Mendocino County Criminal Court Records

Mendocino County criminal court records are held at the Superior Court of California, County of Mendocino. The court uses a system called re:SearchCA for its online case portal, which lets you look up criminal filings by name or case number. Mendocino is a rural county on the northern coast, and the court handles cases from Ukiah, Fort Bragg, and the surrounding areas. Most criminal records are public. You can search them online, request copies by mail, or visit the courthouse in person. This page covers the main ways to find and get criminal court records in Mendocino County.

Search Mendocino County Criminal Records Online

The Mendocino County Superior Court uses the re:SearchCA platform for online case searches. This portal is hosted by Tyler Technologies and gives the public free access to search criminal case records. You can look up cases by name or case number. The results show filing dates, charges, hearing dates, and case status. It covers both felony and misdemeanor filings handled at the Mendocino County courthouse.

To start a search, go to the Mendocino County re:SearchCA portal. Enter the name of the person you want to look up. The system returns a list of matching cases. Click on a case to see the register of actions, which is a log of everything that has happened in that case. Keep in mind that some documents in criminal cases can only be viewed in person at the courthouse. The online portal shows the index and calendar, but full case files need an in-person visit under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503.

If a case is not in the online system, it may be older or from a time before electronic records. Contact the clerk's office to ask about those files.

Mendocino County Criminal Court Locations

Mendocino County operates two courthouse locations. The main courthouse sits in Ukiah, the county seat. There is also a branch court in Fort Bragg that handles cases from the coast. Criminal cases are assigned based on where the crime took place. The Ukiah courthouse handles the bulk of felony cases for the county, while Fort Bragg takes misdemeanors and some other matters from the coastal area.

The Ukiah courthouse is at 100 North State Street, Ukiah, CA 95482. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday. You can walk in and ask to view criminal court records or request copies. Bring the case number if you have it. The Fort Bragg courthouse is at 700 South Franklin Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437. Both locations serve the Mendocino County Superior Court system and process criminal record requests the same way.

Note: Call the clerk at (707) 463-4664 before visiting to confirm hours and record availability for Mendocino County criminal cases.

Criminal Record Fees in Mendocino County

Copy fees for Mendocino County criminal court records follow the statewide schedule set by California law. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page. That is the base rate. If you need a certified copy for legal use, the fee is $40 per document plus the per-page charge. Certified copies carry the court's seal and a clerk's signature, which makes them valid for use in other courts or government offices.

There is also a $15 search fee that may apply if the clerk has to spend more than 10 minutes finding your record. This comes up more often with older cases or when you do not have a case number. For records stored off-site, the court charges a $10 retrieval fee on top of copy costs. Mail requests should include a check or money order made out to the Mendocino County Superior Court. Processing times vary, but expect a few weeks for mail requests.

Mendocino County Court Record Resources

The California courts website provides a tool to help you find your local superior court, including the Mendocino County Superior Court. You can use the California Courts court finder to look up contact details, addresses, and available services for the Mendocino courthouse.

The court finder page lists all 58 superior courts in California. Select Mendocino County from the list to get directions, phone numbers, and links to the court's own website. This is a good starting point if you are trying to reach the right office for criminal records in Mendocino County.

Criminal Record Access Laws for Mendocino County

Most criminal court records in Mendocino County are public. California law says that court case files are open to the public unless a judge seals them or a law makes them private. Juvenile cases are always sealed. Mental health records in a criminal file are restricted. But the standard criminal case file, including charges, plea, and sentencing, is available to anyone who asks.

Under Penal Code Section 11105, the California Department of Justice keeps a statewide criminal history database. This is separate from Mendocino County court files. The DOJ database is based on fingerprints and contains arrest and disposition data from all counties. To get your own DOJ record, you need to go through the Live Scan process and pay a $25 fee. Third parties cannot request someone else's DOJ record. For court case files in Mendocino County, though, anyone can request copies from the clerk. Under Penal Code Section 1203.4, a person who completed probation can ask to have a conviction dismissed. If that has happened, the record will still show up but will note the dismissal.

The state also runs an inmate search through the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). This tool covers people in state prison, not the county jail. It shows commitment counties, admission dates, and parole hearing info.

Get Copies of Mendocino County Criminal Records

There are a few ways to get criminal court records from the Mendocino County Superior Court. In person is the fastest. Walk into the clerk's office at the Ukiah or Fort Bragg courthouse. Give the clerk the case number or the defendant's name. They can pull up the case and print copies while you wait. You pay the copy fee at the counter.

By mail, send a written request to the clerk's office. Include the case number, the defendant's full name, and a description of what you need. Add a check or money order for the estimated copy fees. If you are not sure of the exact cost, call the clerk first. The mailing address for criminal record requests is the Mendocino County Superior Court, 100 North State Street, Ukiah, CA 95482. Mail requests take longer than in-person visits, so plan for a few weeks of wait time. The California Self-Help Center at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov has more details on how to request court record copies statewide.

Mendocino County Background Check Options

If you need a criminal background check in Mendocino County, there are two paths. For your own record, go through the DOJ Live Scan process. The fee is $25 to the DOJ. You fill out the BCIA 8016RR form, take it to a Live Scan site, and get fingerprinted. Results go back to you. The DOJ record review page has full instructions.

For someone else's criminal history, you cannot get their DOJ record. But you can search the Mendocino County Superior Court records through the re:SearchCA portal or by visiting the courthouse. Court records are public and show charges, case outcomes, and sentencing. Employers in California must follow specific rules when using criminal records for hiring. The state restricts asking about arrests that did not lead to convictions, and certain old convictions cannot be used in employment decisions.

Note: The Mendocino County Sheriff may also have booking and arrest data available through their records division.

Cities in Mendocino County

Mendocino County includes the cities of Ukiah, Fort Bragg, Willits, and Point Arena. None of these cities have their own criminal courts. All criminal cases go through the Mendocino County Superior Court. There are no cities in Mendocino County that meet the 100,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Mendocino County. Each has its own Superior Court handling criminal cases.