Ventura Criminal Records Database

Criminal court records from Ventura are managed by the Ventura County Superior Court. The city of Ventura, officially San Buenaventura, is the county seat. That means the main courthouse sits right in town, giving residents the closest access to criminal record services in the county. Cases from Ventura and surrounding cities all funnel through this court. Whether you need to search a case online or get physical copies from the clerk, this page covers how to access criminal court records in Ventura, California.

Look Up Ventura Criminal Cases Online

The Ventura County Superior Court has a case information search at secured.countyofventura.org/courtservices. This tool lets you search for criminal cases by name or case number. Results include the charges, hearing dates, courtroom, and case status. It is free to use. No login or registration is needed.

Since Ventura is the county seat, the main courthouse handles a large volume of criminal cases from across the county. The online system pulls from the same database that covers Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Oxnard, and every other Ventura County city. A name search may return results from multiple cities, so use the case number or check the filing details to confirm you are looking at the right Ventura criminal court record.

Ventura County Courthouse Criminal Records

The main Ventura County Superior Court is at 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009. This is where most criminal cases from the city of Ventura are heard. The criminal clerk's office is in this building. Walk in, give them a case number or defendant name, and they will pull the file. Copies are printed on the spot and you pay at the window.

Being in the county seat is a real advantage. You do not have to drive to another city to get Ventura criminal court records. The courthouse is right here. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Arrive early if you can. The clerk's office gets busy, especially in the morning. If you have a case number ahead of time, the whole process goes faster.

The Ventura County courthouse is also where you go to view the full file on a criminal case. Under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503, certain documents in criminal cases can only be accessed at the courthouse. The online portal gives you the case index and register of actions, but probation reports, sealed records, and some protective orders are restricted from remote viewing. For the complete file, plan to visit.

The Ventura County court's case search page is where most people start looking for criminal court records filed in Ventura.

Ventura Criminal Court Record Fees

Copy fees follow the statewide schedule. Plain copies of Ventura criminal court records are $0.50 per page under Government Code Section 70627. Certified copies cost $40 per document plus the per-page charge. A certified copy has the court seal and is what most agencies need for official purposes. Plain copies are fine for personal use.

Additional fees include a $15 search fee when the clerk spends more than 10 minutes locating records. Off-site record retrieval adds $10. These charges apply across all California courts, not just Ventura. For mail requests, include a check or money order with your written request. Allow a few weeks for the court to process it. The court mails copies back to the address you provide.

Note: If you have a fee waiver from the court, copies may be free.

Get Copies of Ventura Criminal Records

Getting copies of criminal court records from a Ventura case starts at the Ventura County Superior Court. In person is the fastest method. Go to the clerk's office at 800 South Victoria Avenue. Ask for the records you need by case number or defendant name. Pay the fees and walk out with your copies. The whole process can take under an hour if the file is on site and the clerk is not swamped.

Mail requests work too. Send a letter to the criminal clerk with all the case details. Include the defendant's full name, case number if you have it, and a list of the documents you want. Attach a check or money order payable to Clerk of the Court. The California Courts self-help guide gives you a general overview of what to include in your request. Allow several weeks for processing.

For your own statewide criminal history, the California DOJ has a separate process. Visit oag.ca.gov and follow the Record Review steps. You submit Live Scan fingerprints and pay $25. The DOJ sends you a copy of your state RAP sheet. This covers all arrests and dispositions in California, not just Ventura cases. It is a different record from what the Superior Court holds.

State Criminal Record Tools for Ventura

Beyond the Ventura County court, state agencies maintain criminal records that may relate to a Ventura case. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation runs the CIRIS inmate search. It shows everyone in state prison. If a Ventura case ended with a prison sentence, you can look up the person's facility, admission date, and hearing schedule. It is free and open to the public.

Under Penal Code Section 11105, the DOJ keeps the statewide criminal history database. Most access is limited to law enforcement and authorized agencies. But you can always request your own record. Under Penal Code Section 1203.4, a defendant who finishes probation on a Ventura case can petition for the conviction to be dismissed. The court record remains but shows the updated status. Under Penal Code Section 851.8, a factually innocent person can have their arrest record sealed. These laws affect what you can find when searching for Ventura criminal court records.

Nearby Cities

Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley are the other large cities in Ventura County. Santa Maria is in neighboring Santa Barbara County with its own court system.

Ventura County Criminal Records

Ventura is the county seat of Ventura County. Visit the county page for full details on the court system and all criminal record access options across the county.