Sacramento County Criminal Records

Criminal history records in Sacramento County are maintained by the Superior Court and the Sheriff's Department. Sacramento is the state capital and home to about 1.6 million people. The county handles a high volume of criminal cases each year through its court system. You can search for criminal records online using the court's free public case access tool. The Sheriff also provides an inmate search for people in county jail. This page covers the key ways to look up criminal history information in Sacramento County.

Sacramento County Court Criminal Records

The Sacramento County Superior Court processes all criminal cases in the county. The main courthouse is at 720 9th Street in downtown Sacramento. Additional court locations serve different areas of the county. Criminal cases are assigned based on where the offense happened and the type of charge. The court handles everything from misdemeanors and traffic offenses to serious felony matters. You can search criminal cases for free on the court's Public Case Access System, which covers cases from all Sacramento County court locations.

The Sacramento Superior Court Public Case Access tool lets you search criminal records by name or case number at no cost.

This free portal is one of the most comprehensive online court search tools in the Sacramento region.

When you search on the Sacramento court site, enter at least a last name. You can add a first name or case number to narrow results. The system shows case type, charges, hearing dates, and current case status for criminal matters. Click on any case number for more detail. Some very old cases might not appear online. For those records, go to the courthouse in person. The clerk can search the older system and make copies for you. Regular copies cost 50 cents per page. Certified copies run $40 per document. The clerk's office is open during normal business hours on weekdays. You do not need an appointment for basic record requests at the Sacramento County courthouse.

Note: Juvenile cases and sealed records will not show up in the public case access system for Sacramento County.

Sacramento County Inmate Search

The Sacramento County Sheriff runs the Main Jail in downtown Sacramento and the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center. Both facilities hold people awaiting trial and those serving shorter sentences. The Sheriff provides a free online inmate search tool. You can look up anyone currently in custody by name. The results show booking details, charges, bail amount, and which facility holds the person.

The Sacramento County Sheriff inmate search covers all people currently booked in county jail facilities.

This tool updates as new bookings and releases happen throughout the day in Sacramento County.

If the person is not in the county jail, check the state prison system. The CDCR inmate search covers everyone in California state prison. Someone sentenced in Sacramento County to a state prison term will appear in this database. The search shows their current facility, CDCR number, and county of commitment. It costs nothing to use.

How to Get Sacramento County Criminal Records

Getting criminal records in Sacramento County depends on what kind of record you need. Court records, police reports, and DOJ background checks each have their own process. Start with the free online court search if you need basic case information.

For official court documents, visit the courthouse where the case was filed. The clerk's office handles copy requests in person during business hours. You can also send a written request by mail to the Sacramento Superior Court with the defendant's name and case number. Include a check for the copy fees and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail requests take longer, usually a week or two. The court address is 720 9th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.

For a personal criminal history from the state DOJ, use the California DOJ Live Scan process. Go to a Live Scan site, get fingerprinted, and pay the $25 DOJ fee plus the rolling fee charged by the site. Sacramento County has plenty of Live Scan locations. Results come back in a few business days. Under Penal Code 11105, the DOJ maintains the statewide criminal record repository that includes Sacramento County records and records from every other California county.

Criminal Record Fees in Sacramento County

Court fees in Sacramento County match the standard schedule set by state law. These are the same at every California courthouse. The online case search is free. Fees only apply when you need copies of documents or certified records.

Common criminal record fees in Sacramento County include:

• 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
• Police report copies: varies by agency

If you can not pay, ask the court for a fee waiver. File the request form with proof of low income or public benefit enrollment. The judge reviews it. Fee waivers cover filing fees and some copy costs but do not apply to DOJ or police report fees in Sacramento County.

Criminal Record Clearing in Sacramento County

People with criminal records in Sacramento County may qualify to have their records cleared or sealed. Under Penal Code 1203.4, you can petition the Sacramento Superior Court to dismiss a conviction after finishing probation. The record then shows a dismissal instead of a conviction. It does not erase the record entirely, but it can help with employment and other areas. AB 1076 made some of these dismissals automatic. The DOJ reviews eligible records and grants relief without the person needing to file a petition.

Arrest records can be sealed under Penal Code 851.87 if charges were never filed or the case was dismissed. File the petition at the Sacramento courthouse where the case was handled. Legal aid groups in the Sacramento area offer help with record clearing, sometimes at no cost. The Sacramento County Public Defender's Office may also assist with expungement petitions for eligible people.

The Megan's Law website tracks registered sex offenders in Sacramento County and across the state. You can search this registry by name or address for free. It is separate from court criminal records.

Note: Some convictions, like serious felonies and sex offenses requiring registration, cannot be dismissed under Penal Code 1203.4.

Cities in Sacramento County

Sacramento County has several cities. All criminal cases from these cities are filed through the Sacramento County Superior Court. Below are the major cities with their own criminal history resource pages on this site.

Other cities in Sacramento County include Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova, Folsom, and Galt. All criminal matters from these cities go through the Sacramento County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Sacramento County. If you are not sure where a criminal case was filed, check where the arrest or incident took place. Cases are filed in the county where the offense occurred.