Orange County Criminal Court Records

Criminal court records in Orange County are held by the Superior Court of California, County of Orange. The court runs a public search tool called Vision Public that lets you look up case data by name or case number. Orange County has one of the larger court systems in the state with records going back more than a hundred years. Whether you need to pull up a past case or check on a current filing, the clerk's office and online portal are the main ways to get these records. This page walks through how to search, what it costs, and where to go for Orange County criminal court records.

Search Orange County Criminal Records Online

The Orange County Superior Court uses a system called Vision Public for online case searches. You can look up criminal cases by name or by case number. The portal shows basic case info like charges, court dates, and the status of the case. It is free to search. You do not need to make an account. Go to visionpublic.occourts.org and start with either a name or a case number to find what you need.

The Vision Public portal at the Orange County Superior Court site is the main starting point for any criminal case search in the county.

Results from the portal show the case number, defendant name, charges, and scheduled hearings. You can also see which courthouse is handling the case. Keep in mind that what you see online is not the full official court file. Some documents in criminal cases are only viewable at the courthouse. Under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503, remote access to certain criminal case documents is limited. The register of actions and calendars are generally available, but things like probation reports or sealed filings are not shown on the public portal.

Note: Online data from Vision Public is for reference and may not match the official court file exactly.

Orange County Court Record Fees

Copies of criminal court records in Orange County cost $0.50 per page. That is the same rate set across all California courts under Government Code Section 70627. If you want a certified copy, that runs $40 per document plus the per-page charge. Certified copies are what you need if you plan to use the record in another court proceeding or for a legal filing. Plain copies work fine for personal use or background checks.

If the clerk has to spend more than 10 minutes looking for your record, they can add a $15 search fee. For records stored off-site, there is also a $10 retrieval charge. Copy requests sent by mail to the Orange County Superior Court are typically filled within 7 to 10 working days. That is faster than some other large California counties. If you need something right away, go to the courthouse in person.

To request copies by mail, use the court's Form L-3009. It is the official Request for Record Search form. Include a check or money order payable to the Clerk of the Court. Mail it to the courthouse where the case was heard.

Orange County Criminal Court Contact Info

The main phone line for the Orange County Superior Court is (657) 622-6878. The court is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You can call the main line to ask about a case, get directions to a courthouse, or find out which location handles a specific type of criminal case. There is also an automated information and payment line at (657) 622-8459 that runs around the clock for basic questions and fine payments.

Orange County has several courthouses that hear criminal matters. The location depends on where the crime took place and how the case was assigned. When you search on Vision Public, the results will show which courthouse has your case. You can then visit that location to view the full case file or request copies from the clerk.

Historical Criminal Records in Orange County

The Orange County Superior Court keeps records dating back to 1898. That is one of the longer spans you will find in any California county. Older records may not be available through the online portal, though. For cases from the early to mid 1900s, you will likely need to contact the clerk's office directly. Some of these records are stored off-site, which is why the court charges a $10 retrieval fee for them.

If you are doing a search for criminal court records that are many decades old, call ahead. The clerk can tell you what is available and what format the records are in. Very old files may be on microfilm or in paper archives only. It helps to have as much info as possible when you make the request, like a case number, defendant name, or approximate year. The more details you provide, the easier it is for the clerk to locate the Orange County criminal court record you need.

Note: Records from before the 1960s may take longer to retrieve and could require an in-person visit.

Orange County Sheriff Inmate Search

The Orange County Sheriff runs an inmate search that is separate from the court's case search. The sheriff's system shows who is currently in custody at Orange County jails. You can look up a person by name and see their booking info, charges, bail amount, and the facility where they are being held. This is useful if you need to find someone who was recently arrested.

The Orange County Sheriff's Inmate Information System is the tool for current booking and custody data.

The inmate search covers current inmates only. Once a person is released, their info drops off the system. For historical booking records or arrest reports, you need to contact the sheriff's records division directly. Arrest reports are not the same as criminal court records. The court file is what you get from the Superior Court. The arrest report comes from the law enforcement agency that made the arrest, whether that is the sheriff or a city police department within Orange County. Both are part of the bigger picture, but they come from different places.

Criminal Record Access Laws in Orange County

Most criminal court records in Orange County are public. California law says anyone can ask for copies of court case files. You do not have to be the defendant or a party to the case. Under Penal Code Section 11105, the California DOJ keeps the statewide criminal history database. But the actual case files sit with each county's Superior Court. So for Orange County criminal court records, the Superior Court is where you go.

There are limits. Juvenile cases are sealed and not available to the public. Some documents inside a criminal file can be restricted too, like mental health evaluations or certain protective orders. Under Penal Code Section 1203.4, a person who has completed probation can ask the court to dismiss a conviction. If that happens, the case record still exists but it will reflect the dismissal. Expunged records in Orange County are not deleted from the court system. They are updated to show that the case was dismissed.

For your own criminal history from the state database, you can request it through the DOJ's Live Scan process. The fee is $25. That gives you your RAP sheet. It is a different document than what you get from the Orange County Superior Court clerk's office.

How to Get Orange County Criminal Court Records

There are three main ways to get criminal court records from the Orange County Superior Court. The first is in person. Walk into the clerk's office at the courthouse where the case was filed. Give them the case number or the defendant's name. They can look it up and print copies for you on the spot. The fee is $0.50 per page.

The second way is by mail. Fill out Form L-3009, which is the court's record search request form. Include a check or money order for the estimated fees. Mail it to the right courthouse. The court will process it and send back copies within 7 to 10 working days. If you are not sure how much the fees will be, call the court at (657) 622-6878 and ask.

The third option is through the online services page on the court's website. You can search cases on Vision Public, and for some records, you may be able to download documents directly. Not all documents are available for download. Criminal cases have more restrictions on remote electronic access than civil cases under California rules. For the full file, going in person is still the most complete option for Orange County criminal court records.

Under Penal Code Section 851.8, a person found factually innocent can petition to have their arrest record sealed and destroyed. If that happens, the related court records may also be restricted from public view.

State Criminal Record Resources

Beyond the Orange County Superior Court, there are state-level tools for criminal record searches. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation runs the CIRIS inmate search, which lets you look up anyone currently in state prison. If a case from Orange County resulted in a state prison sentence, you can track that person through CIRIS. The search shows their name, CDCR number, current facility, and parole hearing dates.

The DOJ's Record Review process is how you get your own criminal history from the state. It costs $25 and uses fingerprints through Live Scan. This is separate from the court records kept by Orange County. The DOJ record is a summary of all arrests and dispositions statewide, while the court record is the full case file for a specific case in one county.

Orange County Cities

These major cities are in Orange County. Criminal cases from all of them go through the Orange County Superior Court. Pick a city below for local criminal court record details.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Orange County. Each one has its own Superior Court that handles criminal cases separately.