Butte County Criminal History Search

Criminal history records in Butte County come from the Superior Court and the Sheriff's Office. Butte County has about 220,000 residents and is in the northern Sacramento Valley. The county seat is Oroville. Criminal cases get filed through the Butte County Superior Court, which offers an online case lookup tool. The Sheriff runs the county jail and provides booking data online through a separate system. This page shows you how to search for criminal records, what fees to expect, and where to go for different types of records in Butte County.

Butte County Court Criminal Records

The Butte County Superior Court manages all criminal cases filed in the county. There are courthouse locations in Oroville and Chico. The court provides a free online case search tool where you can look up criminal cases by name or case number. Search results show the case type, charges, filing date, hearing schedule, and current status. Most criminal cases from recent years are in the system. The court keeps adding older records to the digital system, but some historical cases may only be available at the clerk's office in person.

The Butte County Superior Court case information page provides access to criminal case records online.

This search covers criminal and traffic cases from both the Oroville and Chico courthouse locations in Butte County.

When searching online, enter at least a last name. You can also add a first name to filter the results. Click on any case number to see the full case detail page. This shows the docket with all filings and court events. Some records may be restricted if they involve sealed cases or juvenile matters. For copies, visit the clerk's office or send a mail request with the case number and fees included. Copies are 50 cents per page. Certified copies cost $40 each. The Oroville courthouse is the main location for records requests in Butte County.

Butte County Inmate Search

The Butte County Sheriff runs the county jail in Oroville. You can check who is in custody through the Sheriff's online booking system. The Butte County Sheriff crime graphics site lets you search for current inmates and recent bookings. The tool shows names, charges, booking dates, and bail amounts. It is free to use and does not need an account.

Butte County sees a steady flow of bookings from the Chico Police Department, the Oroville Police Department, the Paradise Police Department, and the Sheriff's Office itself. All arrestees from these agencies are brought to the county jail for booking. The crime graphics site also shows crime maps and reported incidents across the county. This can be useful if you want to see recent arrest activity in a specific area of Butte County.

If someone from Butte County is in state prison, the CDCR inmate search will show their current facility and status. This covers anyone sentenced from Butte County courts who is now serving time in a California state prison. The search is free.

Note: Booking records may be removed from the online system after 72 hours of the person's release from Butte County jail.

How to Get Criminal Records in Butte County

There are several ways to get criminal history information in Butte County depending on what you need. Court records are the easiest to access since the online search is free. Police reports require a request to the specific agency that handled the case. State background checks go through a separate process entirely.

For a complete state criminal history, use the California DOJ Live Scan fingerprint process. Under Penal Code 11105, the DOJ maintains the official criminal record repository for California. You get fingerprinted at an authorized Live Scan site in Butte County. There are locations in Chico and Oroville. The DOJ fee is $25, plus whatever rolling fee the site charges. Results come back in a few business days and include criminal history from every county in the state.

For police reports, contact the agency that handled the arrest. The Chico Police Department, Oroville Police, Paradise Police, and the Butte County Sheriff each maintain their own report files. You will need to know the report number or provide enough details for the agency to locate the record. Fees vary by agency.

Criminal Record Fees in Butte County

Court record fees in Butte County are the same as every other Superior Court in California. The fee schedule comes from state law and does not change from county to county. Knowing the costs before you go saves time and makes the process smoother.

• 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

Fee waivers are available if you cannot afford the costs. Submit a fee waiver form to the Butte County Superior Court clerk. You need to show proof of low income or public benefit enrollment. The judge decides if you qualify. Approved waivers cover court fees and some copy costs but not DOJ or police department fees.

Record Clearing in Butte County

California law allows certain criminal records to be cleared or reduced. If you were convicted in Butte County, you may qualify to have the conviction dismissed under Penal Code 1203.4. You must have completed probation and met all its terms. The court changes the guilty plea to not guilty and enters a dismissal. It does not erase the case entirely, but it changes how the outcome reads on the record. Many employers cannot hold a dismissed conviction against you.

AB 1076 made some of this automatic. The DOJ now reviews eligible records and grants relief without requiring the person to file a petition. This applies to completed probation cases and certain felonies that were reduced to misdemeanors. Not everyone qualifies. Check with the Butte County Public Defender's office if you have questions about your specific case.

Arrests that did not lead to a conviction can be sealed under Penal Code 851.87. File the petition at the Butte County Superior Court. Once the court grants it, the arrest is sealed and no longer shows on most background checks. The Megan's Law website lists registered sex offenders in Butte County and across California. That registry is separate from the court criminal record system.

Cities in Butte County

Butte County includes the city of Chico, which is the largest city in the county by a wide margin. All criminal cases from Butte County cities go through the Superior Court. The Chico courthouse handles many of the cases from the northern part of the county.

Other cities in Butte County include Oroville, Paradise, Gridley, and Biggs. Criminal cases from all of these cities are processed through the Butte County Superior Court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Butte County. Cases are filed based on where the crime happened, so check the correct county if you are unsure about a case location.