Search El Monte Criminal Court Records

Criminal court records from El Monte are managed by the Los Angeles County Superior Court. California does not have city-level criminal courts, so all felony and misdemeanor cases from El Monte go through the LA Superior Court. The court provides free online search tools that cover El Monte cases. You can look up a case by number or search by the defendant's name. Felony case records date back to 1980 and misdemeanor records go back to 1988 in the online system. This page covers how to find and get copies of El Monte criminal court records.

El Monte Criminal Case Search Online

Two free tools on the LA Superior Court site let you search El Monte criminal court records. The Criminal Case Summary portal works with case numbers. Enter the number and the system returns the charges, court dates, and current status. The data is for reference only, not an official record. The court uses reCAPTCHA between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to manage traffic on the site. If you already have a case number for an El Monte criminal matter, this is the tool to use first.

The Criminal Index Search lets you search by name instead. Put in a first and last name and it returns matching criminal cases across the entire LA Superior Court system. That includes any cases from El Monte. The index covers felony records from 1980 and misdemeanor records from 1988 to the present. Results show the case number, date filed, and the courthouse where the case is assigned. Use that case number in the Summary tool for full details on any El Monte criminal court record you find.

The California DOJ runs a separate database of criminal history. You can learn more about how to request your own criminal record from the state through the DOJ site. That process uses Live Scan fingerprints and costs $25.

The DOJ background check page at oag.ca.gov gives an overview of how the state processes criminal record checks, which can supplement what you find through the LA Superior Court for El Monte cases.

Where El Monte Criminal Cases Are Heard

El Monte criminal cases go to the El Monte Courthouse at 11234 East Valley Boulevard, El Monte, CA 91731. This courthouse is part of the LA Superior Court's network. The clerk's office there handles record requests during business hours, Monday through Friday. Walk in with a case number or defendant name and the clerk can pull up the record and print copies for you. The per-page cost is $0.50.

Some El Monte criminal cases might be assigned to a different LA Superior Court location depending on the type of case and the court's internal assignments. If you are not sure which courthouse has your case, use the online Criminal Index to find out. The search results show the courthouse code for each case. You can also call the LA Superior Court at their main line for help figuring out where an El Monte criminal case is filed.

Note: Courthouse hours are generally 8:30 a.m. to 4:10 p.m., but check before visiting as hours can change.

Fees for El Monte Criminal Court Records

Copy fees for El Monte criminal court records follow the California statewide schedule. Here is what you can expect to pay:

• Plain copies: $0.50 per page (one side)
• Certified copies: $40.00 per document plus per-page fees
• Search fee: $15.00 if the clerk searches more than 10 minutes
• Off-site retrieval: $10.00 for files stored away from the courthouse
• DOJ personal record review: $25.00 via Live Scan

Fee waivers are available for people who cannot afford the costs. Ask at the clerk's window or check the court website for the waiver form. Some record requests are free for parties in certain case types. For most El Monte criminal court records though, you will pay the per-page rate. Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks to process through the LA Superior Court. In person is much faster for getting copies.

Criminal Record Laws Affecting El Monte

Criminal court records from El Monte are public records. Anyone can ask for copies. You do not need to be involved in the case. California law does put some limits on access, though. Under Rule 2.503 of the California Rules of Court, electronic access to criminal case documents is restricted to courthouse viewing for certain record types. You can see calendars, registers of action, and case indexes online. But full documents in criminal cases from El Monte or anywhere else in the state often need to be viewed at the courthouse.

Several state laws shape how criminal records work in California. Penal Code Section 11105 governs the DOJ's state summary criminal history information, which tracks arrests and dispositions statewide. Penal Code Section 1203.4 allows a person to petition for dismissal of a conviction after they finish probation. This applies to El Monte cases just like any other in the state. The record still exists after expungement, but it shows the dismissal.

Juvenile cases from El Monte are sealed. Mental health records in criminal case files are not public. Some domestic violence documents have limited access too.

El Monte Booking and Inmate Records

The LA County Sheriff runs the county jail system. Anyone arrested in El Monte and booked into a county facility shows up in the sheriff's records. The Inmate Information Center lets you search for people currently in custody at any LA County jail. Enter a name and the tool returns booking info, charges, bail amounts, and which facility holds them. The sheriff also publishes a daily booking log of recent arrests.

For state prison inmates, the California Department of Corrections runs the CIRIS inmate search. This covers people sentenced to state prison, including those convicted in El Monte criminal court cases. The tool shows the inmate's name, CDCR number, current location, and admission date. Both the county and state inmate search tools are free and do not need an account.

El Monte Police Department Records

El Monte has its own police department. Arrest reports and police reports for incidents in the city come from the El Monte PD, not from the court. The police department is at 11333 Valley Boulevard, El Monte, CA 91731. Once an arrest leads to criminal charges, the case transfers to the LA Superior Court and becomes a criminal court record there. The police keep their own records of the arrest and investigation separately under Penal Code Section 13300.

Contact the El Monte Police records division directly for arrest reports, incident reports, or police report copies. The court does not have those documents in its criminal case file.

Nearby Cities for Criminal Records

These cities near El Monte also use the LA Superior Court for criminal cases. Select a city for local information about criminal court record access.

Los Angeles County Court Records

El Monte falls under Los Angeles County for all criminal court matters. The county page has full details on the court system and every courthouse location.