Pasadena Criminal Court Records

Criminal court records for Pasadena are held at the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Pasadena does not run its own criminal court. Every felony and misdemeanor case from the city goes through the LA Superior Court system, which is the largest trial court in the country. You can search Pasadena criminal court records online using the court's case lookup tools. The court keeps felony records from 1980 and misdemeanor records from 1988 forward. Both name searches and case number lookups are free to use on the court website.

Search Pasadena Criminal Records Online

The LA Superior Court provides two free online tools for looking up Pasadena criminal court records. The first is the Criminal Case Summary portal. You need a case number to use it. Enter the number and the system pulls up a summary with charges, hearing dates, and case status. The court has added reCAPTCHA checks between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to keep the tool available for all users. Keep in mind that this data is not the official court record. It is a reference tool only. The Criminal Case Summary at lacourt.org is where most people start when they have a case number for a Pasadena criminal case.

The California Courts website at courts.ca.gov explains the rules for accessing court records across the state, including records from Pasadena cases handled by the LA Superior Court.

The second tool is the Criminal Index Search. This one works by name. Type in a first and last name and the system shows matching criminal cases on file. The index has felony records going back to 1980 and misdemeanor records from 1988. Results include the case number, filing date, and courthouse location. Once you have the case number from the index, you can plug it into the Case Summary tool for more details. Access the Criminal Index Search at lacourt.org.

Pasadena Courthouse for Criminal Cases

Criminal cases from Pasadena are heard at the Pasadena Courthouse, which is part of the LA Superior Court. The courthouse is at 300 East Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91101. The clerk's office handles record requests in person. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:10 p.m. Walk in and ask for copies of any criminal court record filed there. You will need either the case number or the defendant's name. The clerk can look it up and print copies while you wait if the record is stored on site.

Some older Pasadena criminal court records may be stored off site. If the clerk has to pull a file from storage, there is a $10 retrieval fee on top of the copy costs. For records before 1965, call the LA Superior Court Archives at (213) 974-1378. For records after 1965 but not in the online system, call (213) 893-0809. Mail requests to the LA Superior Court take 8 to 10 weeks to process, so visiting the Pasadena Courthouse in person is much faster.

Note: The Pasadena Courthouse also hears civil cases, family law matters, and small claims in addition to criminal matters.

Pasadena Criminal Court Record Fees

Fees for criminal court records in Pasadena follow the statewide schedule set by California law. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page. That is the standard rate at every Superior Court in the state. Certified copies run $40 per document plus the per-page fee. A certified copy has the court seal and clerk signature, which you need for legal proceedings or official purposes. If the clerk spends more than 10 minutes searching for your Pasadena criminal court record, they can charge a $15 search fee.

The California Courts self-help site at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov breaks down all the fees and steps for getting copies of court records, which applies to Pasadena cases through the LA Superior Court.

You can get a fee waiver if you cannot afford the copy costs. Ask the clerk at the Pasadena Courthouse or download the waiver form from the court website. Copies are also free for parties in certain case types, like restraining orders. For most Pasadena criminal court record requests though, plan on paying the standard per-page rate.

Criminal Record Access Laws for Pasadena

Most criminal court records from Pasadena cases are public. Anyone can request copies. You do not need to be a party to the case. The California Rules of Court, specifically Rule 2.503, limit what criminal records can be viewed online versus at the courthouse. Registers of action, calendars, and case indexes are generally available through remote access. But full case documents in criminal matters usually need to be viewed in person at the courthouse.

Under Penal Code Section 11105, the California Department of Justice maintains state summary criminal history information. This is separate from what you get at the courthouse. The DOJ database covers arrests and dispositions statewide, while the court has the actual case files. For Pasadena criminal court records specifically, the LA Superior Court is the place to go. Juvenile cases are sealed and not available to the public. Mental health records within a criminal case file are restricted too. Certain domestic violence documents may have limited access as well.

A person can ask to have a conviction dismissed after completing probation under Penal Code Section 1203.4. If a Pasadena case has been expunged, the record still exists but will show the dismissal. Under Penal Code Section 851.8, someone found factually innocent can petition to seal and destroy their arrest records entirely.

Get Criminal Records in Pasadena

There are a few ways to get criminal court records for Pasadena cases. In person at the Pasadena Courthouse is the fastest. Go to the clerk's window, give the case number or defendant name, and ask for copies. The clerk prints them on the spot if the file is on site. You pay the $0.50 per page fee right there.

By mail, send a written request to the clerk's office at the courthouse that handled the case. Include the case number, defendant name, and the specific documents you need. Enclose a check or money order for the estimated fees. Mail it to the Pasadena Courthouse at 300 East Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91101. Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks through the LA Superior Court system, so this is not the fast option. Email onlineServices@lacourt.org for questions about online access to Pasadena criminal court records.

Pasadena Background Checks and DOJ Records

For a statewide criminal history check that goes beyond Pasadena court records, you can request your own record from the California DOJ. The fee is $25 through the Live Scan process. Visit any Live Scan site in or near Pasadena and submit your fingerprints with the BCIA 8016RR form. Results go directly to you. Most results come back within three business days. Check the status of a pending request at the DOJ applicant status portal.

The California Department of Corrections runs the CIRIS inmate search tool. This lets you look up anyone in state prison custody. It shows their name, CDCR number, current facility, and admission date. This covers people convicted in Pasadena and sentenced to state prison. The LA County Sheriff also has an inmate search for people in county jail and a daily booking log that shows recent arrests across Los Angeles County, including Pasadena.

Note: DOJ criminal history records requested for personal review cannot be used for immigration or foreign nation purposes.

Pasadena Police Arrest Records

Arrest records are different from court records. The Pasadena Police Department handles arrests within the city. For arrest reports or police reports from Pasadena incidents, contact the Pasadena PD records division directly. The police department is at 207 North Garfield Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101. Under Penal Code Section 13300, local law enforcement agencies maintain their own criminal offender record information separate from the court system. Once a Pasadena arrest leads to charges, the case moves to the LA Superior Court and becomes a criminal court record there.

The Pasadena Police Department is a full-service agency, not a contract city that uses the sheriff. So arrest records for incidents in Pasadena come from the city police, not the LA County Sheriff. However, the Sheriff's booking log may still show Pasadena arrests if the person was booked into a county jail facility.

Nearby Cities in Los Angeles County

These cities are near Pasadena and also fall under the Los Angeles County Superior Court for criminal cases. Each city page has local details about accessing criminal court records.

Los Angeles County Criminal Court Records

All Pasadena criminal cases go through the LA Superior Court. Visit the county page for full details on the court system, all courthouses, and additional record search tools.