Nevada County Criminal Court Records

Nevada County criminal court records are managed by the Superior Court of California, County of Nevada. The county seat is Nevada City, and the court also operates a location in Truckee to serve the eastern part of the county. Nevada County uses the eCourt system by Journal Technologies for its online public portal. You can search for criminal cases online, visit the courthouse, or send a mail request. This page walks through the options for finding and getting criminal court records in Nevada County, California.

Search Nevada County Criminal Records Online

The Nevada County Superior Court uses the eCourt system by Journal Technologies for its public case portal. The portal is at nevada-portal.ecourt.com. You can search for criminal cases by name or case number. The portal is free and does not require registration. Results include the case type, filing date, parties, charges, and the register of actions.

The eCourt portal gives you a solid overview of any criminal case in Nevada County. You can see what charges were filed, when hearings took place, and what the outcome was. The register of actions shows every step in the case from start to finish. This is the same type of information available at the clerk's counter, just accessible from a computer. However, certain criminal case documents can only be viewed in person at the courthouse. California Rules of Court Rule 2.503 restricts remote electronic access to some types of filings in criminal cases. So while the portal shows the timeline and index, you may need to visit the Nevada County courthouse for the full file.

Nevada County Criminal Court Locations

Nevada County has two courthouse locations. The main courthouse is the Eric Rood Administrative Center, and court operations are at 201 Church Street, Nevada City, CA 95959. This is where most criminal cases are heard and where the clerk processes record requests. The Truckee courthouse at 10075 Levon Avenue, Truckee, CA 96161 handles cases from the eastern side of the county, including the Lake Tahoe area.

Criminal record requests can be made at either location. Walk in during business hours and ask the clerk for the case you need. Have the case number or defendant's name ready. The clerk will search the system and can print copies on the spot. The Truckee courthouse operates on a more limited schedule, so call ahead if you plan to visit that location. The main phone number for the Nevada County Superior Court is (530) 265-1311.

Note: Nevada County's small size means you are less likely to face the long wait times common at larger courts in the state.

Fees for Nevada County Criminal Court Records

Nevada County follows the statewide fee schedule for court record copies. The fees break down like this:

• Plain copies: $0.50 per page
• Certified copies: $40 per document plus the per-page fee
• Search fee: $15 when the clerk searches for more than 10 minutes
• Off-site retrieval: $10 for records not stored at the courthouse
• DOJ record review: $25 (separate from court fees)

At the courthouse, you can pay with cash, check, or money order. Some courts accept credit cards but confirm with Nevada County before your visit. For mail requests, include a check or money order made out to the Nevada County Superior Court. Write a clear description of the records you need and include the case number if available. Mail processing takes a few weeks depending on the request.

California DOJ Background Check Status

If you have already submitted a Live Scan for a background check, you can check its status through the DOJ applicant status page. This applies to background checks processed for employment, licensing, or record review purposes in Nevada County and across the state.

The DOJ processes about 2 million state-level background checks per year. Most results are released within three business days. If a manual review is needed, the DOJ sends a delay notification. This is the statewide system and applies to all California counties, including Nevada County.

Criminal Record Access in Nevada County

Most criminal court records in Nevada County are public. Anyone can ask the clerk for copies. You do not need to explain why you want them. The only records that are not available are juvenile cases (always sealed), certain mental health documents in criminal files, and cases that a judge has ordered sealed. Everything else in a standard criminal case is open for public review.

Under Penal Code Section 11105, the California DOJ runs the statewide criminal history database. This RAP sheet system tracks arrests and dispositions based on fingerprints. It is not the same as the court case files in Nevada County. Only the individual, law enforcement, and certain authorized agencies can access DOJ records. Court records, however, are public. The DOJ background check page explains the process for requesting your own record.

Convictions can be dismissed under Penal Code Section 1203.4 after a person completes probation. If that happens, the Nevada County court record will show the dismissal. The case does not vanish from the system. It stays on file with an updated status. This matters for background checks and employment screening. California limits what employers can consider when it comes to criminal records, especially for older or dismissed cases.

How to Get Nevada County Criminal Court Copies

There are three main ways to get copies of criminal court records from the Nevada County Superior Court. In person is the fastest. Visit the courthouse in Nevada City or Truckee. Ask the clerk for the case by number or name. They pull it up and print copies while you wait. Pay the copy fee at the counter and you are done.

By mail, send a letter to the Nevada County Superior Court, 201 Church Street, Nevada City, CA 95959. In the letter, include the case number or defendant's full name, a description of the documents you want, and a check or money order for the estimated fees. If you are not sure what the cost will be, call the clerk at (530) 265-1311 for an estimate. Mail requests typically take a few weeks to process. The California Self-Help Center has a general overview of the record request process that applies to all 58 counties.

The eCourt portal at nevada-portal.ecourt.com is also useful for getting basic case data without making a trip. Use it to confirm case details before you request official copies from Nevada County.

Cities in Nevada County

Nevada County includes the cities of Grass Valley, Nevada City, and Truckee. None of these cities have populations over 100,000, so there are no dedicated city pages. All criminal cases from these cities go through the Nevada County Superior Court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties are adjacent to Nevada County. Each operates its own Superior Court for criminal cases.