Access Kings County Criminal Records

Criminal history records in Kings County come from the Superior Court and the Sheriff's Office. Kings County is in the San Joaquin Valley with a population of about 152,000. The county seat is Hanford. Criminal cases are processed by the Kings County Superior Court, which has an online case search portal. The Sheriff operates the county jail and posts inmate information online. This page walks through the key sources for criminal records in Kings County, including how to search for cases, find inmates, and request background checks.

Kings County Court Criminal Records

The Kings County Superior Court handles all criminal cases in the county. The courthouse is in Hanford. All felonies, misdemeanors, and criminal traffic cases filed in Kings County go through this court. When a case is filed, it gets a case number and is tracked through the system. The court runs an online public portal where you can look up cases by name or case number at no cost. This tool shows charges, hearing dates, and case status for criminal matters.

The Kings County Superior Court public portal gives free access to criminal case information.

This portal covers all case types filed in Kings County, including criminal and traffic matters.

When you need actual copies of case documents from Kings County, visit the clerk's office at the Hanford courthouse. Give the clerk a case number for the quickest service. Name searches cost $15 if they take more than 10 minutes. Copies are 50 cents per page. Certified copies run $40 per document. You can also mail a request to the clerk's office. Include a check or money order to cover the fees, along with enough detail to identify the case. Written requests can take a week or two depending on volume at the court.

Kings County Sheriff Inmate Locator

The Kings County Sheriff runs the county jail. People arrested in Kings County get booked into this facility. The Sheriff posts an inmate locator online where you can search for people currently in custody. The search shows name, charges, bail amount, and booking date.

The Kings County inmate locator lets you check who is currently in the county jail.

The locator updates regularly as new bookings and releases happen at the Kings County jail.

People who are no longer in county jail may have been transferred to state prison. The California Department of Corrections runs the CIRIS inmate search for state prison inmates. This covers anyone sentenced from Kings County to a state facility. The search is free and shows the person's current prison location, CDCR number, and commitment county. If the person was arrested for a federal crime, check the federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator instead.

Note: The Kings County inmate locator only shows people currently in custody, not past bookings.

Getting Criminal Records in Kings County

There are a few paths to get criminal records in Kings County. Court records come from the Superior Court. Arrest and jail records come from the Sheriff. A complete criminal history report comes from the state DOJ. Which one you need depends on what you are looking for.

For a statewide criminal history check, use the Live Scan fingerprint process. The California DOJ keeps the state criminal record database. Visit a Live Scan site in or near Hanford, get fingerprinted, and pay the $25 DOJ fee plus the site's rolling fee. Results come back in a few days. Under Penal Code 11105, the DOJ maintains criminal records from all California counties, including Kings County. Hanford and nearby Visalia both have Live Scan locations.

For police reports, contact the agency that handled the incident. The Hanford Police Department takes reports within city limits. Lemoore, Avenal, and Corcoran each have their own police departments. The Kings County Sheriff covers unincorporated areas. Each agency has its own records request process and fees.

Kings County Criminal Record Fees

Court fees in Kings County follow the same schedule as every other California Superior Court. The state sets these amounts. Police and sheriff fees for reports and copies vary by agency. Below are the main fees to know about.

Standard fees for Kings County criminal records:

• 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 court fees are a hardship, ask the clerk about a fee waiver. You file the waiver form at the Kings County courthouse in Hanford. Show proof of low income or public benefits. A judge reviews the request. If approved, the waiver covers court fees and some copy costs but does not apply to DOJ or police fees.

Kings County Criminal Record Clearing

California law provides several ways to clear or reduce a criminal record. If you have a conviction in Kings County, you may be eligible for relief. Under Penal Code 1203.4, you can petition to have the conviction dismissed after finishing probation. The record will show a dismissal instead of a conviction. AB 1076 has also created an automatic relief process. The DOJ reviews eligible records and grants dismissals without the person needing to file anything in Kings County or elsewhere.

Arrests that did not lead to conviction can be sealed. Penal Code 851.87 lets you petition the Kings County Superior Court to seal the arrest record. Once sealed, it will not appear on most background checks. You can file the petition yourself or hire an attorney. Some legal aid groups in the Central Valley offer free help with this process.

The Megan's Law site is a separate public registry of sex offenders in Kings County and across California. It is maintained under Penal Code 290 and can be searched at no cost.

Cities in Kings County

Kings County includes Hanford, Lemoore, Avenal, and Corcoran. None of these cities have a population over 100,000, so no separate city criminal history pages exist for Kings County on this site. All criminal cases from Kings County cities are handled by the Kings County Superior Court in Hanford.

Nearby Counties

Kings County shares borders with several other counties in the San Joaquin Valley. Cases are filed in the county where the crime occurred. Check these neighbors if you think a case may have been filed elsewhere.