Santa Barbara County Criminal Court Records

Santa Barbara County criminal court records are maintained by the Santa Barbara County Superior Court, which operates courthouses in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc. The court provides an online case portal where you can search criminal cases by name or case number for free. Santa Barbara County processes criminal cases ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies across its three court locations. This page walks you through how to search for, view, and get copies of criminal court records in Santa Barbara County, California.

Search Santa Barbara Criminal Records Online

The Santa Barbara County Superior Court runs a case portal at portal.sbcourts.org. This tool is open to the public and does not cost anything. You can search by defendant name or case number. The results list shows the charges, case type, filing date, and court dates. It covers both felony and misdemeanor filings across all three Santa Barbara County court locations.

Click on any case in the results to open a detail view. There you can see every charge, each scheduled hearing, and the outcome if the case has been resolved. The portal is useful for quick checks. If you know the defendant's name but not the case number, start with a name search to find matching cases in Santa Barbara County. This online data is for reference only. It is not the official court record.

The California Courts website provides a general overview of how to request court records across the state. The screenshot below is from the California Courts find-your-court page, which helps you locate the right Superior Court for any county including Santa Barbara.

That tool is handy if you are not sure which courthouse in Santa Barbara County handles your case. Criminal cases may be assigned to the Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, or Lompoc division based on where the arrest took place.

Santa Barbara County Criminal Record Fees

Copies of Santa Barbara County criminal court records cost $0.50 per page. This rate is set by California Government Code. Certified copies cost $40 per document on top of the per-page charge. The clerk adds the court seal and a certification stamp to make the document official for legal use.

A search fee of $15 can be charged when the clerk spends more than 10 minutes locating a record. Older records kept off-site may cost an extra $10 for retrieval. Mail requests take several weeks. In-person visits to the clerk's office are faster. Bring cash, a check, or a money order. The court is open Monday through Friday during regular hours.

Note: Fee waivers are available for people who meet income requirements or receive certain public benefits.

Get Criminal Court Records in Santa Barbara County

The quickest way to get copies is in person. Santa Barbara County has three court locations. The main courthouse is at 1100 Anacapa Street in Santa Barbara. The Cook Division is at 312-C East Cook Street in Santa Maria. The Lompoc Division is at 115 Civic Center Plaza. Go to the clerk's office at whichever location handles your case, provide the case number or defendant name, and the clerk can pull and copy records while you wait.

By mail, send a letter to the appropriate division's clerk office. Include the case number, defendant's full name, and a clear description of the documents you need. Enclose payment for the estimated fees. Mail requests can take a few weeks. Contact the clerk first to confirm the cost and the correct mailing address for your case.

The California DOJ record review process is for getting your own state criminal history. The fee is $25 via Live Scan. Your RAP sheet from the DOJ is different from the case files held by the Santa Barbara County Superior Court. The DOJ keeps state summary criminal history under Penal Code Section 11105.

Criminal Record Access in Santa Barbara County

Most criminal court records in Santa Barbara County are public. Anyone can ask for copies. No special reason is required. The clerk will provide copies to anyone who pays the fees.

Some records have restrictions. Juvenile cases are sealed under state law. Mental health documents in a criminal file are confidential. Certain domestic violence case materials may have limited public access. California Rules of Court Rule 2.503 spells out which criminal case records can be viewed online versus only at the courthouse. Registers of action and court calendars are typically available through the portal. Full case files often need an in-person visit to one of the Santa Barbara County courthouses. For a complete picture of what is public, the California Courts public records page has details on access rules that apply across the state.

Santa Barbara County Criminal Expungement

If you have a conviction in Santa Barbara County and have finished your probation term, you may be able to get the conviction dismissed. Under Penal Code Section 1203.4, a person can petition the court for this dismissal. The record does not disappear. It shows the case was dismissed. This helps with employment applications and background checks. Not every case qualifies for this relief.

Under Penal Code Section 851.8, someone found factually innocent can petition to have their arrest record sealed and then destroyed. Both of these processes are filed with the Santa Barbara County Superior Court. The clerk's office or a local legal aid organization can help you figure out if your case qualifies.

State Resources for Santa Barbara Records

The CIRIS inmate search lets you look up anyone in California state prison. If someone was convicted in Santa Barbara County and sent to CDCR custody, you can find their current location, CDCR number, and admission date here. The tool is free and public.

The California Courts Self-Help Guide is a good resource for first-time records requesters. It covers the basic steps, fees, and what to expect. For arrest records or police reports from Santa Barbara County, contact the law enforcement agency that made the arrest. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff and city police departments maintain their own records. Under Penal Code Section 13300, local agencies keep their own criminal offender record information, which is separate from the court file.

Santa Barbara County Cities

Santa Maria is the largest city in Santa Barbara County with a population over 100,000. All criminal cases from cities in this county go through the Santa Barbara County Superior Court.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Santa Barbara County. Each has its own Superior Court for criminal cases.