Orange, California Criminal Court Records

Criminal court records for the city of Orange are handled by the Orange County Superior Court. The city shares a name with its county, which can cause some confusion when searching for records. Orange has a population around 139,000 and sits in the center of the county near Anaheim and Santa Ana. Like all California cities, Orange does not operate its own criminal court. Arrests made by Orange PD lead to cases filed with the county Superior Court. This page explains how to search for and get copies of criminal court records connected to the city of Orange.

Search Criminal Cases from the City of Orange

All criminal cases from the city of Orange are searchable through Vision Public, the Orange County Superior Court's online portal. Head to visionpublic.occourts.org to start. You can search by a person's name or by case number. Results include the charges filed, hearing dates, case status, and which courthouse is assigned. The search is free and open to everyone without an account.

When searching for cases from the city of Orange, keep in mind that your results will include cases from across the entire county. If you type a common name, you may get many matches. Having a case number makes things much faster. If you only have a name, try adding other details you know to narrow it down. The court phone line at (657) 622-6878 can also help you identify which case belongs to the city of Orange specifically.

The portal shows data from the court's system, which holds records dating back to 1898. Most cases from the last several decades are in there. For older records from the city of Orange, the clerk may need to do a manual search.

Courthouse for City of Orange Criminal Records

Criminal cases from the city of Orange get assigned to one of the Orange County courthouse locations. The assignment depends on factors like the type of crime and court scheduling. The Central Justice Center in Santa Ana handles a lot of criminal cases, but your specific case could be at a different location. Check Vision Public first or call the court to confirm.

When you visit the courthouse, the clerk's office can pull up the case file and print copies on the spot. Bring the case number if you have it. If not, the defendant's name and date of birth can help the clerk locate the right record. Court offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The clerk at one courthouse cannot pull files from another location, so going to the right building saves time.

Fees for Criminal Records from the City of Orange

Getting copies of criminal court records from city of Orange cases costs $0.50 per page for plain copies. Certified copies run $40 per document plus the page charge. These fees are set by Government Code Section 70627 and apply the same way across all California courts. A $15 search fee can be added if the clerk takes more than 10 minutes to find the record. Records in off-site storage have a $10 retrieval fee.

For mail requests, use Form L-3009. Include payment by check or money order payable to the Clerk of the Court. Mail requests take 7 to 10 working days to process. If you do not know the exact fee total, call (657) 622-6878 before sending your request. The automated system at (657) 622-8459 is another option for basic fee questions.

Note: Fee waivers are available for qualifying individuals who cannot afford the copy charges.

Arrest and Inmate Records for Orange, CA

The Orange Police Department handles arrests in the city. If you need a copy of an arrest report from an Orange PD case, contact their records division. Police arrest reports are separate from criminal court records. The PD creates the arrest report. The court creates the case file once the district attorney files charges. They are maintained by different agencies with different request processes.

For people currently in county jail after an arrest in Orange, the Orange County Sheriff's Inmate Information System tracks them. Search by name to see booking charges, bail, and facility location. This covers all Orange County jails and is free to use. It only shows people who are currently in custody.

State prison inmates can be looked up through the CIRIS search tool run by the California Department of Corrections. If someone convicted in a city of Orange case was sent to state prison, CIRIS will show their current facility, admission date, and parole hearing schedule.

Criminal Record Laws for City of Orange Cases

Criminal court records from the city of Orange are public records. Anyone can request copies from the Orange County Superior Court. You do not need to be involved in the case. California law provides open access with some exceptions. Juvenile cases are sealed. Mental health evaluations in criminal files are restricted. Certain domestic violence documents may also be limited.

The statewide criminal history database is kept by the California DOJ under Penal Code Section 11105. That database holds RAP sheets based on fingerprints. It is a separate thing from the court case files. For your own criminal history, go through the DOJ's Record Review using Live Scan. The fee is $25.

The California Courts self-help guide shown above walks through the process of getting court record copies, including criminal case files from courts like the one that handles city of Orange cases. Expungement is an option under Penal Code Section 1203.4 after probation is complete. The case record stays at the court but shows the conviction was dismissed.

Nearby Cities

These cities are close to the city of Orange. All criminal cases from these areas go through the Orange County Superior Court.

Orange County Criminal Records

The city of Orange is in Orange County. Visit the county page for the full court system overview, courthouse addresses, and county-wide search tools.