Escondido Criminal Court Records

Escondido criminal court records are part of the San Diego County Superior Court system. Located in the inland valley of northern San Diego County, Escondido has about 151,000 residents. Every criminal case that comes out of the city goes through the county court. Whether it is a misdemeanor arrest or a felony charge, the San Diego Superior Court handles the case from start to finish. This page explains how to search, find, and get copies of criminal court records related to cases from Escondido.

San Diego County Court Handles Escondido Cases

There is no city court in Escondido for criminal matters. California runs all criminal cases through the county Superior Court. The San Diego County Superior Court has jurisdiction over every criminal case in the county, including those from Escondido. When the Escondido Police Department arrests someone, the district attorney's office reviews the case and decides whether to file charges. If charges are filed, the case goes on the Superior Court docket.

Escondido is in the North County inland area. Cases from here are often assigned to the North County Division courthouse. The exact courthouse depends on the type of case and court scheduling. For complete details on courthouse locations and court procedures, see the San Diego County criminal court records page.

Search Escondido Criminal Court Records

Use the San Diego Superior Court Case Index to search for criminal records from Escondido cases. The index lets you look up cases by name or case number. It returns the case type, filing date, charges, courthouse assignment, and hearing schedule. The search itself is free. You do not need to create an account.

If you find a case and want the actual documents, there are costs. Online document downloads are $7.50 for the first ten pages and $0.07 for each page after. No single document costs more than $40 to download. At the clerk's window, copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies run $40 per document. The clerk may also charge a $15 search fee if locating the record takes more than ten minutes. These fees apply to all Escondido criminal court records accessed through the San Diego Superior Court.

How to Get Criminal Record Copies for Escondido

Getting copies of criminal court records for an Escondido case works the same way as any other San Diego County case. The fastest method is going to the courthouse in person. Bring the case number or the defendant's name. The clerk can search the system, pull up the file, and print copies on the spot. You pay at the window.

Mail is the other option. Write a request with the case details and send it with payment to the clerk's office. The San Diego Superior Court does not take requests by fax or email. That rule is firm. The California Courts self-help page has general instructions on requesting court record copies that apply to Escondido cases.

Older records that are not stored at the active courthouse may take longer to retrieve. There can be a $10 off-site retrieval fee. Ask the clerk about timelines when you make your request.

Escondido Police Department Records

The Escondido Police Department maintains its own records of arrests and incidents within the city. Police reports, arrest records, and booking data are held by the department, not the court. To get a copy of a police report from Escondido, contact the EPD records division directly.

There is a difference between a police record and a court record. The police report covers what happened during and around the time of the arrest. The court record covers what happened in the legal proceedings after charges were filed. If you need the full picture of an Escondido criminal case, you may need records from both the police department and the San Diego County Superior Court. Under Penal Code Section 13300, local agencies control access to their own criminal history records.

State Criminal History for Escondido Residents

The California Department of Justice runs the statewide criminal record database. Escondido residents can get a copy of their own criminal history by going through the Live Scan process. The fee is $25. Fill out the BCIA 8016RR form, visit a Live Scan site, and the DOJ will process your request. Most results come back in a few business days. The DOJ Record Review page has forms and full instructions.

Under Penal Code Section 11105, the DOJ maintains state summary criminal history information. This is separate from the court file at the San Diego Superior Court. The DOJ record is a summary of arrests and dispositions. The court file has the detailed case documents. For an Escondido criminal case, you might want both.

Escondido Criminal Record Expungement

Under Penal Code Section 1203.4, people who have finished probation for a criminal conviction in Escondido can ask the San Diego County Superior Court to dismiss the case. The record still exists, but it shows the conviction was dismissed. This can make a real difference when employers run background checks.

If the arrest did not lead to a conviction and you were found factually innocent, Penal Code Section 851.8 lets you petition to have the arrest record sealed and destroyed. Both types of petitions are filed at the San Diego Superior Court.

Note: Effective January 1, 2026, California law AB 1524 allows members of the public to use cameras or phone cameras to photograph court records they are entitled to view at the courthouse.

Prison Records for Escondido Cases

When an Escondido criminal case results in a state prison sentence, CDCR handles custody. You can search for inmates at the CDCR Incarcerated Records and Information Search. This shows the inmate's name, CDCR number, location, and admission date. It does not cover people in county jail or on local probation.

For county jail inmates from Escondido, check with the San Diego County Sheriff's department. Their online inmate search covers everyone currently held in a county jail facility.

Nearby Cities in San Diego County

These cities are near Escondido. Criminal cases from each are handled by the San Diego County Superior Court.

San Diego County Criminal Court

Visit the county page for full courthouse information and criminal record procedures in San Diego County.