San Mateo County Criminal Records

Criminal history records in San Mateo County come from the Superior Court and the Sheriff's Office. The county sits on the peninsula between San Francisco and Santa Clara County, with about 765,000 residents. Court records for criminal cases are available through the court's online index system. You can also check current jail bookings through the Sheriff. The California DOJ holds the official statewide criminal record database for background checks. This page covers the main options for searching San Mateo County criminal records and related public information.

San Mateo County Court Criminal Records

The San Mateo County Superior Court handles all criminal cases filed in the county. The main courthouse is in Redwood City at 400 County Center. Criminal filings go through this one location, which makes things simpler than counties with many courthouses. You can search for criminal cases using the court's online Master Index system. The index shows case numbers, filing dates, and case types. It does not show full case details like charges or hearing notes. For that, you need to visit the clerk's office or request copies by mail. Still, the free online index is a good place to start when you want to check if someone has a criminal case in San Mateo County.

The San Mateo Superior Court Master Index lets you look up case records by name or case number.

This index covers criminal, civil, and traffic cases filed in San Mateo County Superior Court.

To use the search, enter at least a last name. The system returns a list of matching cases with basic filing data. You can filter by case type to see only criminal matters. Click on a case number for the summary view. Keep in mind that the online index may not include very old records. Cases filed before the court switched to digital may require an in-person search at the clerk's office. The clerk can pull up older files by name or case number during business hours. Copies cost 50 cents per page. Certified copies are $40 per document at the San Mateo County courthouse.

Note: Sealed and expunged records will not appear in the San Mateo County court online index.

San Mateo County Inmate Search

The San Mateo County Sheriff runs the Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City. This is the main jail for the county. You can contact the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office to ask about current inmates or recent bookings. The Sheriff's website has information on jail services and how to find someone in custody. Booking data typically includes the person's name, charges, bail amount, and booking date.

If the person you are looking for is not in the county jail, they may be in state prison. The California Department of Corrections runs the CIRIS inmate search for people in the state prison system. This covers anyone sentenced from San Mateo County who was sent to a state facility. The search is free and shows the person's prison location, CDCR number, and commitment county. You can also check the Megan's Law website to search for registered sex offenders living in San Mateo County or anywhere else in California.

The CDCR search covers all state prisons and includes inmates committed from every California county.

How to Get Criminal Records in San Mateo County

There are a few ways to get criminal history records in San Mateo County. The right method depends on what you need and why. Court records, background checks, and police reports each come from a different place. Most people start with the free court index online. If you need certified documents or a full background check, more steps are involved.

For your own criminal history from the state, go to a Live Scan site in San Mateo County. The California DOJ keeps the official criminal record database. You give your fingerprints at a Live Scan location and pay the DOJ fee plus the site's rolling fee. Results usually come back in 2 to 3 business days. Under Penal Code 11105, the DOJ holds the statewide repository that includes records from San Mateo County and all other counties. There are several Live Scan sites in the county at police stations and private vendors.

For police reports, contact the law enforcement agency that handled the case. The San Mateo County Sheriff handles reports for unincorporated areas. Cities like Redwood City, San Mateo, and Daly City have their own police departments with separate records divisions.

Criminal Record Fees in San Mateo County

Fees for criminal records in San Mateo County follow state law for court costs. The Superior Court charges standard rates that apply across all California courts. Knowing the fees before you go saves time and avoids a wasted trip.

Common criminal record fees in San Mateo 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

If you can not afford court fees, you may ask for a fee waiver. File the fee waiver request form with the clerk at the San Mateo County courthouse. You need to show proof of low income or public benefit enrollment. The judge reviews the request. Fee waivers cover court filing fees and some copy costs. They do not cover DOJ background check fees or police report costs in San Mateo County.

Criminal Record Clearing in San Mateo County

California law lets people clear or seal certain criminal records. If you have a conviction in San Mateo County, you may qualify for relief under Penal Code 1203.4. This allows the court to dismiss a conviction after you finish probation. The record changes to show a dismissal instead of a conviction. It does not erase it fully, but it helps on most background checks. AB 1076 now makes some of this automatic. The DOJ reviews eligible records and grants relief without the person filing a petition in San Mateo County or any other county.

Arrest records can be sealed too. If charges were never filed or the case got dismissed, Penal Code 851.87 lets you ask the court to seal the arrest record. Once sealed, it will not show on most background checks. The San Mateo County Superior Court handles these petitions at the Redwood City courthouse. You can file the petition on your own or hire a lawyer to help.

Note: Record clearing does not remove a person from the Megan's Law registry if they are required to register under Penal Code 290.

Cities in San Mateo County

San Mateo County has over 20 cities. All criminal cases from these cities go through the San Mateo County Superior Court in Redwood City. There are no cities in this county with a population over 100,000 that have separate resource pages on this site.

Cities in San Mateo County include Daly City, South San Francisco, San Mateo, Redwood City, Pacifica, Foster City, Burlingame, San Bruno, Menlo Park, and Half Moon Bay. Criminal filings for all of them are handled at the same courthouse.

Nearby Counties

These counties border San Mateo County. If you are not sure where a case was filed, check the location where the arrest or incident happened. Criminal cases must be filed in the county where the crime took place.