Trinity County Criminal Records Lookup

Trinity County criminal court records are kept by the Superior Court of California, County of Trinity, in Weaverville. This is one of the most remote courts in the state. Trinity County does not have an online case search portal. All criminal record requests must go through the clerk's office by mail, phone, or in person. The county has a small population spread across rugged mountain terrain. This page explains how to find and request criminal court records from Trinity County and what to expect during the process.

How to Access Trinity County Criminal Court Records

Trinity County has no online case search tool. That puts it in a small group of California counties that still rely on staff-assisted lookups for all criminal record requests. To get criminal court records from Trinity County, you need to contact the clerk's office at the Superior Court in Weaverville. The clerk can search by defendant name or case number and tell you what is on file.

By mail is the most common method for people outside the area. Send a written request to the Trinity County Superior Court. Include the defendant's full name, date of birth if you know it, and the time frame you are asking about. Describe what records you want. Attach a check or money order for the copy fees. The clerk will process the request and send copies back to you. Mail requests take a few weeks depending on the workload and how long it takes to locate the file.

In person, you can drive to the Weaverville courthouse and ask the clerk directly. The staff can pull up case records and make copies while you wait. Given the small caseload in Trinity County, the wait is usually short. Phone calls can help with basic lookups too. Call the clerk to ask if a case exists and what documents are in the file before making the trip or sending payment.

Trinity County Superior Court Details

The Trinity County Superior Court is located at 11 Court Street, Weaverville, CA 96093. Weaverville sits in the Trinity Alps region of far Northern California. It is one of the smallest county seats in the state. The courthouse handles all case types for Trinity County, including criminal, civil, family, and traffic matters. There is only one courthouse in the county.

Getting to Weaverville can take a while. The town is about an hour west of Redding on Highway 299. Mountain roads can be slow, and winter weather sometimes causes closures. If you plan to visit the courthouse for Trinity County criminal court records, check road conditions and call ahead to confirm the court is open. The California Courts directory at courts.ca.gov has the phone number and hours for the Trinity County court.

Trinity County Criminal Court Record Fees

Trinity County uses the same fee schedule as every other California Superior Court. Copies of criminal court records cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $40 per document plus the per-page charge. The $15 search fee applies when the clerk spends more than 10 minutes looking for a Trinity County criminal record. Off-site record retrieval adds $10 to the total.

These rates come from California Government Code sections 70626 and 70627. For mail requests, include a check made payable to the Trinity County Superior Court. If you are unsure of the total, call first and ask the clerk for a cost estimate. Fee waivers are available for eligible people. In-person payments are handled at the clerk's window in Weaverville. Because Trinity County has a small caseload, the clerk can usually give you a quick cost estimate over the phone.

Note: Bring extra funds if you are not sure how many pages your request will involve, since Trinity County criminal case files can vary in size.

Criminal Record Resources for Trinity County

Since Trinity County has no online portal, state-level resources fill the gap for some searches. The California DOJ record review lets you request your own criminal history for $25 through Live Scan. This covers statewide data, not just Trinity County. Results come back in about three business days for most people. The CDCR inmate search (CIRIS) lets you look up anyone in state prison custody. If someone was convicted in Trinity County and sent to a state facility, they will show up in that database.

The California Self-Help Center has a guide that explains how to request court record copies from any Superior Court in the state, including Trinity County. The guide covers what to include in your request, expected fees, and how long things take. For general information about court records and public access rules in California, the California Courts public records page is a good starting point.

The CDCR CIRIS tool shown above lets you search for people in California state prison. It is free and does not need a login. This is separate from Trinity County court records but can be useful for tracking the outcome of a criminal case.

Criminal Record Laws Affecting Trinity County

Criminal court records in Trinity County are public under California law. Anyone can ask for copies. You do not need to be involved in the case. Juvenile records are sealed. Certain records in domestic violence and mental health cases are restricted. But standard criminal filings are open.

Under Penal Code Section 11105, the DOJ maintains the statewide criminal history system. That database is fingerprint-based and separate from Trinity County court files. Penal Code Section 1203.4 allows dismissal of convictions after probation is complete. If a Trinity County case was dismissed under this law, the record stays but reflects the change. Penal Code Section 851.8 covers factual innocence petitions. If granted, the arrest record gets sealed. Remote electronic access to criminal records is limited by California Rules of Court Rule 2.503, though that rule has less impact in Trinity County since there is no online portal at all.

Cities in Trinity County

Trinity County does not have any incorporated cities. Weaverville is the largest community and serves as the county seat. No communities in Trinity County meet the 100,000 population threshold. All criminal cases go through the Superior Court in Weaverville.

Nearby Counties

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