San Bernardino Criminal Court Records

Criminal court records from the city of San Bernardino are filed with the San Bernardino County Superior Court. As the county seat, the main courthouse is right in the city. This makes it one of the easier places in the county to search for and pick up criminal case records. The Superior Court runs an online search tool and the clerk's office processes in-person requests at the downtown courthouse. San Bernardino also has its own police department that publishes arrest logs. This page covers the full process for finding criminal court records tied to San Bernardino cases.

Search San Bernardino Criminal Records Online

The San Bernardino County Superior Court uses the Court Access Portal (CAP) for online case searches. This Tyler Odyssey-based system lets you look up criminal cases from San Bernardino and every other city in the county. You can search by defendant name, case number, or date range. Results show the case type, charges, filing date, next hearing, and current status. The search is free and open to the public.

The Court Access Portal is useful for getting basic case info fast. You can check whether charges were filed after a San Bernardino arrest, see what the charges are, and find out when the next court date is. But full document access is limited online. Criminal case documents in California are restricted under Rule 2.503 of the California Rules of Court. Most courts only put the register of actions and calendars online for criminal cases. The rest of the file has to be viewed at the courthouse.

The screenshot above shows the San Bernardino County Court Access Portal search interface. This is the first place to check when looking for criminal court records from a San Bernardino case.

San Bernardino County Courthouse

The San Bernardino Justice Center at 247 West Third Street is the main courthouse in the city. It handles a large volume of criminal cases. The clerk's office on site processes record requests. Walk in, give them the case number or name, and ask for copies. For current cases, they can usually print documents right away.

Copy fees follow state law. Plain copies are $0.50 per page under Government Code Section 70627. Certified copies cost $40 per document plus the per-page fee. A $15 search fee applies if the clerk spends more than 10 minutes looking for the record. If a San Bernardino criminal court file is stored off-site, there is an extra $10 retrieval charge. Bring the case number to avoid the search fee. The more info you have, the faster and cheaper the process is.

Note: Court hours are typically Monday through Friday, but check the San Bernardino County Superior Court website for the most current schedule.

San Bernardino Police Arrest Logs

The San Bernardino Police Department publishes arrest logs on their website. These logs list recent arrests made by city officers. The logs are updated regularly and show the date, time, charges, and location of each arrest. You can view them at sanbernardino.gov/602/Arrest-Logs. This is a good starting point if you want to find out if someone was recently arrested in San Bernardino before a court case is even filed.

The arrest log page above shows what the San Bernardino PD makes available to the public. Keep in mind that arrest logs are not court records. An arrest does not mean charges have been filed. The criminal court record starts when the district attorney's office files the case with the San Bernardino County Superior Court.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff also runs an inmate locator for people in county jail. If someone arrested in San Bernardino was booked into a county facility, you can look them up by name. The tool shows current inmates, charges, bail, and facility location. It is free and does not require a login.

California DOJ Records for San Bernardino

The California Department of Justice keeps a separate criminal history database from the court system. Under Penal Code Section 11105, the DOJ collects arrest data, charges, and dispositions from every county in the state. If you need your own criminal history, the DOJ Record Review lets you get it for $25. Visit a Live Scan site in San Bernardino to submit fingerprints. The DOJ processes the request and mails you the results.

Only you can request your own DOJ record. Third-party access is limited to law enforcement and agencies authorized by law. For court case files from San Bernardino criminal cases, go through the San Bernardino County Superior Court, not the DOJ. The two systems hold different types of records.

Clearing Criminal Records in San Bernardino

If you were convicted in a San Bernardino criminal case and you completed probation, California law gives you a path to get the conviction dismissed. Under Penal Code Section 1203.4, you file a petition with the San Bernardino County Superior Court. The judge reviews your case. If granted, the conviction shows as dismissed on the record. This helps with background checks. The underlying record still exists at the court.

People arrested in San Bernardino who were never charged, or whose charges were dropped, can petition to seal the arrest record under Penal Code Section 851.8. You need to show factual innocence. That is a tough standard. Legal aid organizations in San Bernardino County can help if you qualify for their services. Some offer free clinics for record clearing.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near San Bernardino. Most are in the same county and use the same Superior Court for criminal cases.

San Bernardino's County

All San Bernardino criminal court records go through the San Bernardino County Superior Court.