Find Criminal Court Records in Downey

Criminal court records for cases out of Downey are kept by the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Downey is in the southeast part of LA County, and like all California cities, it does not have its own criminal court. Felony and misdemeanor charges from Downey move through the LA Superior Court system. You can search these records online at no cost. The court's digital tools let you look up criminal cases by number or by the defendant's name. This page walks through the ways to find and get Downey criminal court records.

Look Up Downey Criminal Court Records Online

The LA Superior Court has two online portals for criminal case lookups that cover Downey. The Criminal Case Summary tool takes a case number and shows you charges, hearing dates, and case status. This is a reference tool. The data is not the official court record. ReCAPTCHA runs from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. to keep the system available for everyone.

If you do not have a case number, use the Criminal Index Search instead. This tool works with names. Enter a first and last name and it pulls up any matching criminal cases in the LA Superior Court system, including Downey cases. The index goes back to 1980 for felonies and 1988 for misdemeanors. Each result shows the case number, filing date, and courthouse. From there, you can take the case number to the Summary tool to see the full details of a Downey criminal court record.

The state court system website at courts.ca.gov can help you find the right Superior Court for any location in California, which for Downey is the LA Superior Court.

That tool on the California Courts site is useful if you are not sure which county handles a particular case. For Downey, it always routes to the LA Superior Court.

Downey Courthouse and Criminal Records

The Downey Courthouse at 7500 East Imperial Highway, Downey, CA 90242 is part of the LA Superior Court system. Criminal cases from Downey and the surrounding area may be assigned here. The clerk's office at this courthouse handles record requests in person during business hours. Bring the case number or defendant's name and the clerk can look up the file and print copies.

Not every Downey criminal case goes to the Downey Courthouse, though. The LA Superior Court assigns cases to different locations based on factors like case type and court workload. Use the online Criminal Index to find out which courthouse has a specific Downey criminal case. If the record is at a different location, you will need to go there or send a mail request to that courthouse. The court email for online access questions is onlineServices@lacourt.org.

Cost of Downey Criminal Court Record Copies

Record copy fees at the LA Superior Court are set by state law. Plain copies of Downey criminal court records cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $40 per document, plus the per-page charge. If the clerk needs more than 10 minutes to find your record, a $15 search fee applies. Files stored off site cost an extra $10 to retrieve.

Mail requests for Downey criminal court records take 8 to 10 weeks. That is the standard processing time across the entire LA Superior Court system. In-person requests at the Downey Courthouse are much faster. You can also get fee waivers if you qualify. The California Courts self-help page at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov has the full fee schedule and instructions for requesting court record copies.

The DOJ page shown above covers how to request your own personal criminal history from the state, which is a separate process from getting court record copies for Downey cases.

Downey Criminal Record Access Rules

Most criminal court records from Downey are open to the public. Anyone can request copies regardless of whether they are connected to the case. California Rules of Court Rule 2.503 restricts remote electronic access to some criminal case documents. Online, you can see case indexes, calendars, and registers of action. To view the full file in a Downey criminal case, you typically need to go to the courthouse in person.

Certain records are not public at all. Juvenile cases are sealed under California law. Mental health records within a criminal file are restricted. Some documents in domestic violence cases have limited access. Under Penal Code Section 11105, the California DOJ maintains statewide criminal history summaries. That database is separate from the court records. For Downey criminal court records specifically, the LA Superior Court is the source.

Convictions can be dismissed under Penal Code Section 1203.4 after probation is completed. The record stays in the system but shows the dismissal. Arrest records can be sealed under Penal Code Section 851.8 if the person is found factually innocent. These laws apply to Downey cases handled through the LA Superior Court.

How to Get Downey Criminal Records

You have three main options for getting copies of criminal court records from Downey cases. Going to the courthouse in person is the quickest way. Bring the case number or defendant name to the clerk's window and ask for copies. The clerk prints them while you wait. Pay the $0.50 per page fee at the counter.

By mail, write a request that includes the case number, defendant name, and which documents you want. Add a check or money order for the estimated fees. Mail it to the clerk's office at the courthouse that handled the Downey case. Plan on waiting 8 to 10 weeks for a response. The third option is using the online tools to view case information for free, though you cannot download the actual documents for most criminal cases. The online portals show case summaries and index information but not full court filings.

Downey Arrest and Booking Records

Downey has its own police department. Arrest reports and incident reports for events in the city come from the Downey PD. Contact them directly for those records. Their station is at 10911 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, CA 90241. Once charges are filed, the case becomes a criminal court record at the LA Superior Court.

The LA County Sheriff operates the jail system. The Inmate Information Center shows who is currently in custody at county jails, including people arrested in Downey. The daily booking log lists recent arrests across the county. For state prison inmates convicted in Downey cases, the CDCR CIRIS search shows current location and custody details. All these tools are free to use.

Note: Arrest records from the police department and court case records are kept by separate agencies with different request processes.

Cities Near Downey

These nearby cities also fall under the Los Angeles County Superior Court for criminal matters. Each page covers local court details and how to access criminal records.

Los Angeles County Criminal Records

Downey is part of Los Angeles County. The county page has complete details on the LA Superior Court, all courthouse locations, and the full range of record search tools available.