Santa Clara County Criminal History

Criminal history records in Santa Clara County are kept by the Superior Court and the Sheriff's Office. This is one of the largest counties in California with about 1.9 million people. The county includes San Jose, the state's third largest city. Criminal cases go through the Santa Clara County Superior Court system. You can search court records and jail bookings online using free tools. The California DOJ also holds statewide criminal records. This page covers where to find criminal history information in Santa Clara County.

Santa Clara County Court Criminal Records

The Santa Clara County Superior Court handles all criminal cases in the county. Courthouses are in San Jose, Palo Alto, and Morgan Hill. Most criminal cases are heard at the main courthouse in downtown San Jose. The court runs an online case search portal where you can look up criminal, traffic, and civil cases for free. You search by name or case number. The results show case type, filing date, charges, hearing dates, and current status. This is the fastest way to check if someone has a criminal case in Santa Clara County without going to the courthouse.

The Santa Clara Superior Court case search portal provides free access to criminal case records online.

The portal covers all case types filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court locations.

Enter a last name and optional first name to start your search. The system pulls up all matching cases. You can click on any case to see the full details, including charges and scheduled hearings. The court keeps adding older records to the system, but some very old cases may still need an in-person lookup. Visit the clerk's office at the courthouse where the case was filed for records not yet online. Copy fees are 50 cents per page, and certified copies cost $40 per document at all Santa Clara County court locations.

Note: Juvenile cases, sealed records, and mental health cases will not appear in the public search for Santa Clara County.

Santa Clara County Inmate Search

The Santa Clara County Sheriff runs the county jail system. The main facilities include the Elmwood Correctional Complex in Milpitas and the Main Jail in San Jose. You can search for people currently in custody using the Sheriff's online inmate finder. The search is free and open to the public.

The Santa Clara County Sheriff inmate finder shows current bookings at county jail facilities.

This tool updates as new bookings and releases happen throughout the day at Santa Clara County facilities.

Search by name to find anyone in the county jail system. Results include the person's booking number, charges, bail amount, and facility. If you do not find the person in the county jail, they may have been released or transferred. People who receive state prison sentences go to a CDCR facility. The CIRIS inmate search covers the entire state prison system and includes inmates committed from Santa Clara County.

How to Get Criminal Records in Santa Clara County

Several options exist for getting criminal history records in Santa Clara County. The method depends on what kind of record you need. Court records are one thing. A full background check is another. Police reports come from yet another source. Here is a breakdown of the main ways to get records.

The free online court search is a good starting point. It shows criminal case filings and status information. For certified copies or detailed court documents, visit the clerk at the San Jose courthouse or mail a request with the case number and copy fees. For a complete criminal history from the state level, you need a Live Scan fingerprint check through the California DOJ. The DOJ fee is $25 plus the rolling fee. Under Penal Code 11105, this database holds criminal records from every county in California. Live Scan sites in Santa Clara County are at police stations, UPS stores, and authorized vendors throughout San Jose and surrounding cities.

For police reports, contact the police department or Sheriff's station that handled the arrest. San Jose PD, the Sheriff's Office, and smaller city departments each have their own records request process.

Criminal Record Fees in Santa Clara County

Court record fees in Santa Clara County follow statewide rates set by California law. The Sheriff and police departments may charge their own fees for reports and records. Below are the standard costs you should expect.

Common fees for criminal records in Santa Clara 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
• Police report copies: varies by department

Fee waivers are an option for people with low income. File the waiver form with the clerk at any Santa Clara County courthouse. You must show proof of income or public benefit enrollment. The court decides if you qualify. Waivers cover court fees and some copy costs but do not cover DOJ or law enforcement fees.

Record Clearing in Santa Clara County

If you have a criminal record in Santa Clara County, California law may let you get relief. Penal Code 1203.4 lets the court dismiss a conviction after probation ends. You file a petition with the Santa Clara County Superior Court. The court reviews your case and decides. A dismissal changes how the conviction appears on background checks. It does not fully erase the record. AB 1076 made some dismissals automatic. The DOJ now identifies eligible records and processes relief on its own without a petition.

Arrest records can be sealed under Penal Code 851.87 if charges were never filed or the case was dismissed. Once sealed, the arrest does not show on most background checks. File the petition at the Santa Clara County courthouse where the original case was handled.

The Megan's Law website is a separate resource for searching registered sex offenders in Santa Clara County and the rest of California. Registration is required under Penal Code 290.

Cities in Santa Clara County

Santa Clara County includes San Jose and many other cities in the Silicon Valley area. All criminal cases from these cities are filed through the Santa Clara County Superior Court. Below is the major city with its own criminal history resource page.

Other cities in Santa Clara County include Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Milpitas, Cupertino, Campbell, Los Gatos, Gilroy, and Morgan Hill. Criminal cases from all of them go through the same court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Santa Clara County. Make sure you search in the right county based on where the arrest or crime took place. Cases must be filed in the correct jurisdiction.