Search Santa Barbara County Criminal Records

Santa Barbara County criminal history records are maintained by the Superior Court and the Sheriff's Office. The county has about 445,000 residents spread across the southern coast and inland valleys. Criminal cases filed here go through the Santa Barbara Superior Court, which operates multiple courthouse locations. You can search for inmate information through the Sheriff's online lookup tool. Background checks go through the California DOJ's Live Scan system. This page explains how to find and access criminal records in Santa Barbara County using the available public sources.

Santa Barbara County Court Criminal Records

The Santa Barbara County Superior Court handles all criminal cases filed in the county. Courthouses are located in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc. Which courthouse handles a case depends on where the crime took place. The court's website at santabarbara.courts.ca.gov has general information about case types and filing procedures. For criminal case lookups, you may need to contact the clerk's office directly or visit in person. Online case access is limited compared to some larger counties in California.

The California Courts website provides general information on how to access court records across the state, including Santa Barbara County.

The statewide courts site can help you understand what records are available and how to request them from Santa Barbara County.

To get criminal case records from the Santa Barbara Superior Court, you can visit the clerk's office at any of the three courthouse locations. Bring a valid ID and the name or case number you want to look up. The clerk can search records and provide copies. Copies cost 50 cents per page. Certified copies are $40 per document. If you can not visit in person, you can send a written request by mail to the court clerk with the details of the case you need. Include a check for the estimated copy fees. Phone requests are limited to basic case status information only in Santa Barbara County.

Santa Barbara County Inmate Lookup

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff operates the county jail system. The main jail is in Santa Barbara. There is also a facility in Santa Maria. The Sheriff's inmate lookup tool lets you search for people currently in custody. This search is free. You can look up inmates by name or booking number. Results show the person's charges, bail amount, booking date, and facility location.

For people no longer in county custody, check the state prison system. The CIRIS inmate search from the California Department of Corrections covers everyone in state prison. This includes people who were sentenced in Santa Barbara County and transferred to a state facility. The search is free and shows the person's current prison, CDCR number, and county of commitment. If you need arrest records or police reports from a specific incident, contact the law enforcement agency that handled the case.

Note: The Sheriff's inmate lookup only shows people currently booked, not past bookings or released inmates.

How to Get Records in Santa Barbara County

Getting criminal history records in Santa Barbara County depends on the type of record you need. Court records come from the Superior Court. Police reports come from the agency that handled the arrest. Full background checks go through the California DOJ. Each source has its own process and fees.

For a state-level background check, go to a Live Scan site in Santa Barbara County. The California DOJ runs the statewide criminal record database. You submit fingerprints and pay the $25 DOJ fee plus a rolling fee charged by the site. Results come back in about 2 to 3 business days. Under Penal Code 11105, the DOJ maintains the official repository of criminal records for all California counties. Live Scan sites in Santa Barbara County include police stations and authorized private vendors in both Santa Barbara and Santa Maria.

For police reports from the Santa Barbara Police Department or Sheriff's Office, contact the records division of the agency that took the report. Each has its own form and fee schedule for releasing copies of incident and arrest reports.

Santa Barbara County Criminal Record Fees

Fees for criminal records in Santa Barbara County are set by state law for court costs. The Sheriff and local police departments may set their own fees for reports. Here are the standard fees you can expect when getting criminal records in this county.

Common fees 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

Fee waivers are available for people who can not afford the court costs. You file a fee waiver request with the Santa Barbara County Superior Court clerk. Show proof of low income or that you receive public benefits. The court reviews the request and decides if you qualify. Waivers cover filing fees and some copy costs but do not apply to DOJ fees or police report fees.

Criminal Record Clearing in Santa Barbara County

People with criminal records in Santa Barbara County may be able to get relief under California law. Penal Code 1203.4 allows the court to dismiss a conviction after probation is finished. You file a petition with the Santa Barbara Superior Court. The judge reviews it and decides if you qualify. A dismissal does not erase the record, but it changes how it shows up on background checks. AB 1076 now makes some dismissals automatic. The DOJ identifies eligible cases and processes the relief without the person having to do anything.

Arrest records can also be sealed if charges were never filed or the case was dismissed. Penal Code 851.87 gives you the right to petition the court for this relief. Once the arrest is sealed, it does not show up on most background checks. You file the petition at the Santa Barbara County courthouse where the case was originally handled. Legal aid organizations in the county may help with the paperwork if you can not afford a lawyer.

The Megan's Law website lets you search for registered sex offenders in Santa Barbara County and throughout California. This is separate from court records and requires registration under Penal Code 290.

Cities in Santa Barbara County

Santa Barbara County has several cities and communities. All criminal cases are filed through the Santa Barbara County Superior Court. No cities in this county have a population over 100,000, so there are no separate city pages available.

Cities in the county include Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Lompoc, Goleta, Carpinteria, Buellton, Solvang, and Guadalupe. Criminal cases from all of these cities go through the same court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Santa Barbara County. Check the location of the arrest or incident to make sure you are looking in the right county. Cases get filed where the crime happened.