Napa County Criminal Court Records Search

Napa County criminal court records are held at the Superior Court of California, County of Napa. The court is based in the city of Napa, which serves as the county seat. Criminal cases from across the county, including Napa, American Canyon, St. Helena, and Calistoga, all go through this one court. Napa County has an online case search portal where you can look up criminal filings. The clerk's office also processes in-person and mail requests for copies. This page covers the main tools and steps for finding criminal court records in Napa County.

Search Napa County Criminal Records Online

The Napa County Superior Court has an online portal at portal.napa.courts.ca.gov. This portal lets you search for court cases, including criminal matters, by name or case number. It is free to use. The results show the case filing date, charges, hearing dates, and the register of actions. This gives you a timeline of everything that has happened in a Napa County criminal case.

The online portal is a good first step when you are trying to find a criminal case. But it has limits. Under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503, certain types of criminal court documents are restricted to in-person viewing at the courthouse. That means the portal shows the index and calendar information, but if you need to see the actual complaint, motions, or other filed documents, you will likely need to visit the Napa County courthouse. Think of the portal as a way to confirm a case exists and get the basic details. For the full file, go in person.

Napa County Criminal Courthouse Info

The Napa County Superior Court Criminal Division is at 1111 Third Street, Napa, CA 94559. This is the only courthouse in the county. All criminal matters, from misdemeanors to felonies, are heard here. The clerk's office is in the same building and handles all record requests for Napa County criminal court records.

The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Walk in and tell the clerk what you need. They can search by name or case number. If you want copies, the clerk prints them and you pay at the counter. Napa County is a mid-sized court, so wait times are generally shorter than what you would find in a place like Los Angeles or San Francisco. For questions about a specific case or the status of a record request, call the Napa County Superior Court at (707) 299-1100.

Note: The courthouse may have modified hours on certain days, so it is worth calling ahead to confirm before you make the trip.

Napa County Criminal Record Copy Fees

Copy fees at the Napa County Superior Court follow California's statewide schedule. Plain copies are $0.50 per page. That is a one-sided copy. Certified copies cost $40 per document, with the per-page fee added on top. You would get a certified copy if you need the document to carry the court's official seal, which is often needed for legal proceedings or government submissions.

A $15 search fee applies when the clerk spends over 10 minutes looking for a Napa County criminal record. This usually comes up with older cases or when the requester does not have a case number. Off-site records, meaning files held in a storage location outside the courthouse, add a $10 retrieval charge. For mail requests, send a check or money order payable to the Napa County Superior Court along with a written description of the records you need. Include any case numbers or defendant names you have. Allow several weeks for mail processing.

Request Your Own Criminal Record in Napa County

If you need your own criminal history from the state database, the California DOJ handles that process. The DOJ record review page walks you through requesting your own RAP sheet through Live Scan. The fee is $25 to the DOJ.

The DOJ record is based on fingerprints and includes arrest and disposition data from all California counties. It is different from the court case file at the Napa County Superior Court. The DOJ record gives you the big picture across the state. The court file gives you the details for a specific case in Napa County.

Criminal Record Access Laws for Napa County

Criminal court records are public in Napa County. Anyone can request copies. You do not need a reason or a connection to the case. California law makes court records open by default, with a few exceptions. Juvenile cases are always sealed. Certain mental health documents within a criminal file are not available to the public. And a judge can seal a record in specific situations.

The state's criminal history database is governed by Penal Code Section 11105. This is the RAP sheet system at the DOJ. It is restricted. Only the person themselves, law enforcement, and certain licensed agencies can access it. But court case records at the Napa County Superior Court are a different thing. Those are open to anyone.

A person who has completed probation can petition for a dismissal under Penal Code Section 1203.4. If granted, the Napa County court file shows the plea was withdrawn and the case dismissed. The file itself remains in the system. It is not erased. But the status changes, and that matters for background checks and employment purposes. California also has rules under Penal Code Section 851.8 for sealing arrest records when a person is found factually innocent.

Get Criminal Court Record Copies in Napa County

The easiest way to get copies of Napa County criminal court records is to visit the clerk's office at 1111 Third Street, Napa. Walk in with the case number or the defendant's name. The clerk searches the system and prints copies for you at the counter. You pay the per-page fee before you leave. This is the fastest method.

For mail requests, write to the Napa County Superior Court at 1111 Third Street, Napa, CA 94559. Describe the records you need and include a check or money order. If you want certified copies, say so in your letter. The clerk will process the request and mail the copies back. Expect it to take a few weeks. The California Self-Help Center has a general guide on how to request court records from any superior court in the state.

For state prison records, the CDCR inmate search is a free tool that covers people currently in CDCR custody. It shows commitment county, facility, and parole info. This complements the Napa County court records by showing what happened after sentencing.

Cities in Napa County

Napa County includes the cities of Napa, American Canyon, St. Helena, Calistoga, and Yountville. None of these cities have a population over 100,000, so there are no dedicated city pages. All criminal cases in the county go through the Napa County Superior Court.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Napa County. Each has a separate Superior Court for criminal matters.