Find Criminal Court Records in San Benito County

San Benito County criminal court records are held by the San Benito County Superior Court in Hollister. This is one of California's smaller counties, with a single courthouse handling all criminal matters for the area. The court does have an online public portal where you can look up case information. Whether you are trying to check on a pending case or pull up old records from a past criminal filing, the San Benito County court system is the place to start. This page covers the portal, the fees, the courthouse, and the laws that affect access to criminal court records here.

San Benito County Criminal Records Online

The San Benito County Superior Court offers a public portal for searching case records. You can reach it at portal.sanbenito.courts.ca.gov. The portal lets you search by party name or case number. When you run a search, results show the case type, filing date, charges, and current status. It is a basic tool, but it works for checking on criminal cases filed in San Benito County. The system covers active and closed cases.

Because San Benito is a small county, the volume of criminal cases is much lower than what you see in places like Los Angeles or Sacramento. That can actually make it easier to find what you need. Fewer cases mean less clutter in the search results. The portal does not charge a fee to search, though downloading or printing documents may come with costs depending on how the court has set up its system.

The California Courts website offers a general view of how court record systems work across the state. Below is a screenshot from the state self-help guide that explains the process for getting copies of court records, which applies to San Benito County as well.

The guide above walks through what to expect when requesting copies from any California court, including San Benito County. It covers fees, timelines, and what forms you might need.

San Benito County Court Location

San Benito County has one courthouse. It is in Hollister, the county seat. All criminal cases in the county are handled here. If you need copies of San Benito County criminal court records, this is where you go in person. The clerk's office can look up cases for you and print copies on the spot if the records are available.

Walk-in requests are the fastest way to get copies in a small county like San Benito. You do not usually deal with the long wait times that bigger courts have. Bring the case number if you have it. If not, the defendant's full name should be enough for the clerk to search the system. The courthouse handles both felony and misdemeanor cases, along with traffic and infraction matters. Everything criminal in San Benito County funnels through this one location.

Fees for San Benito Criminal Court Records

San Benito County follows the standard California fee schedule for court record copies. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page. That is set by Government Code Section 70627. Certified copies are $40 per document plus the per-page fee, under Government Code Section 70626. If the clerk spends more than 10 minutes looking for your San Benito County criminal court records, there is a $15 search fee.

Records stored off-site may carry a $10 retrieval fee. This is common for older cases that are no longer kept at the courthouse. If you want your own criminal history from the state database, the California DOJ charges $25 through the Live Scan fingerprint process. That is separate from what the San Benito County court charges for case file copies. Fee waivers are available through the court for people who qualify based on income. Ask the clerk or check the court website for the right forms.

Note: Online searches on the public portal are generally free, but document copies carry the standard fees.

Accessing San Benito County Criminal Records

Most criminal court records in San Benito County are public. You can request copies whether or not you are part of the case. The court follows state law on this. Under Penal Code Section 13300, local law enforcement agencies also maintain their own criminal history records, separate from the court file. If you want arrest records or booking data from the San Benito County Sheriff, that is a different request than asking the court for case documents.

There are some records you cannot get. Juvenile cases are sealed from the public in San Benito County, just like everywhere else in California. Mental health documents within a criminal case are restricted. Some domestic violence case materials are limited too. California Rules of Court Rule 2.503 sets the boundaries on what can be viewed remotely online versus what you have to see in person at the courthouse. For most San Benito County criminal court records, the register of actions and calendar info are available through the portal, but full case files may need an in-person visit.

People with convictions in San Benito County can petition for expungement under Penal Code Section 1203.4 after completing probation. The record still exists in the system but shows the case was dismissed. Under Penal Code Section 851.8, someone found factually innocent can ask to have the arrest record sealed and destroyed. These laws shape what you find when searching San Benito County criminal court records.

State Criminal Record Tools for San Benito County

Beyond the local court, state-level systems can help with criminal records that touch San Benito County. The CDCR Incarcerated Records Search covers anyone in state prison custody, including people convicted in San Benito County. Under Penal Code Section 11105, the California DOJ maintains the statewide criminal history database. Court files are kept separately at the county level, but the DOJ records give a broader view of a person's criminal history across all California counties.

The California Courts directory can point you to the San Benito County Superior Court website and contact info. It is a useful starting point if you are not sure which court handles a case.

San Benito County Cities

San Benito County does not have any cities above 100,000 population. Hollister is the county seat and the largest city. All criminal cases from cities and unincorporated areas in San Benito County are handled by the Superior Court in Hollister.

Nearby Counties

These counties border San Benito County. Each has its own Superior Court system for criminal cases.