Find Simi Valley Criminal Court Records

Criminal court records for Simi Valley are filed with the Ventura County Superior Court. Simi Valley sits in the southeastern corner of Ventura County, bordering Los Angeles County. All felony and misdemeanor cases from Simi Valley go through the county court system, not a city court. The Ventura County Superior Court has an online case search tool and a clerk's office where you can request copies. This page covers the main ways to search for and get criminal court records that come out of Simi Valley, California.

Simi Valley Criminal Case Search Online

You can search for Simi Valley criminal court records through the Ventura County Superior Court's online system at secured.countyofventura.org/courtservices. Enter a name or case number. The results show the charges, hearing dates, assigned courtroom, and the current status of the case. It is free. No account is needed.

The online system covers all case types filed in Ventura County, so Simi Valley criminal cases share the database with cases from Thousand Oaks, Ventura, Oxnard, and other cities. When you search by name, you may get results from across the county. Having a case number narrows things down right away. If you only have a name, check the filing date and courthouse location to make sure you have the right Simi Valley criminal record.

Under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503, remote online access to criminal case documents is limited. The portal shows case indexes, the register of actions, and hearing calendars. It does not show the full case file. Probation reports, certain protective orders, and sealed documents are not available through the website. For the complete record on a Simi Valley criminal case, you need to go to the courthouse.

Where Simi Valley Criminal Cases Are Heard

Simi Valley criminal cases are handled by the Ventura County Superior Court. The main courthouse is at 800 South Victoria Avenue in Ventura. Some criminal matters from eastern Ventura County, including Simi Valley, may be heard at the East County Courthouse. The court assigns cases based on the type of crime and scheduling.

To get copies of a Simi Valley criminal court record in person, visit the clerk's office at the courthouse where the case is assigned. Bring the case number if you have it. The clerk can pull up the file and make copies. If you do not have a case number, give them the defendant's name and any other details you know. The clerk will search their system. Expect to pay at the time of the request. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in most locations.

The Ventura County court system handles all criminal cases from Simi Valley, so you always start at the county level when looking for court records.

The California Courts website at courts.ca.gov explains the overall public records policy for all 58 Superior Courts, including Ventura County where Simi Valley cases are filed.

Fees for Simi Valley Criminal Court Records

Copies of Simi Valley criminal court records cost $0.50 per page for plain copies. That is the statewide rate under Government Code Section 70627. Certified copies are $40 per document, plus the per-page charge. You need a certified copy if the record is for legal proceedings. A plain copy is fine for personal use.

Other fees that can come up include a $15 search fee if the clerk spends over 10 minutes locating the record and a $10 charge for pulling records from off-site storage. These apply on top of the copy fees. For mail requests, send a check or money order made out to the Clerk of the Court along with your written request. Mail processing takes a few weeks depending on the court's backlog.

Get Criminal Court Record Copies in Simi Valley

Since Simi Valley does not have its own court, all criminal record requests go through Ventura County. You can get copies in person at the courthouse. That is the quickest route. You can also mail a request with payment. Allow several weeks for the court to process a mail request. Online, the case portal lets you view case information, but official copies of documents still require either a visit or a written request.

The California Courts self-help page has step-by-step instructions on how to request copies from any Superior Court in the state. It covers what to include in your request, how to pay, and what to expect on the timeline. Check the Ventura County Superior Court site for any local forms or specific procedures they use for criminal record copy requests.

If you want your own statewide criminal history instead of a specific Simi Valley court file, that is a separate process. The California DOJ handles it through Record Review. The cost is $25. You submit fingerprints at a Live Scan location and the DOJ mails you your RAP sheet.

State Criminal Record Resources

The CIRIS inmate search from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shows anyone currently in state prison. If a Simi Valley case led to a prison sentence, you can look up the person's location and parole schedule through this free tool. It covers every state prison facility in California.

Under Penal Code Section 1203.4, a person who completes probation in a Simi Valley criminal case can petition to dismiss the conviction. The court record stays. It gets updated but not erased. Under Penal Code Section 851.8, someone found factually innocent can ask to have their arrest record sealed and destroyed. If that happens, related Simi Valley criminal court records may not be available to the public.

Note: Court records and DOJ records are two different things held by different agencies, so requesting one does not give you the other.

Nearby Cities

Thousand Oaks and Ventura are the other major cities in Ventura County. Criminal cases from all three go through the same Ventura County Superior Court.

Ventura County Criminal Records

Simi Valley is part of Ventura County. The county page has more on the full court system and all criminal record resources.