Lake County Criminal Records

Criminal history records in Lake County are kept by the Superior Court and the Sheriff's Office. Lake County sits in northern California and has about 68,000 residents. The county seat is Lakeport. Criminal cases filed in the county go through the Lake County Superior Court, which offers a public online case portal. The Sheriff runs the county jail and provides some public access to booking records. This page covers how to search for criminal records, check inmate status, and request background checks in Lake County.

Lake County Court Criminal Records

The Lake County Superior Court processes all criminal cases filed in the county. The courthouse is in Lakeport. Criminal cases range from minor misdemeanors to serious felonies. Each case is assigned a number when it gets filed. The court keeps records of all charges, pleas, hearings, and outcomes. Lake County offers a public portal where you can search for cases online. The search is free. You can look up cases by name or case number and see basic details about criminal matters in Lake County.

The Lake County Superior Court public portal provides free online access to court case information.

The CDCR inmate search covers people sentenced from Lake County who are now in state prison facilities across California.

To get copies of criminal case documents from Lake County, visit the clerk's office at the Lakeport courthouse. If you have the case number, the clerk can pull the file quickly. Name searches take longer. The standard $15 fee applies if the name search takes more than 10 minutes. Copies cost 50 cents per page, and certified copies are $40 each. Mail requests are also an option. Send your written request to the Lake County Superior Court clerk with a check or money order for the fees. Include as much detail as possible so the clerk can find the right case.

Note: The Lake County online portal may not include all older cases, so contact the clerk directly for records that do not appear in the search.

Lake County Sheriff Booking Records

The Lake County Sheriff runs the Hill Road Correctional Facility, which serves as the county jail. All people arrested in Lake County are booked into this facility. The Sheriff provides some public access to booking and inmate information through the Lake County public apps portal. You can check on people who are currently in custody or who were recently booked.

The county jail holds people awaiting trial and those sentenced to one year or less. Booking records include the person's name, charges, bail amount, and booking date. If someone is no longer in the county jail, they may have been released, transferred, or sent to state prison. For state prison inmates, the CDCR inmate search covers all California state facilities. This includes people sentenced from Lake County courts.

For copies of arrest reports or other law enforcement records in Lake County, contact the Sheriff's Office in Lakeport. You can file a public records request under the California Public Records Act. The Sheriff reviews the request and provides records that are not exempt from disclosure. Some records may be held back if they involve an ongoing investigation or fall under a legal exemption. The Clearlake Police Department handles records for incidents within Clearlake city limits.

How to Get Records in Lake County

There are multiple ways to get criminal history records in Lake County. Court case files come from the Superior Court. Arrest and jail records come from the Sheriff or local police. A full statewide criminal history report comes from the California DOJ. Each source has a different process.

For a complete state criminal history check, visit a Live Scan site. The California DOJ runs the fingerprint-based background check system. Lake County has limited Live Scan locations, so you may need to check in Lakeport or Clearlake, or travel to a nearby county. The DOJ charges $25 for the check. The Live Scan site adds its own rolling fee. Results usually come back within a few business days. Under Penal Code 11105, the DOJ maintains the statewide criminal record database that includes Lake County and all other California counties.

Police reports depend on which agency responded. The Lake County Sheriff handles reports for unincorporated areas. The Clearlake Police Department covers Clearlake. The Lakeport Police Department handles Lakeport. Contact the right agency to get a copy of a report.

Lake County Criminal Record Fees

Court fees in Lake County are set by the state and are the same across all California Superior Courts. Other fees from the Sheriff or police may vary. Here are the most common costs for criminal records.

Standard criminal record fees in Lake 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, you can request a fee waiver at the Lake County courthouse in Lakeport. You need to show proof of low income or that you get public benefits. The judge decides whether to grant the waiver. If approved, it covers court filing fees and some copy charges. It does not cover DOJ fees or police report costs.

Record Clearing in Lake County

California law gives people options to clear criminal records from Lake County. Under Penal Code 1203.4, you can petition to dismiss a conviction after you complete probation. The court changes the record to show a dismissal. The original conviction does not disappear entirely, but it helps with employment and housing. AB 1076 now automates some of this. The DOJ reviews eligible records and grants relief without the person needing to file a petition in Lake County or anywhere else in the state.

Arrest records can be sealed too. If charges were never filed or the case was dismissed, Penal Code 851.87 allows you to petition the Lake County Superior Court to seal the arrest record. Once sealed, the arrest will not show up on most background checks. You can file this petition on your own or with help from a lawyer. Legal aid organizations in the North Coast region sometimes hold clinics that cover Lake County.

The Megan's Law website tracks registered sex offenders in Lake County and statewide. This public registry is required under Penal Code 290. You can search by name or location at no charge.

Cities in Lake County

Lake County has two incorporated cities: Lakeport and Clearlake. Neither has a population over 100,000, so there are no separate city criminal history pages for Lake County cities on this site. All criminal cases from both cities go through the Lake County Superior Court in Lakeport. Contact the court or the local police department in each city for specific records.

Nearby Counties

Lake County borders several other counties. If you are not sure where a criminal case was filed, check the arrest location. Cases must be filed in the county where the crime happened.