petition at the court in Jackson. Once granted, the arrest no longer appears on most background checks. The Megan's Law website maintains the public sex offender registry for California, including any registrants in Amador County. This is a separate system that is always public.

Cities in Amador County

Amador County has several small cities including Jackson, Sutter Creek, Ione, Plymouth, and Amador City. None of these cities meet the population threshold for a dedicated page. All criminal cases from cities in Amador County go through the Superior Court in Jackson. The Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for the unincorporated areas while each city has its own small police force.

Nearby Counties

Amador County shares borders with several other foothill and mountain counties. If a case was filed in a neighboring county, you will need to check that county's court system separately. Criminal jurisdiction depends on where the offense occurred.