Find Criminal Court Records in San Luis Obispo County

San Luis Obispo County criminal court records are held by the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court. The court uses a Tyler re:SearchCA portal that gives the public free access to case data online. You can look up both felony and misdemeanor cases by name or case number. San Luis Obispo County sits on California's Central Coast and handles a steady flow of criminal filings each year. This page covers the ways you can search for, view, and get copies of criminal court records in San Luis Obispo County, California.

Search San Luis Obispo Criminal Records Online

The San Luis Obispo County Superior Court provides online case access through a Tyler re:SearchCA portal at researchca.tylerhost.net. This platform is free to use. You do not need an account. Enter a name or case number and the system pulls up matching criminal cases. Results include the case type, charges, court dates, and the current status. The re:SearchCA system is used by just a few California courts, so the interface may look different from what other counties use.

The re:SearchCA tool is hosted by Tyler Technologies and covers criminal filings in San Luis Obispo County. You can access it from the San Luis Obispo Superior Court website. Keep in mind that the data shown online is not the official court record. It serves as a reference. For a certified or official copy of a San Luis Obispo County criminal court record, you must go through the clerk's office.

The California Courts website also provides general guidance on how to get court records. The screenshot below shows the California Courts Self-Help page for requesting court record copies, which applies to San Luis Obispo County and all other counties in the state.

That page walks through the basic steps for getting copies, lists the standard fees, and explains what to expect from the process. It is a solid starting point if you have never requested criminal court records before.

San Luis Obispo Criminal Court Fees

The cost for copies of San Luis Obispo County criminal court records is $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $40 per document plus the page charge. A $15 search fee may apply if the clerk spends more than 10 minutes looking for a record. For files stored off-site, there is a $10 retrieval fee. These rates come from California Government Code sections governing court fees statewide.

If you cannot afford the fees, ask the clerk about a fee waiver. People who get certain public benefits or meet income limits can have the fees reduced or waived. The San Luis Obispo County Superior Court clerk's office handles these requests on a case by case basis.

Note: Mail requests for criminal court records in San Luis Obispo County may take several weeks to process.

Get Criminal Record Copies in San Luis Obispo County

Visit the courthouse in person for the fastest service. The San Luis Obispo County Superior Court is at 1035 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408. Ask the clerk for the records you need. Give them the case number or defendant name. The clerk will pull the file and make copies while you wait. Bring a check or cash to pay the copy fees. The court also has a branch in Paso Robles and one in Grover Beach, so check which location has your case.

By mail, send a written request to the clerk at 1035 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408. Include the case number, defendant name, and what documents you want. Enclose a check or money order for the estimated fees. Allow a few weeks for processing. If you are not sure about the total cost, call the court first. For your own criminal history from the state, the California DOJ record review process costs $25 through Live Scan. That gives you your RAP sheet, which is a different record from the court files in San Luis Obispo County.

Criminal Court Record Access Laws

Most criminal court records in San Luis Obispo County are public. Anyone can request them. You do not have to be part of the case or explain why you want the records. Under California law, court records are open to public inspection with some exceptions.

Juvenile cases are sealed. Mental health records in a criminal file are restricted. Some domestic violence documents may be off limits. Under Penal Code Section 11105, the California DOJ maintains state summary criminal history, but that is separate from local court case files. California Rules of Court Rule 2.503 controls what criminal case records can be viewed remotely. Registers of action and calendars are usually online. Full case files in San Luis Obispo County may only be available for review at the courthouse. If you want to view the actual documents in a criminal case, plan to visit the clerk's office in person.

San Luis Obispo County Criminal Expungement

People convicted in San Luis Obispo County who have finished probation may ask for a dismissal. Under Penal Code Section 1203.4, this lets you petition the court to dismiss the conviction. The record does not vanish, but it shows the case was dismissed. This can make a real difference for job searches and background checks. Not all cases qualify. Serious felonies may be excluded.

Separately, Penal Code Section 851.8 allows a person found factually innocent to petition for sealing and destruction of their arrest record. Contact the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court clerk or a local legal aid group for help with either process.

State Resources for SLO County Records

Beyond the local court, state tools can help you find criminal record data tied to San Luis Obispo County. The CIRIS inmate search from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation lets you look up people in state prison. If a person was convicted in San Luis Obispo County and transferred to CDCR, this tool shows their current location, CDCR number, and other details.

Under Penal Code Section 13300, local law enforcement agencies keep their own criminal offender record information. The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff and local police departments have records divisions you can contact for arrest records or police reports. The court handles the criminal case files, but the arresting agency holds the police report. These are separate systems.

San Luis Obispo County Cities

San Luis Obispo County does not have any cities with a population over 100,000. All criminal cases from cities in this county go through the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court.

Nearby Counties

These counties border San Luis Obispo County. Each has its own Superior Court handling criminal cases.