Find Criminal Court Records in Monterey County

Monterey County criminal court records are kept by the Superior Court of California, County of Monterey. The county seat is Salinas, where the main courthouse sits. Monterey County has an online case search portal that lets you look up criminal filings by name or case number. The court serves a population of over 430,000 across cities like Salinas, Monterey, Seaside, and Marina. All felony and misdemeanor cases from these areas go through the Monterey County Superior Court. This page explains how to search, request, and get copies of criminal court records from Monterey County.

Search Monterey County Criminal Records Online

The Monterey County Superior Court runs a case search portal at portal.monterey.courts.ca.gov. This tool lets you search for criminal cases by defendant name or case number. The portal is free to use and does not need an account. Search results show the case type, filing date, charges, and the register of actions for each case.

When you search by name, the portal returns all matching cases for that person in Monterey County. Click on a specific case to see the full timeline of court events. This includes arraignment dates, motions, hearings, trial dates, and the final outcome. The register of actions is the main document available online. For detailed filings like police reports, probation reports, or full complaint documents, you will need to go to the courthouse. California Rules of Court Rule 2.503 limits which criminal case documents can be viewed remotely, so certain filings are only available for in-person viewing at the Monterey County courthouse.

The portal works well for getting a quick look at a case. If you need official copies, you will still need to go through the clerk's office.

Monterey County Criminal Court Locations

The main criminal courthouse for Monterey County is the Natividad Courthouse at 1200 Aguajito Road, Monterey, CA 93940. This is where most felony and serious criminal matters are heard. The Salinas courthouse at 240 Church Street, Salinas, CA 93901 also handles criminal cases. Monterey County has had a long history of splitting criminal caseloads between these two facilities based on case type and where the crime occurred.

Both courthouses have clerk's offices where you can request copies of criminal court records. Walk in during business hours and give the clerk the case number or defendant's name. They will pull up the case and print what you need. For Monterey County criminal records that are not in the electronic system, the clerk may need to retrieve a physical file. That can take a day or two if the records are in storage.

Note: Call the Monterey County Superior Court at (831) 775-5400 to confirm which courthouse has the records for your specific case.

Fees for Monterey County Criminal Records

Monterey County uses the same statewide fee schedule as all California superior courts. Plain copies of criminal court records cost $0.50 per page. That is the standard rate set by the California Government Code. Certified copies are $40 per document, plus the per-page charge. You would get a certified copy if you need the document for legal proceedings or for submission to another court or agency.

The clerk may also charge a $15 search fee when it takes more than 10 minutes to locate the record. This happens more with older cases or when you do not have a case number. Records held off-site at a storage facility cost an extra $10 to retrieve. If you are sending a mail request for Monterey County criminal court records, include a check or money order payable to the Monterey County Superior Court. Call the clerk to get an estimate of the total cost before you send anything. Processing times for mail requests vary but typically take a few weeks.

CDCR Inmate Search for Monterey County Cases

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation runs the CIRIS inmate search, which covers anyone currently in state prison. If a criminal case from Monterey County resulted in a state prison sentence, you can look up the person through this tool.

The CIRIS search shows the person's name, CDCR number, age, current facility, commitment county, and admission date. It also includes parole hearing dates and outcomes. This is a free tool and is separate from the Monterey County Superior Court records. Use it alongside the court portal for a more complete picture of someone's criminal record history.

Criminal Record Laws in Monterey County

Criminal court records in Monterey County are public by default. California law allows anyone to request and view these records. You do not need to be a party to the case or have any special reason. Exceptions exist for juvenile cases, certain sealed records, and mental health documents within a criminal file.

The DOJ maintains the state criminal history database under Penal Code Section 11105. This is the RAP sheet database. It is fingerprint-based and separate from Monterey County court files. Only the individual can request their own DOJ record. The fee is $25 through Live Scan. For court case records in Monterey County, access is open to the public through the clerk's office and the online portal.

Under Penal Code Section 13300, local law enforcement agencies also keep their own criminal history records. These are separate from both the DOJ database and the court case files. To get arrest records or police reports from a specific city in Monterey County, you would contact that city's police department or the Monterey County Sheriff's Office. Court records and police records are two different things.

Get Copies of Criminal Records in Monterey County

In person is the fastest way to get copies. Go to the courthouse clerk's office and ask for the records you need. The clerk can search the system by name or case number. Bring identification if you are requesting your own case records. For someone else's case, you just need the case details. The clerk prints copies and you pay the per-page fee at the counter.

By mail, send your request to the Monterey County Superior Court, 240 Church Street, Salinas, CA 93901. Put in writing the case number, defendant name, and what documents you need. Include a check or money order for the copy fees. If you do not know the exact cost, call the clerk first. You can also check the California Courts Self-Help page for general guidance on requesting court record copies from any county in California.

If you want your own criminal history from the DOJ, that is a separate process. Visit the DOJ record review page and follow the Live Scan instructions. The $25 fee goes to the DOJ, not the Monterey County court.

Monterey County Cities

These cities are in Monterey County. All criminal cases from these cities are handled by the Monterey County Superior Court.

Other cities in Monterey County include Monterey, Seaside, Marina, and King City. These do not have their own criminal courts. Cases go through the county Superior Court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Monterey County. Each runs its own Superior Court and criminal case system.