Access Colusa County Criminal Records

Colusa County criminal history records are kept by the Superior Court and the Sheriff's Office. This is a small rural county in the Sacramento Valley with about 22,000 residents. The county seat is the city of Colusa. Criminal cases go through the Colusa County Superior Court, which offers an online case search. The Sheriff runs a small jail and provides some information about inmates through the county website. This page explains how to search for criminal records in Colusa County, what fees apply, and where to request different types of records.

Colusa County Court Criminal Records

The Colusa County Superior Court handles all criminal cases in the county. The courthouse is at 532 Oak Street in the city of Colusa. One judge oversees the court and manages criminal, civil, family, and traffic cases. The court provides an online search tool where you can look up cases by name or case number. The system is free and open to the public. Results show the case type, charges, filing date, and status. Criminal cases from recent years should be in the system.

The Colusa County Superior Court case search portal provides free public access to case records.

Colusa County court records can be searched through the court's own portal or through statewide court resources.

For records not available online, go to the clerk's office at the courthouse. The clerk can search for older cases and provide copies. Standard copies cost 50 cents per page. Certified copies run $40 per document. You can mail a request with the fees included, but processing takes time given the small staff size. Include as much detail as possible, like a case number or full name and date of birth, to help the clerk locate the right records. Because Colusa County is small, the court processes fewer cases than larger counties, which means the clerk's office may have more time to help with individual requests.

Colusa County Sheriff and Jail Records

The Colusa County Sheriff operates a small jail facility. The county jail page on the Colusa County website provides some information about the facility and how to contact it. Booking and custody information may not be available through an online search tool. You may need to call the jail directly to ask about someone in custody. The Sheriff's Office phone number is (530) 458-0200.

The Sheriff is the primary law enforcement agency for most of Colusa County. The cities of Colusa and Williams have their own small police departments. Arrestees from all agencies in the county are booked into the county jail. Because the jail is small, inmate turnover can be quick. Someone booked today might be released the same day if bail is posted or if the charges are minor. Call the jail for the most current information about who is in custody.

For anyone from Colusa County who is in state prison, the CDCR inmate search tool shows their current facility and commitment information. This free tool covers the entire California state prison system.

Note: The Colusa County jail is small and may transfer inmates to other facilities for housing, so check neighboring county jails if needed.

Getting Criminal Records in Colusa County

Getting criminal records in Colusa County is straightforward because of the county's small size. The court handles case records. The Sheriff handles booking and arrest records. The state DOJ has the most thorough criminal history database. Pick the source that matches what you need.

For a state criminal history check, use the California DOJ Live Scan fingerprint system. Under Penal Code 11105, the DOJ keeps the statewide criminal record repository. Get fingerprinted at an authorized Live Scan site and pay the $25 DOJ fee plus a rolling fee. Colusa County may not have a Live Scan location, so you might need to go to a nearby county like Yolo or Sutter for fingerprinting. Results typically come in 2 to 3 business days and cover records from all 58 California counties.

Colusa County Criminal Record Fees

Court record fees in Colusa County follow the standard California fee schedule. All Superior Courts charge the same amounts for basic services. The fees are set by state law and apply equally to every 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

If you cannot afford the fees, apply for a fee waiver at the courthouse. You need to show low income or that you receive public benefits. The judge decides whether to grant the waiver. Approved waivers cover filing fees and some copy costs. They do not cover DOJ fees.

Record Clearing in Colusa County

People with criminal records from Colusa County may be able to get relief under California law. Penal Code 1203.4 lets you petition the court to dismiss a conviction after completing probation. The court changes your plea and enters a dismissal. This changes how the conviction appears on your record. File the petition at the Colusa County Superior Court. You can do it yourself or hire a lawyer.

AB 1076 added automatic relief for some eligible cases. The DOJ reviews records and grants dismissals without requiring any action from the person. This works well for straightforward cases where probation was completed and there are no new offenses. More complicated situations may still need a petition filed with the court.

Arrest records can be sealed under Penal Code 851.87 if the case was dismissed or never prosecuted. Once sealed, the arrest does not appear on most background checks. The Megan's Law website maintains the sex offender registry separately. That database is always public and not affected by expungement or sealing actions in Colusa County.

Cities in Colusa County

Colusa County has two incorporated cities: Colusa and Williams. Both are small communities with populations well under the threshold for dedicated pages. All criminal cases from Colusa County cities are handled by the Superior Court at the courthouse in Colusa. The Sheriff provides law enforcement in unincorporated areas while each city has a small police department.

Nearby Counties

Colusa County shares borders with four other counties. Criminal cases must be filed in the county where the offense took place. If you are looking for a case and it was not filed in Colusa County, try the neighboring county courts.