Criminal Court Records in Sonoma County

Sonoma County criminal court records are filed with the Sonoma County Superior Court in Santa Rosa. The court serves the entire county, processing felony and misdemeanor cases from all local cities and unincorporated areas. A Tyler Odyssey case portal gives the public online access to case data, and the criminal clerk's office handles copy requests in person and by mail. Whether you need to look up a case, get a copy of a filing, or check on a court date, the Sonoma County Superior Court is where those records are kept. This page explains how to search for and get copies of criminal court records in Sonoma County.

Sonoma County Criminal Records Online Portal

The Sonoma County Superior Court uses a Tyler Odyssey case portal for online record searches. You can access it at sonoma.courts.ca.gov. The portal lets you search criminal cases by name, case number, or filing date. Results display the charges, hearing dates, judge, and current case status. Both felony and misdemeanor cases appear in the system. You do not need to pay or create an account for basic searches.

The Sonoma County case portal is shown in the screenshot below. You can start a search from the court's online services page.

After running a search, click on any case number to open the detail view. That page shows the full charge list, every scheduled hearing, and the register of actions for the case. The Tyler Odyssey platform is widely used across California. About 28 of the 58 Superior Courts run some version of it. The data on the portal is for reference. It is not the official court record. For certified copies of a Sonoma County criminal court record, you need to contact the clerk's office.

Get Criminal Record Copies in Sonoma County

In person, visit the Criminal Court Clerk's office at the Hall of Justice, 600 Administration Drive, Room 105-J, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Bring the case number or defendant name. The clerk can pull up the file and make copies. Payment is accepted by cash, check, money order, or credit card (Visa and MasterCard only).

By mail, send a letter or use the court's CR-01 form. Mail it to the same address above. Include the case name, case number, a description of the documents you need, and whether you want certified or plain copies. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for the court to mail back the copies. Enclose payment for the estimated fees. Mail requests in Sonoma County typically take 7 to 10 working days to process. That is faster than many California counties.

The criminal division phone number is (707) 521-6620 if you need to check on a request or ask about a specific Sonoma County criminal court record before visiting.

Sonoma County Criminal Court Fees

Plain copies of criminal court records in Sonoma County cost $0.50 per page. That is the rate set by Government Code Section 70627. Certified copies are $40 per document, plus the per-page charge. This is the statewide rate under Government Code Section 70626.

The clerk may charge a $15 search fee if it takes more than 10 minutes to locate the record. Older files stored off site carry a $10 retrieval fee. These fees add up, so having the case number handy saves you money and time. If you qualify for a fee waiver, the court may cover some or all of these costs.

Note: Credit card payments for copies at the Sonoma County clerk's office are limited to Visa and MasterCard.

Sonoma County Criminal Record Access Rules

Most criminal court records in Sonoma County are open to the public. You do not need to be a party to the case to request copies. The clerk must provide them to anyone who pays.

There are restrictions. Juvenile cases are sealed by law. Mental health records inside a criminal case file are not public. Some domestic violence documents are restricted too. Under Penal Code Section 11105, the DOJ keeps state summary criminal history. That is a different system from the court files in Sonoma County. California Rules of Court Rule 2.503 limits which criminal case records you can view online versus at the courthouse. The Tyler Odyssey portal gives you registers of action and calendar data. Full case documents are typically viewable only in person at the Hall of Justice in Santa Rosa.

Expungement of Sonoma County Criminal Records

If you completed probation on a Sonoma County conviction, you can petition for dismissal. Penal Code Section 1203.4 allows this. You file with the Sonoma County Superior Court, and a judge decides whether to grant it. The conviction stays on the record but gets marked as dismissed. This helps with employment and housing applications.

Not every conviction qualifies. Certain serious felonies are excluded. If you were arrested but found factually innocent, Penal Code Section 851.8 gives you a path to seal and destroy the arrest record. The Sonoma County criminal record page has more details on the process.

State Tools for Sonoma County Criminal Records

The CIRIS inmate database from the California Department of Corrections covers everyone in state prison. If a person convicted in Sonoma County went to a CDCR facility, you can search for them by name. Results show their CDCR number, location, and admission date. It costs nothing to use.

For your own criminal history, the California DOJ record review costs $25 through Live Scan. You get your full RAP sheet back. That covers all arrests and dispositions statewide, not just Sonoma County. The Sonoma County Sheriff also maintains arrest and booking records. For police reports, contact the law enforcement agency that handled the arrest. The Santa Rosa Police Department has its own records division for cases within city limits.

Sonoma County Cities

Santa Rosa is the county seat and largest city. All criminal cases from Sonoma County cities go through the Sonoma County Superior Court.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Sonoma County. Each has its own Superior Court handling criminal cases.