Search Alpine County Criminal Records

Alpine County criminal court records are managed by the Alpine County Superior Court in Markleeville, the smallest county seat in California. With just over 1,100 residents, Alpine County is the least populated county in the state. The court does not have an online case search portal. All criminal record requests go through the clerk's office directly. Staff can help you look up cases by phone, mail, or in person. This page explains how to get criminal court records from Alpine County and what to expect from the process.

Alpine County Criminal Court Record Requests

There is no online search portal for Alpine County criminal court records. This makes Alpine County different from most other counties in California. The court is small. Markleeville has fewer residents than a city block in most parts of the state. Because of its size, the Alpine County Superior Court handles criminal case lookups through staff assistance only. You call or write the clerk's office, and they search the records for you.

To request Alpine County criminal court records by mail, send a letter to the Alpine County Superior Court. Include the defendant's full name, date of birth if known, and the approximate date of the case. Mention what records you want, such as the case docket, charging documents, or the final disposition. Include a check or money order for the copy fees. The court processes these requests as they come in.

In person, you can visit the courthouse in Markleeville. The staff can pull up case files and make copies while you wait, depending on the workload. Given the small volume of cases Alpine County handles, waits are usually short. Phone requests can also work for simple lookups. Call ahead to ask about a specific case and the clerk can tell you what is on file.

Fees for Alpine County Criminal Records

Alpine County follows California's statewide fee schedule for court record copies. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $40 per document plus the per-page charge. If a clerk spends more than 10 minutes searching for your Alpine County criminal court records, the court can charge a $15 search fee.

These fees come from California Government Code sections 70626 and 70627. The rates are the same across all 58 counties. For Alpine County, you can pay by check or money order when requesting records by mail. In person, the clerk's office accepts payment at the window. Fee waivers are available for people who meet income guidelines. Ask the clerk for the fee waiver form if cost is a barrier to getting the criminal court records you need from Alpine County.

Alpine County Superior Court Details

The Alpine County Superior Court sits in Markleeville, California, along Highway 89 in the Sierra Nevada mountains. It is the only courthouse in the county. Every criminal case in Alpine County goes through this single court. The courthouse handles all case types, from traffic infractions to felonies. Given the county's tiny population, the criminal caseload is very light compared to urban counties in California.

The California Courts website at courts.ca.gov has a directory that includes the Alpine County court. You can use it to find the address, phone number, and hours for the clerk's office. Since Alpine County is remote, check the hours before making the drive. Winter weather can affect courthouse access in the mountains, so calling ahead is a good idea between November and April.

The state courts directory shown above lets you search for any Superior Court in California, including the Alpine County courthouse in Markleeville.

Criminal Record Resources Beyond Alpine County

Because Alpine County lacks an online portal, state-level resources are useful for broader searches. The California DOJ record review lets you get your own criminal history for $25 through Live Scan fingerprinting. This covers arrests and dispositions statewide, not just Alpine County. The process takes about three business days for most results.

The California Incarcerated Records and Information Search (CIRIS) tracks people in state prison. If someone convicted in Alpine County ended up in a CDCR facility, that tool will show their current status. It is free and does not need a login. For general questions about court records in California, the self-help guide from the courts walks through the steps for requesting copies of criminal case files.

Note: Alpine County criminal cases are rare given the small population, but the same state laws apply here as in any other California county.

Criminal Record Laws in Alpine County

California law treats criminal court records as public in most situations. Penal Code Section 11105 gives the DOJ authority over the statewide criminal history system. But the court case file itself sits with the Superior Court. In Alpine County, that means the clerk in Markleeville is the person who controls access to those documents. You do not need a reason to request them. Anyone can ask.

Juvenile records are sealed in Alpine County, same as everywhere in California. Under Penal Code Section 1203.4, people who finish probation can ask the court to dismiss their conviction. The record stays in the system but shows the dismissal. Penal Code Section 851.8 covers petitions for factual innocence. If granted, the arrest record gets sealed. These rules affect what you might find when searching Alpine County criminal court records.

Remote access to electronic records in criminal cases is limited under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503. Since Alpine County does not have an online portal at all, this rule has less practical effect here. All record access goes through the clerk's office.

Nearby Counties

Alpine County does not have any cities over 100,000 in population. For criminal court records from surrounding areas, check these neighboring counties.