Stockton Criminal Court Records Search

Criminal court records for Stockton cases are kept by the San Joaquin County Superior Court. Stockton is the county seat and the largest city in San Joaquin County. The court uses the FullCourt Enterprise system for case management and has an online portal for public access. You can search for Stockton criminal court records by name or case number through the web portal. This page covers the search tools, fees, and steps for getting copies of criminal case documents from the San Joaquin County court system.

San Joaquin County Court for Stockton

All criminal cases from Stockton are handled by the San Joaquin County Superior Court. California cities do not have their own criminal courts. The Stockton Police Department makes arrests in the city. The San Joaquin County District Attorney files charges. The case then moves through the Superior Court system, where it becomes a criminal court record. Stockton is the county seat, so the main courthouse is in the city.

San Joaquin County uses the FullCourt Enterprise case management system. This is different from the Tyler Odyssey system used by many other California counties. The portal works in a similar way though. You can search for cases, view basic case info, and see court dates. Cases from Stockton appear alongside cases from Tracy, Lodi, Manteca, and the rest of San Joaquin County in the same database.

Search Stockton Criminal Records Online

The San Joaquin County court portal is the main tool for searching Stockton criminal court records online. The FullCourt Web system lets you search by party name or case number. Enter a name and the system returns any matching criminal cases filed in San Joaquin County. Results include the case number, charges, and filing date.

San Joaquin County's FullCourt portal provides online access to search Stockton criminal court records.

The portal gives you a starting point for finding Stockton criminal cases. You can see basic case details and the register of actions. Under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503, online access to criminal case records is limited. You can view indexes, calendars, and registers of actions remotely. Full case documents such as police reports and probation reports are not available online. To see the complete file, you need to visit the courthouse. The clerk's office can pull the file and let you view it in person, or you can request copies.

Note: The FullCourt system may require you to accept terms of use before searching.

Stockton Criminal Court Record Fees

Copies of Stockton criminal court records from the clerk's office cost $0.50 per page. This is the statewide standard set by Government Code Section 70627. Certified copies cost $40 per document plus the per-page fee. If you need certified copies for legal use, they come with the court seal and the clerk's signature.

There is a $15 search fee if the clerk spends more than 10 minutes looking for a Stockton criminal record. Older cases stored off-site carry a $10 retrieval fee. These fees add up, so it helps to have the case number ready when you go in. If you know the case number, the clerk can find the file quickly and you may avoid the search fee. Call ahead if you want to confirm costs before making the trip to the courthouse.

Stockton Police Department Records

The Stockton Police Department keeps arrest reports, incident reports, and other police records separate from the court system. If you need a copy of a Stockton police report, contact the Stockton PD records division directly. The court does not have police reports available to the public in criminal case files.

Police records and court records cover different parts of a criminal case. The police report documents the arrest and investigation. The court record documents the legal process after charges are filed. Someone arrested in Stockton may have records with both the Stockton PD and the San Joaquin County Superior Court. Not every arrest leads to criminal charges, so there may be a police report without a corresponding court case. If the DA declines to file charges, no criminal court record is created.

The San Joaquin County Sheriff handles law enforcement outside Stockton city limits. For arrests in unincorporated areas or contract cities, the sheriff would have the police records. The court records for those cases still go to the same San Joaquin County Superior Court system.

Access Laws for Stockton Criminal Records

Most criminal court records for Stockton cases are public. Anyone can ask for copies. You do not have to be involved in the case. Some records are restricted. Juvenile cases are sealed. Mental health records in a criminal file are off limits. Certain documents in domestic violence cases may be limited.

Under Penal Code Section 11105, the California DOJ maintains the statewide criminal history database. That is separate from the court files held by the San Joaquin County Superior Court. The DOJ database covers arrests and dispositions statewide. The court files have the actual case documents for Stockton cases. For your own criminal history, use the DOJ Record Review process at $25 through Live Scan.

Under Penal Code Section 1203.4, convictions can be dismissed after completing probation. The record stays in the system but reflects the dismissal. Under Penal Code Section 851.8, a person found factually innocent can petition to have their arrest record sealed and destroyed.

Get Copies of Stockton Court Records

Go to the San Joaquin County Superior Court clerk's office in Stockton. Bring the case number or defendant name. The clerk will pull the file and print copies while you wait. Pay at the counter. This is the fastest way to get Stockton criminal court records.

You can also submit a mail request. Send a letter with the case number, defendant name, what documents you want, and a check or money order for the fees. Mail requests take time, often several weeks. For people sentenced to state prison from a Stockton case, check the CDCR inmate search for prison location and sentencing details. The California Courts website at courts.ca.gov can help you find contact info for the San Joaquin County courthouse.

State Resources for Stockton Criminal Records

The California DOJ handles background checks and maintains the statewide criminal history database. The DOJ fingerprints page explains how the state background check system works.

The DOJ processes about 2 million state-level background checks each year. These are for employment, licensing, and other authorized purposes. Most results go back to the requesting agency within three business days. This is separate from searching Stockton criminal court records through the San Joaquin County portal, but it is part of the larger picture of criminal records in California.

Nearby Cities With Criminal Records

Modesto is the closest major city to Stockton. It is in Stanislaus County, which has a different court system.

San Joaquin County Criminal Records

For full county court details, all courthouse info, and additional resources, see the San Joaquin County criminal court records page.