Kings County Criminal Court Records

Criminal court records in Kings County are managed by the Kings County Superior Court, based in Hanford. The court uses a Tyler Technologies public portal where you can look up case details at no cost. Kings County is a smaller county in the San Joaquin Valley, but the court still processes a steady number of criminal filings each year. Whether you need to check the status of a case, look up charges, or find hearing dates, the tools on this page can help. Below you will find how to search, request, and understand criminal court records in Kings County, California.

Search Kings County Criminal Cases Online

The Kings County Superior Court offers a Tyler Technologies public portal at portal.kings.courts.ca.gov/public-portal. You can use this tool to look up criminal cases without creating an account. Enter a name, case number, or date range and the system returns matching results. Each result shows the case type, charges filed, next hearing date, and current case status. The portal is free to use and works on any device.

The screenshot below shows the California Courts public records page, which explains how each county Superior Court, including Kings County, maintains its own records and how you can request copies of criminal case files.

Once you find a case in the Kings County portal, click on the case number to see more. The detail page lists all charges, court dates, and the judge assigned. You can also see if the case is still open or has been closed. This is a good starting point for anyone who needs basic info on a Kings County criminal court case. For the full file, you will need to contact the clerk.

How to Get Kings County Criminal Records

You can get copies of criminal court records from the Kings County Superior Court in person, by mail, or sometimes online. In person is the quickest way. Visit the courthouse at 1426 South Drive in Hanford. Ask the clerk for the case file and they can print copies for you. Bring the case number if you have it. If not, the clerk can search by the defendant's name.

By mail, write a letter to the Kings County Superior Court Clerk, 1426 South Drive, Hanford, CA 93230. Include the case number or defendant name and what documents you want. Send a check or money order for the copy fees. Mail requests usually take a few weeks to process. The court does not fax or email copies of criminal case files. If you need something fast, go to the courthouse in person during business hours, Monday through Friday.

Note: Always confirm fees with the clerk before sending payment by mail.

Kings County Court Record Fees

The fee for copies of criminal court records in Kings County is $0.50 per page. That is the standard rate across California. Certified copies cost $40 per document, plus the per-page fee. A certified copy has the court seal and is needed for some legal matters.

If the clerk has to spend more than 10 minutes looking for your record, a $15 search fee may apply. Older cases that are stored off-site can also trigger a $10 retrieval fee. These fees are set by state law under Government Code Section 6254 and related statutes. Fee waivers exist for people who meet certain income limits. Ask the clerk if you think you might qualify for a waiver on your Kings County record request.

Criminal Record Access in Kings County

Criminal court records in Kings County are generally open to the public. You can ask for copies of most case files without giving a reason. The clerk must provide them to anyone who pays the fee. This is the default rule for California courts.

There are some limits. Juvenile criminal cases are not available to the public. Mental health evaluations in a criminal case file are restricted. Sealed cases are off limits entirely. Under Penal Code Section 11105, the California DOJ handles state summary criminal history information, which is a different system from the court case files. For Kings County criminal court records specifically, you go through the Superior Court. California Rules of Court Rule 2.503 controls what can be viewed online versus in person at the courthouse. The register of actions and calendar are typically available on the web portal, but the full case file usually requires a trip to the Hanford courthouse.

For your own criminal history from the state level, submit a Live Scan fingerprint request through the California DOJ. The fee is $25. That gets you your RAP sheet, which is separate from Kings County court files.

Clearing a Kings County Criminal Record

People with a conviction in Kings County may be able to get it dismissed under Penal Code Section 1203.4. This is often called expungement. You have to finish probation first. Then you file a petition with the Kings County Superior Court. The judge decides whether to grant it. If approved, the conviction shows as dismissed on the record. It does not erase the record, but it can make a big difference for jobs and housing.

Not every case qualifies. Some serious offenses are not eligible for dismissal. If you were found factually innocent, Penal Code Section 851.8 lets you petition to have the arrest record sealed and destroyed. Talk to the Kings County clerk or a legal aid organization for help with the process.

State Criminal Record Tools

The CIRIS inmate search from the California Department of Corrections lets you look up anyone in state prison. If a Kings County case ended in a state prison sentence, CIRIS is where you can check on that person's current status, location, and parole hearing dates. The California Courts Self-Help page also has step-by-step guides on how to request copies of court records from any county.

Kings County Cities

Kings County does not have any cities with a population over 100,000. All criminal cases from cities in this county, including Hanford, Lemoore, and Corcoran, go through the Kings County Superior Court in Hanford.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Kings County. Each one has its own Superior Court for criminal cases.