Find Santa Cruz County Criminal Records

Criminal history records in Santa Cruz County are available through the Superior Court and the Sheriff's Office. The county has about 270,000 residents along the central California coast. Court records for criminal cases can be searched using the court's online Odyssey portal. The Sheriff also offers a jail viewer tool for checking who is currently in custody. State-level background checks go through the California DOJ. This page walks through the main sources for finding criminal records in Santa Cruz County and how to use them.

Santa Cruz County Court Criminal Records

The Santa Cruz County Superior Court processes all criminal cases filed in the county. The courthouse is at 701 Ocean Street in Santa Cruz. Criminal cases are managed through the Tyler Odyssey system, and the court offers an online portal for searching case records. You can look up criminal, traffic, and civil cases by name or case number. The results show filing dates, case type, charges, hearing dates, and current status. This free search tool is the quickest way to check criminal case records in Santa Cruz County without visiting the courthouse in person.

The Santa Cruz Superior Court Odyssey portal provides free online access to case records.

This portal covers all case types filed in the Santa Cruz County Superior Court system.

When you run a search, enter a last name and first name if you have it. The system returns matching cases from across all case types. Filter for criminal cases to narrow the results. Click on a case number to view charges, hearing schedules, and disposition information. Older cases may not be in the online system yet. For those, visit the clerk's office during business hours. Staff can look up records and make copies. Standard copy fees are 50 cents per page in Santa Cruz County. Certified copies run $40 each.

Santa Cruz County Jail Inmate Search

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff operates the county jail. You can check who is currently in custody using the Sheriff's online jail viewer. This tool is free to use. It shows everyone currently booked into the Santa Cruz County jail along with their charges, booking date, and bail amount.

The Santa Cruz County jail viewer lists all current inmates at the county facility.

The jail viewer updates regularly as people are booked in or released from the Santa Cruz County jail.

If the person is not in county jail, they may have been released or sent to state prison. The California Department of Corrections runs the CIRIS inmate search which covers all state prisons. Anyone sentenced from Santa Cruz County to a state prison term will show up in that system. The search is free. It shows the person's prison, CDCR number, and commitment county. You can also check the Megan's Law site for registered sex offenders in Santa Cruz County.

How to Get Records in Santa Cruz County

There are different ways to get criminal history records in Santa Cruz County. Court records, background checks, and police reports all come from separate places. Most people start with the free court portal. It gives you basic case information fast. If you need more, there are other steps to take.

For your own criminal history at the state level, use a Live Scan fingerprint service. The California DOJ maintains the statewide criminal record database. You go to a Live Scan site, give your fingerprints, and pay the $25 DOJ fee plus the site's rolling fee. Results take about 2 to 3 business days. Under Penal Code 11105, this database includes records from Santa Cruz County and every other county in the state. Live Scan locations in the county include police stations and authorized private businesses.

For police reports, reach out to the agency that handled the arrest. The Santa Cruz Police Department, Watsonville Police, or the Sheriff's Office each have their own records request process. You will need the incident date and any case numbers you have.

Note: Police reports are not the same as court records and come with different fees and wait times.

Santa Cruz County Criminal Record Fees

Court fees in Santa Cruz County follow the standard rates set by California state law. These are the same across all Superior Courts in the state. Police departments and the Sheriff may charge different amounts for their own records.

Standard criminal record fees in Santa Cruz County:

• Court name search (over 10 minutes): $15
• Copies per page: $0.50
• Certified copy per document: $40
• DOJ background check: $25 plus Live Scan rolling fee
• Exemplification: $50

If you can not pay the court fees, ask about a fee waiver. File the request with the clerk at the Santa Cruz County courthouse. Provide proof of low income or public benefits. The judge will review it. Fee waivers cover filing fees and some copies but not DOJ or law enforcement report fees.

Criminal Record Clearing in Santa Cruz County

California provides ways to clear or seal criminal records. If you have a conviction in Santa Cruz County, Penal Code 1203.4 may let you petition the court for a dismissal. You must have finished probation first. File the petition with the Santa Cruz County Superior Court. The judge reviews the case and decides if the conviction should be dismissed. This changes the record but does not fully erase it. AB 1076 made some dismissals happen on their own. The DOJ now reviews eligible cases and grants automatic relief without requiring a petition.

Arrest records that did not lead to charges or were dismissed can be sealed. Penal Code 851.87 allows you to petition the court to seal the arrest. Once sealed, the arrest does not appear on most standard background checks. File the petition at the Santa Cruz County courthouse. You can do this yourself or with help from a lawyer or legal aid group in the area.

Cities in Santa Cruz County

Santa Cruz County has several cities and communities. All criminal cases from these areas are filed through the Santa Cruz County Superior Court. No cities in the county have a population over 100,000, so separate city pages are not available here.

Cities include Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Scotts Valley, and Capitola. Each city has its own police department, but all criminal charges go through the same county court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Santa Cruz County. Criminal cases are filed in the county where the incident or arrest took place. Make sure you search in the right jurisdiction.