Imperial County Criminal Court Records

Criminal court records in Imperial County are maintained by the Imperial County Superior Court, based in El Centro. The court operates a custom eCourt system with a WebCaseSearch tool that lets you look up cases online. Imperial County sits in the far southeast corner of California, along the Mexican border. Despite its remote location, the court provides online access to criminal case information. Whether you need to check the status of a case, find hearing dates, or get copies of court documents, this page explains how to work with criminal court records in Imperial County.

Search Imperial County Criminal Records Online

The Imperial County Superior Court provides online access through its WebCaseSearch tool at imperialcourt.org/WebCaseSearch. This is a custom eCourt system, not one of the more common platforms like Tyler Odyssey. You can search by case number or by the defendant's name. The results show basic case information including charges, hearing dates, and the case status.

The search tool is straightforward. Enter a name and it pulls up any matching criminal cases filed in Imperial County. If you have a case number, that works even better. It takes you right to the case. The system covers both felony and misdemeanor cases. Keep in mind that the data you see online is not the official court record. It is a reference tool. The official file is at the courthouse.

The California courts website at courts.ca.gov also has contact information and location details for the Imperial County Superior Court.

This court finder page helps you locate any of California's 58 Superior Courts. For Imperial County, it gives you the El Centro courthouse address and clerk's office phone number.

Imperial County Court Location in El Centro

The Imperial County Superior Court is located at 939 West Main Street in El Centro, CA 92243. This is the main courthouse for the county. All criminal cases, whether they started in El Centro, Calexico, Brawley, or anywhere else in Imperial County, go through this court. The clerk's office handles record requests during regular business hours.

In-person visits are the quickest way to get criminal court records. The clerk's office can look up cases, let you view files, and make copies on the spot. Bring the case number if you have one. It makes the process much faster. If you only have a name, the clerk can search by that, but it might take longer and could trigger the $15 search fee if it goes past 10 minutes.

Imperial County Criminal Record Fees

Fees for copies of criminal court records in Imperial County match the statewide rates set by California law. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page. That is the same at all 58 Superior Courts. Certified copies are $40 per document plus the per-page charge. You need certified copies when using records for legal purposes like appeals, filings in other courts, or certain background check challenges.

Other fees to keep in mind for Imperial County criminal court records:

• $15 search fee when the clerk spends more than 10 minutes locating a record
• $10 off-site retrieval fee for archived records stored away from the courthouse
• $25 for a personal criminal history review through the California DOJ
• $1 per page for comparison with the original document

The California Self-Help guide has the complete fee breakdown and explains fee waiver options. If you cannot pay the fees, the court may waive them based on your financial situation.

Get Criminal Court Record Copies in Imperial County

There are a few ways to get copies. The fastest is to go to the courthouse in El Centro in person. Ask the clerk for what you need, pay the fee, and walk out with your copies. For most current cases, this is same-day. Older records stored off-site will take longer and cost an extra $10 for retrieval.

By mail, send a written request to the Imperial County Superior Court at 939 West Main Street, El Centro, CA 92243. Include the case number, defendant name, which documents you want, and a check or money order for the fees. Mail requests take a few weeks usually. If you are not sure about the exact fees, you can call the clerk's office first to get an estimate.

The self-help guide from the California courts covers the basics of requesting criminal court record copies. It applies to Imperial County and every other county in the state.

Note: Imperial County is in a border region with high temperatures much of the year, so plan your courthouse visit accordingly if going in person.

Criminal Record Access Laws in Imperial County

Criminal court records in Imperial County are public under California law. Anyone can ask to see them or get copies. You don't need to be involved in the case. The clerk will provide access to the non-confidential parts of the file. Juvenile cases, sealed records, and mental health documents in criminal files are not available to the public.

Under Penal Code Section 11105, the California DOJ keeps state summary criminal history information. This RAP sheet database is separate from the court records. The DOJ compiles it from arrest and disposition reports submitted by law enforcement and courts across California. For your own record, go through the DOJ Live Scan record review at a cost of $25. For someone else's court case, go to the Imperial County Superior Court.

If you have a conviction in Imperial County and completed probation, Penal Code Section 1203.4 lets you petition for dismissal. The criminal court record will still be on file, but it will reflect the dismissal. For arrest records where you were found innocent, Penal Code Section 851.8 allows sealing and destruction.

Imperial County Cities

Imperial County does not have any cities over 100,000 in population. El Centro is the county seat and largest city. Calexico and Brawley are the other main communities. All criminal cases go through the Imperial County Superior Court in El Centro.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Imperial County. Each has its own Superior Court system for criminal cases.