El Cajon Criminal Court Records Database

Criminal court records from El Cajon are filed with the San Diego County Superior Court. El Cajon sits in the East County area of San Diego County with a population around 106,000. The city has its own police department, but all criminal cases go to the county court. You can look up El Cajon criminal court records using the court's online index or request copies at the courthouse. This page walks through the process of searching for and getting criminal case records from El Cajon.

El Cajon Criminal Cases Go to County Court

California does not have city-level criminal courts. Every criminal case from El Cajon is handled by the San Diego County Superior Court. This is true for misdemeanors, felonies, and infractions. The El Cajon Police Department makes arrests within city limits. From there, the San Diego County District Attorney reviews the case and decides if charges should be filed. Charged cases go on the court calendar at the East County Division courthouse, which is the closest Superior Court location to El Cajon.

The East County courthouse handles a lot of the criminal cases from this part of San Diego County. It serves El Cajon and the surrounding communities. For a complete breakdown of courthouse locations and how the San Diego Superior Court handles criminal cases, see the San Diego County criminal court records page.

Search El Cajon Criminal Records Online

The San Diego Superior Court Case Index is the main online search tool. It covers every criminal case in San Diego County, including El Cajon. You can search by name or by case number. The index shows case type, filing date, charges, court location, and scheduled hearing dates. Browsing the index is free.

When you want actual documents, costs come in. Online downloads run $7.50 for the first ten pages of a document. Pages beyond that cost $0.07 each. The cap is $40 per document. In person at the clerk's window, copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $40 per document on top of the page charges.

Keep in mind that the online case index is not the full court file. It shows case summary information. For the detailed documents in an El Cajon criminal case, like motions, plea agreements, or sentencing orders, you typically need to visit the courthouse. California Rules of Court Rule 2.503 limits what criminal case documents are available for remote viewing.

Request El Cajon Criminal Court Record Copies

In-person requests are the quickest way to get copies. Go to the courthouse where the El Cajon case was heard. Tell the clerk what you need. If you have the case number, the process is fast. Without a case number, the clerk searches by name. A $15 search fee applies if the search takes over ten minutes.

For mail requests, send a letter to the clerk's office at the right courthouse. Include the case number if you have it, the defendant's full name, and what documents you want copies of. Enclose a check or money order covering the estimated fees. The San Diego Superior Court does not handle record requests by email or fax. That applies to all El Cajon criminal court records. The California Courts self-help guide walks through the general process for getting court record copies in any California county.

Older records stored off-site may carry a $10 retrieval fee. Ask the clerk about this when you make your request.

El Cajon Police Department Records

The El Cajon Police Department holds its own records. Arrest reports, incident logs, and booking data are maintained by the department, not the court. If you need a copy of a police report from El Cajon, reach out to the ECPD records division. These records are public in most cases under the California Public Records Act.

Police records and court records tell different parts of the story. The police report covers the arrest and the circumstances. The court record covers the charges filed, hearings, plea, and sentencing. For a complete look at an El Cajon criminal case, you may need both. The San Diego County Sheriff also maintains booking records for anyone processed through county jail after an arrest in El Cajon.

California DOJ Criminal History

El Cajon residents can request their own state criminal history record from the California Department of Justice. Under Penal Code Section 11105, the DOJ maintains RAP sheets compiled from data sent by law enforcement and courts statewide. The process involves filling out the BCIA 8016RR form, going to a Live Scan site for fingerprinting, and paying the $25 fee.

Visit the DOJ Record Review page for forms and step-by-step instructions. The DOJ record is a statewide summary. It is not the same as getting a court case file from the San Diego Superior Court for an El Cajon case. You may want both if you need the full picture.

Most DOJ record review requests are processed within three business days. The DOJ handles about 2 million background checks each year.

Dismiss El Cajon Criminal Convictions

If you have a conviction from an El Cajon case and have finished probation, you may petition for dismissal. Under Penal Code Section 1203.4, the court can set aside the guilty plea and dismiss the case. File the petition at the San Diego County Superior Court. The record stays on file but shows the dismissal.

For people found factually innocent, Penal Code Section 851.8 lets you petition to have the arrest record sealed and destroyed. Both options go through the county Superior Court.

Nearby Cities

These cities near El Cajon also have criminal cases in the San Diego County Superior Court system.

San Diego County Criminal Court Records

For full details on courthouses, fees, and the criminal court process in San Diego County.