Fairfield Criminal Records Search

Criminal court records for Fairfield cases are kept by the Solano County Superior Court. Fairfield is the county seat of Solano County, so the main courthouse is right in town. That makes it one of the more convenient places in the county to get criminal record copies in person. The court also has an online portal for case searches. Whether you need to look up a felony case, check on a misdemeanor, or get copies of court documents from a Fairfield case, this page explains each step in the process.

Search Fairfield Criminal Court Cases Online

The Solano County Superior Court runs an online case portal where you can look up Fairfield criminal court records. Go to portal.solano.courts.ca.gov and enter a name or case number. The system returns charges, dates, case status, and the courtroom handling the matter. There is no charge for searching. You do not need to create an account. The results give you a quick view of where a case stands.

Since Fairfield is the county seat, many criminal cases from across Solano County get heard here. That means the online portal has records from Fairfield, Vallejo, Vacaville, and other cities in the county all in one place. If you are not sure which city's case you are looking for, a name search will pull up anything in the Solano County system.

Remote access has limits. California Rules of Court Rule 2.503 says that certain criminal court documents can only be viewed at the courthouse. The online portal shows the register of actions, hearing calendars, and case indexes. Documents like probation reports and sealed records are not available through the web portal. For the complete file on a Fairfield criminal case, you would need to visit the clerk's office.

Fairfield Courthouse for Criminal Records

The Solano County Hall of Justice at 600 Union Avenue in Fairfield is where criminal cases are heard and where the clerk keeps the files. Because the courthouse is in Fairfield, residents have the advantage of not needing to drive to another city for records. Walk into the criminal clerk's office during business hours and request copies.

Bring the case number. That is the fastest way to get what you need. If you only have a name, the clerk can search for it, but it takes more time. If the search goes past 10 minutes, you may be charged the $15 search fee under state law. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday. Hours are typically 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., but check the Solano County Superior Court website for updates before heading over.

Note: The Solano County courthouse in Fairfield also handles cases from Vallejo, Vacaville, Dixon, and other Solano County cities.

Fairfield Criminal Court Record Fees

Copy fees for Fairfield criminal court records are set by state law. Plain copies are $0.50 per page under Government Code Section 70627. Certified copies run $40 per document plus the per-page fee. A certified copy carries the court seal and is needed for legal proceedings in most cases. Plain copies work for personal records or general background checks.

The $15 search fee kicks in if the clerk spends more than 10 minutes looking for your record. Records that have been moved to off-site storage cost an extra $10 to retrieve. Mail requests should include a check or money order for the estimated amount. If you overpay, the court will refund the difference. If you underpay, they will hold the request until you send more.

How to Get Fairfield Criminal Court Records

You can get copies of Fairfield criminal court records three ways. In person at the Hall of Justice in Fairfield is the fastest. By mail is an option if you cannot visit. You send a written request with payment to the Solano County Superior Court, Criminal Division, 600 Union Avenue, Fairfield, CA 94533. Allow a few weeks for them to process it and mail back the copies.

For a statewide criminal history rather than a specific Fairfield court case, go through the California DOJ. The Record Review process lets you request your own RAP sheet for $25 using Live Scan fingerprints. This shows arrests and case outcomes from across the state. It is a different record than what the Solano County court holds. The court has the actual case file with all the filings and orders. The DOJ has a summary of your criminal history statewide.

The California courts self-help site at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov lays out how to request court record copies from any court in the state.

That guide covers what to expect with fees, timelines, and which types of records you can and cannot get as a member of the public.

Fairfield Criminal Record Laws

Most criminal court records in Fairfield are public. Anyone can ask for copies. You do not have to be part of the case. There are exceptions, though. Juvenile cases are sealed from the public. Mental health records within a criminal case have restrictions. Certain protective orders may be limited too.

Under Penal Code Section 1203.4, a Fairfield defendant who completes probation can petition for dismissal of the conviction. The record does not disappear. It stays in the court file but shows the updated status. If someone was found factually innocent, Penal Code Section 851.8 allows them to seal and destroy the arrest record. After that, the related Fairfield criminal court records may no longer be available to the public.

The CDCR inmate search is another resource for tracking someone sentenced to state prison out of a Fairfield case. It shows their current facility, admission date, and parole hearing schedule.

Nearby Cities

Vacaville and Vallejo are the other major Solano County cities. Criminal cases from all three go through the same courthouse in Fairfield.

Solano County Criminal Records

Fairfield is the county seat of Solano County. Visit the county page for complete details on the court system and all record access options.