Search Humboldt County Criminal Records

Humboldt County criminal history records are maintained by the Superior Court and the Sheriff's Office in Eureka. The county sits on the northern California coast and has roughly 136,000 residents. Criminal cases filed here go through the Humboldt County Superior Court. The Sheriff also keeps booking and jail records that the public can access. You can search for criminal records online through court tools and jail reports, or request them in person at the courthouse. This page explains how to find and obtain criminal records in Humboldt County.

Humboldt County Court Criminal Cases

The Humboldt County Superior Court processes all criminal cases in the county. The courthouse is in Eureka. Criminal cases include felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions. Each case gets a case number when it is filed. The court keeps records of charges, plea entries, hearing dates, and dispositions. You can visit the Humboldt County Superior Court website to learn about available case lookup tools. The court offers some online services, though full criminal case search may require visiting the clerk in person.

When you need a copy of a criminal case file, go to the clerk's office at the Humboldt County courthouse. Give the clerk the case number or the defendant's name. Name searches take longer and cost more. The clerk will pull the file and let you view it. You can request copies of specific documents from the file. Standard copy fees apply. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. If you are not local, you can send a written request by mail. Include the case details and a check for the fees.

Note: Some older Humboldt County criminal cases may only be available on paper at the courthouse and not in any digital system.

Humboldt County Jail Reports

The Humboldt County Sheriff operates the county jail and posts jail reports online. These reports show who has been booked into the jail, their charges, bail amounts, and booking dates. The reports are updated regularly. This is a quick way to check if someone was recently arrested in Humboldt County.

The Humboldt County Sheriff jail reports page shows current booking information for the county jail.

These jail reports cover current and recent bookings at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility in Eureka.

If someone is not in the county jail, they might be in state prison. The California Department of Corrections runs the CIRIS inmate search tool that covers everyone in state prison. This includes people sentenced out of Humboldt County. The search is free and shows the inmate's location, CDCR number, and county of commitment. For federal inmates, use the Bureau of Prisons inmate locator instead.

How to Get Criminal Records in Humboldt County

Getting criminal history records in Humboldt County depends on what you need. Court records come from the Superior Court. Jail and arrest records come from the Sheriff. Statewide criminal history reports come from the California DOJ. Each has a different process.

For a statewide criminal history check, visit a Live Scan site. The California DOJ manages the state criminal record database. You get fingerprinted at a Live Scan location and pay the DOJ fee of $25 plus whatever the site charges as a rolling fee. Results usually come back within a few business days. Humboldt County has a few Live Scan sites in Eureka and Arcata. Under Penal Code 11105, the DOJ keeps the statewide repository of criminal records from every county, including Humboldt.

For police reports from local agencies, contact the agency that handled the case. The Eureka Police Department handles reports within city limits. The Arcata Police Department covers Arcata. The Humboldt County Sheriff handles everything outside city boundaries. Each agency has its own records release process and fees.

Humboldt County Criminal Record Fees

Fees for court records in Humboldt County match the statewide schedule. The state sets these fees, so they are the same at every Superior Court in California. Other fees for police reports and background checks vary by agency. Here is what to expect when you request records in Humboldt County.

Typical criminal record fees:

• 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 for people who can not afford court costs. File a request with the clerk at the Humboldt County courthouse. You will need to show proof of low income or public benefits. If approved, the waiver covers court fees and some copy costs. It does not cover DOJ fees or police report fees.

Record Clearing in Humboldt County

People with criminal records in Humboldt County may be able to get relief under California law. Penal Code 1203.4 allows you to petition the court to dismiss a conviction after you complete probation. The conviction then shows as dismissed on your record. It does not vanish completely, but it helps with employment and housing. AB 1076 has made parts of this process automatic. The California DOJ now reviews records and grants relief to eligible people without them having to file a petition.

Arrest records can be sealed too. Penal Code 851.87 lets you ask the court to seal an arrest if charges were never filed or the case was dismissed. Once sealed, the arrest does not show on most background checks. You file the petition at the Humboldt County Superior Court. The process can be done on your own or with help from a lawyer. Legal aid groups in Humboldt County sometimes hold clinics to help with record clearing.

The Megan's Law website tracks sex offenders registered in Humboldt County and statewide. This is a separate public registry under Penal Code 290. You can search it for free by name or location.

Cities in Humboldt County

Humboldt County includes the cities of Eureka, Arcata, Fortuna, and several smaller towns. None of these cities have a population over 100,000, so they do not have separate criminal history pages on this site. All criminal cases from Humboldt County cities go through the Humboldt County Superior Court in Eureka. Contact the court or the local police department for records in a specific city.

Nearby Counties

These counties are next to Humboldt County. Criminal cases get filed in the county where the incident took place. If you are unsure which county handled a case, check the arrest location.