Search Napa County Criminal Records

Criminal history records in Napa County are maintained by the Superior Court and the Sheriff's Office. Napa County has a population of roughly 139,000 and is known for its wine country location north of San Francisco. The county seat is the city of Napa. The Superior Court offers an online case lookup tool for searching criminal records. The Sheriff's Office does not have an online inmate search but can provide booking information by phone. This page covers the different ways to access criminal records, check case status, and get background information in Napa County.

Napa County Court Criminal Records

The Napa County Superior Court processes all criminal cases filed in the county. The courthouse is located in the city of Napa. All felony and misdemeanor cases go through this single location. The court provides a case lookup and self-service tool that lets you search criminal records online. You can search by name or case number at no charge. The results show case type, charges, hearing dates, and current status. This is the fastest way to check on a criminal case in Napa County without visiting the courthouse.

The Napa County court case lookup provides free access to criminal case information including charges and hearing schedules.

To get the best results, enter at least a last name in the search tool. Adding a first name or date of birth narrows the results. Click on a case number to see all the details, including charges, court dates, and case outcomes. The online system covers most recent criminal cases in Napa County. Very old cases may not appear online. For those, you can contact the clerk's office or visit in person. Copies run 50 cents per page, and certified copies cost $40 each. The clerk's office is open on regular business days and can assist with in-person record requests.

Note: The Napa County court also handles traffic cases, so use the case type filter when searching specifically for criminal matters.

Napa County Sheriff Arrest Records

The Napa County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail and handles law enforcement for unincorporated areas. There is no online inmate search for the Napa County jail. To check if someone is currently in custody, call the jail at (707) 253-4440. Staff can tell you if a person is being held and provide basic booking details. The Sheriff's Office also maintains arrest records for incidents they responded to in unincorporated parts of the county.

The city of Napa has its own police department that handles arrests within city limits. American Canyon also has a separate police force. For arrest reports from those agencies, you need to contact them directly. The Sheriff's records division only covers incidents outside of incorporated cities in Napa County. Each agency keeps its own files, so knowing where an arrest took place is important for finding the right records.

If the person is in state prison rather than county jail, the CDCR inmate search is the right tool. It covers all state prison inmates and shows their current facility, CDCR number, and commitment county. The search is free and works for anyone sentenced from Napa County who is now in a state facility.

How to Get Napa County Criminal Records

Napa County offers a few paths for getting criminal history information. Court records are the easiest to access thanks to the online lookup tool. Arrest records require contacting the right law enforcement agency. State background checks go through the DOJ.

For a state-level criminal history check, visit a Live Scan location. The California DOJ maintains the statewide criminal record database. You get fingerprinted and pay the $25 DOJ fee plus a rolling fee charged by the site. Napa County has several Live Scan sites, including at the Napa Police Department and private vendors in the area. Results arrive within a few business days for most requests. Under Penal Code 11105, the DOJ keeps the criminal record repository covering all California counties, including Napa. Employers, landlords, and licensing boards use this system to run authorized background checks. It is the most complete picture of a person's California criminal history.

For police reports from specific events, send a request to the agency that wrote the report. The Napa County Sheriff, Napa Police, and American Canyon Police each maintain their own files for incidents in their jurisdiction.

Napa County Criminal Record Fees

Napa County court fees follow the standard California schedule. The online case lookup is free. You pay fees when you need physical copies, certified documents, or a clerk-assisted name search that takes more than 10 minutes.

Typical criminal record fees in Napa 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

People who cannot pay may request a fee waiver from the court. File the fee waiver form with the Napa County clerk. You need proof of low income or that you receive public benefits. The judge reviews each request and decides whether to grant the waiver. Fee waivers apply to court filing fees and some copy costs. They do not cover DOJ background check fees or police report fees in Napa County.

Clearing Records in Napa County

People with criminal records in Napa County may be eligible for relief under California law. Penal Code 1203.4 allows you to petition for dismissal of a conviction after completing probation. The conviction stays on the record but is changed to show a dismissal. This can improve job prospects and housing options. AB 1076 has automated parts of this process. The DOJ now identifies eligible records and applies dismissals without the person having to file a petition. This benefits people across all California counties, including Napa.

Arrest records that never resulted in charges or that ended in dismissal can be sealed under Penal Code 851.87. File a petition at the Napa County Superior Court. Once the arrest is sealed, it won't show on most background checks. You can file the petition on your own. Legal aid organizations in the North Bay area, including Legal Aid of Sonoma County which also serves Napa, may help with these petitions at no cost.

The Megan's Law website lists registered sex offenders in Napa County and throughout California. This is a separate public registry from court records. Anyone can search it by name or address at no charge.

Cities in Napa County

Napa County does not have any cities with a population over 100,000. The city of Napa is the largest and serves as the county seat. Other cities include American Canyon, Calistoga, St. Helena, and Yountville. All criminal cases from these cities are filed through the Napa County Superior Court.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Napa County. If the arrest or crime happened in a neighboring county, you need to search that county's records instead. Always check the location of the incident first.