Find Inyo County Criminal Records

Criminal history records in Inyo County are managed by the Superior Court and the Sheriff's Office. Inyo County is one of the least populated counties in California with only about 18,000 residents. The county seat is Independence. Despite its small size, the county still processes criminal cases through its Superior Court. The Sheriff keeps arrest and jail booking records. Because Inyo County is remote, many record requests are handled by mail. This page explains where to find criminal records and how to request them in Inyo County.

Inyo County Court Criminal Records

The Inyo County Superior Court handles all criminal cases in the county. The courthouse is in Independence, a small town along Highway 395. Criminal cases here range from DUI and drug charges to more serious felonies. The court does not have a full online case search portal. To look up a case, you typically need to visit the courthouse, call the clerk, or send a written request by mail. The Inyo County Superior Court website has contact information and forms you can use to request records.

The California Courts website provides statewide resources that apply to Inyo County, including general information about accessing court records.

The statewide court finder helps people locate court contact information for Inyo County and all other California courts.

Because Inyo County is geographically large but has few residents, the court handles a relatively small caseload. This means the clerk's office can often process requests faster than courts in bigger counties. If you need copies of criminal case files, mail your request to the Inyo County Superior Court clerk in Independence. Include the case number or as much identifying information as you can. The clerk charges standard state fees for copies. Certified copies cost $40 per document. Plain copies are 50 cents per page. You can also visit in person, but the drive to Independence can be long from many parts of the county.

Note: Inyo County does not have a public online case search, so plan for mail or in-person requests when seeking criminal court records.

Inyo County Sheriff Arrest Records

The Inyo County Sheriff runs the county jail and responds to calls across the vast unincorporated areas of the county. Inyo County covers over 10,000 square miles, making it one of the largest counties by area in the state. The Sheriff is the primary law enforcement agency for most of the county. Arrest and booking records are kept at the Sheriff's Office. You can check current inmates through the Inyo County Sheriff crime data portal, which may show recent bookings and arrest activity.

The county jail is small. Most people booked into it are held for short periods before trial or transfer. If someone has been sentenced to state prison, they will no longer be in the county jail. Use the CDCR inmate search to find people in the California state prison system. This covers inmates sentenced from Inyo County and every other county.

To request a copy of an arrest report or police record, contact the Inyo County Sheriff's Office directly. You can file a public records request under the California Public Records Act. Response times vary depending on the complexity of the request and whether any exemptions apply. Some records tied to active cases may not be released until the case is resolved.

How to Get Records in Inyo County

Getting criminal records in Inyo County takes a little more effort than in urban areas. The small population means fewer offices and limited online tools. But the records are still available. Court records come from the Superior Court in Independence. Arrest records come from the Sheriff. Statewide background checks come from the California DOJ.

For a statewide criminal history report, visit a Live Scan site. The California DOJ runs the fingerprint-based background check system. Inyo County has very few Live Scan locations, so you may need to drive to Bishop or even to Kern County or Mono County for the nearest site. The DOJ fee is $25, and the Live Scan site charges its own rolling fee on top of that. Results come back within a few business days. Under Penal Code 11105, the DOJ maintains the statewide criminal record repository.

For police reports, reach out to whatever agency responded to the incident. In Bishop, that is the Bishop Police Department. Outside city limits, the Inyo County Sheriff handles reports. Both agencies accept records requests in writing.

Inyo County Criminal Record Fees

Court fees in Inyo County are identical to every other California Superior Court. The state legislature sets these fees. Other fees charged by the Sheriff or local police may differ slightly. Below are the standard costs.

Common criminal record fees in Inyo 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 can not afford the fees, the court offers fee waivers. File the form at the Inyo County courthouse in Independence. You need to demonstrate low income or that you are on public benefits. If the judge grants it, court fees and some copy costs are waived. The waiver does not cover DOJ or police fees.

Criminal Record Clearing in Inyo County

If you have a criminal record from Inyo County, California law may let you clear it. Under Penal Code 1203.4, you can petition to have a conviction dismissed after completing probation. The conviction still appears on your record but is marked as dismissed. This helps with employment checks and other background screenings. AB 1076 now automates some of this process. The DOJ reviews records and grants automatic relief for eligible convictions without requiring a court filing.

Arrests can be sealed under Penal Code 851.87 if the case was dismissed or charges were never filed. You petition the Inyo County Superior Court to seal the arrest record. Once granted, it no longer appears on most background checks. The court in Independence handles these petitions. You can file on your own or through a lawyer.

The Megan's Law website provides a searchable database of registered sex offenders in Inyo County and throughout California. This registry is maintained under Penal Code 290 and is free to search.

Cities in Inyo County

Inyo County has very few incorporated areas. Bishop is the largest town but is not actually incorporated as a city. The county seat, Independence, is also unincorporated. No city in Inyo County has a population anywhere near 100,000, so there are no separate city criminal history pages here. All criminal cases go through the Inyo County Superior Court in Independence.

Nearby Counties

Inyo County borders several other counties. Criminal cases are always filed in the county where the offense occurred. If you are looking for a case that may have been filed elsewhere, check these neighboring counties.