Search Contra Costa Criminal Court Records

Criminal court records in Contra Costa County are kept by the Contra Costa County Superior Court, which serves more than 1.1 million residents across the East Bay and inland valley areas. The court uses a Tyler Odyssey system with a public portal for online case searches. Contra Costa County handles a heavy criminal caseload through courthouses in Martinez, Richmond, Walnut Creek, and other locations. This page covers where to search, how to request copies, fees you should expect, and the rules governing public access to criminal court records in Contra Costa County.

Contra Costa County Criminal Court Records Portal

The Contra Costa County Superior Court offers online case access through the Tyler Odyssey portal at odyportal.cc-courts.org. This tool lets you search for criminal cases by defendant name, case number, or other identifiers. Enter a name and the system returns a list of matching criminal cases from the Contra Costa County court. Each result shows the case number, charges, filing date, hearing schedule, and whether the case is still open or has been disposed.

The Odyssey portal is the most widely used case management system in California. Over 28 Superior Courts run some version of it. For Contra Costa County, the portal gives you a solid view of the criminal docket without leaving your desk. The register of actions is available online. It logs every event in the case, from the initial filing to the final judgment. This is often enough to understand the full timeline of a Contra Costa County criminal case.

Below is the Contra Costa County Odyssey portal where you can search for criminal case information online.

The portal shown above is free to use. No account is needed. You can search as many times as you want. For the actual documents in the case file, you will still need to contact the clerk or visit a courthouse.

Contra Costa County Court Locations

Contra Costa County operates multiple courthouse locations. Martinez is the county seat and the main hub for criminal court proceedings. The A.F. Bray Courthouse in Martinez handles much of the county's felony caseload. Other court facilities in Richmond, Walnut Creek, and Pittsburg serve their surrounding areas.

Which courthouse has your case depends on where the arrest took place. Criminal cases from West County, including Richmond and San Pablo, go through the Richmond courthouse. Central county cases route through Martinez or Walnut Creek. East county cases from Antioch, Brentwood, and Pittsburg may go through the Pittsburg facility. Call the clerk's office to confirm which location holds the criminal court records you need. The California Courts directory lists all the Contra Costa County courthouse addresses and phone numbers.

Fees for Contra Costa Criminal Records

Copy fees in Contra Costa County match the statewide rate. Plain copies run $0.50 per page. That is the standard under California Government Code Section 70627. Certified copies cost $40 per document, plus the per-page charge. If you need a certified version of a criminal court record for a legal matter, expect to pay the higher rate.

The $15 search fee applies when the clerk spends more than 10 minutes looking for a specific record. This is more common with older Contra Costa County criminal cases that may not be in the electronic system. Records stored off-site incur a $10 retrieval fee. For electronic copies or printouts from the clerk's terminal, the per-page rate still applies. You can pay at the courthouse window or include payment with a mail request.

Note: If the total cost is a burden, ask about a fee waiver at any Contra Costa County courthouse.

Get Copies of Contra Costa County Criminal Court Records

In person is the quickest way to get criminal court records from Contra Costa County. Visit the clerk's office at the courthouse where the case was filed. Have the case number or the defendant's name ready. The clerk searches the system, pulls the file, and copies the documents you need. You pay on the spot. This usually takes less than an hour for records that are in the electronic system.

For mail requests, write to the Contra Costa County Superior Court clerk. Be specific. Include the case number or the defendant's full name with a date of birth if you have it. List every document you want copied. Enclose a check or money order to cover the fees. The court processes requests as they arrive. Turnaround varies, but plan on two to four weeks for most mail requests. Larger or older files take longer.

The state also maintains criminal records separately. Through the California DOJ, you can get your own rap sheet for $25 using Live Scan fingerprinting. That covers all arrests and dispositions statewide. It is not the same as the court file in Contra Costa County, but it gives you a broader picture of someone's criminal history across California.

Criminal Record Laws in Contra Costa County

Public access to criminal court records in Contra Costa County is governed by California state law. Most records are open to anyone. You can walk into a courthouse and request copies of criminal filings, dispositions, and judgments without giving a reason. That is the general rule under the California Public Records Act and the court access provisions in state code.

Certain records stay sealed. Juvenile cases are closed to the public throughout California, including Contra Costa County. Documents like probation reports, presentence investigation reports, and arrest reports within the court file are restricted under Penal Code Section 13300. Remote electronic access to criminal case documents also has limits under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503. The register of actions and calendar entries are typically available online, but the full file may only be viewable at the courthouse.

For clearing records, Penal Code Section 1203.4 lets people petition to dismiss a conviction after they complete probation. The Contra Costa County court processes these petitions regularly. A granted dismissal stays on the record but changes how the case reads. Under Penal Code Section 851.8, factual innocence findings can lead to the arrest record being sealed and destroyed entirely.

Statewide Criminal Record Databases

The CIRIS inmate search from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation covers people in state prison. Convictions from Contra Costa County that result in prison time will appear in this system. It shows the facility, CDCR number, and parole board information. The tool is free and does not require an account.

The California DOJ fingerprint division handles statewide criminal history under Penal Code Section 11105. This is the master database for RAP sheets. It pulls data from every county, including Contra Costa. For general help with court records, the California Courts self-help guide walks through the steps for requesting copies of criminal case files from any Superior Court in the state.

Contra Costa County Cities

These major cities are in Contra Costa County. Criminal cases from all of them go through the Contra Costa County Superior Court. Select a city for local details.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Contra Costa County. Each has its own Superior Court for criminal filings.