Humboldt County Criminal Court Records Lookup

Criminal court records in Humboldt County are filed with the Humboldt County Superior Court in Eureka. Unlike many California counties, Humboldt does not have a full self-service online portal for case searches. Instead, the court provides a case record request form on its website for submitting requests. You can still get criminal court records, but the process is a bit different here. Searching for cases, pulling documents, and getting copies typically involves contacting the clerk's office directly or using the online request form. This page covers how to navigate criminal court records in Humboldt County step by step.

Search Humboldt County Criminal Records

Humboldt County does not have a traditional online case search portal like many other California counties. Instead, the court has a case record request form at humboldt.courts.ca.gov. You fill out the form with whatever information you have about the case, such as the defendant's name, case number, or date of filing. The clerk's office then processes your request and gets back to you with the records.

This is less instant than a self-service portal. You submit the form and wait. The turnaround time depends on how busy the clerk's office is and how easy the records are to locate. If you need something fast, calling the clerk's office directly might speed things up. For a general idea of how California court records work, the statewide court finder can point you to the right court.

The California court finder shows you each county's Superior Court, including Humboldt. From there you can get the courthouse address and contact details for the clerk's office.

Humboldt County Criminal Court in Eureka

The Humboldt County Superior Court is at 825 Fifth Street in Eureka, CA 95501. This is where all criminal cases in the county are heard. Eureka is the county seat and the largest city in the area. The courthouse handles everything from traffic infractions to serious felonies. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours.

Going to the courthouse in person is the most direct way to get Humboldt County criminal court records. The clerk can look up cases, let you view files, and make copies while you wait. Bring the case number if you have it. Without one, the clerk will do a name search, which can take longer. If the search goes over 10 minutes, a $15 fee may apply.

Humboldt County is geographically remote. It is on the far north coast of California, hours from any major city. If you cannot visit in person, the online request form or a mail request are your alternatives.

Fees for Humboldt County Criminal Court Records

Copy fees in Humboldt County match the statewide rates. Every California Superior Court charges the same. Plain copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $40 per document on top of the page fee. These rates come from the California Government Code. There is no getting around them unless you qualify for a fee waiver.

Additional charges to be aware of:

• $15 search fee if the clerk takes more than 10 minutes to find the record
• $10 off-site retrieval fee for archived records not stored at the courthouse
• $25 for your own state criminal history through the DOJ Live Scan process
• $50 for exemplification of a criminal court record (plus per-page fees)

The California Courts Self-Help page breaks down all the fees and explains how to apply for a fee waiver if you cannot afford the costs. You file a form with the court and, if approved, the fees are waived for your Humboldt County criminal court record request.

How to Get Criminal Court Records in Humboldt County

There are three main ways to get copies. In person at the courthouse in Eureka is the fastest. Walk in during business hours. Give the clerk your case number or a name to search. Pay the copy fees and take your documents. Same-day service is typical for current cases.

The online request form at humboldt.courts.ca.gov is the second option. Fill it out with as much detail as you can. The clerk's office will process the request and contact you about the records and any fees owed. This takes longer than a walk-in visit, but it saves you a trip to Eureka.

The California courts self-help guide shown above covers the general steps for requesting copies of court records, including criminal cases in Humboldt County.

By mail is the third option. Write a letter to the Humboldt County Superior Court at 825 Fifth Street, Eureka, CA 95501. Include the case number, defendant name, what documents you need, and a check or money order for the copy fees. Mail requests usually take a few weeks to process.

Criminal Record Access in Humboldt County

Public access to criminal court records in Humboldt County follows California state law. Most criminal case files are open to the public. Anyone can ask to see them or get copies. You do not need to explain why you want the records. Exceptions exist for juvenile cases, sealed records, mental health evaluations, and some domestic violence filings.

Under Penal Code Section 11105, the California DOJ keeps state summary criminal history information. This is a compiled record of arrests and dispositions from across the state. It is not the same thing as the Humboldt County court file. The DOJ RAP sheet is a summary. The court file has the actual documents. To get your own DOJ record, go through the record review process with Live Scan fingerprinting for $25.

Convictions can be dismissed after probation under Penal Code Section 1203.4. The record still exists in Humboldt County's files, but it shows the conviction was dismissed. This is what most people mean when they talk about expungement in California.

Humboldt County Cities

Humboldt County has no cities with a population over 100,000. Eureka is the county seat and Arcata is the other well-known community. All criminal court cases from Humboldt County are handled by the Superior Court in Eureka.

Nearby Counties

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