Search Tulare County Criminal Court Records

Tulare County criminal court records are managed by the Superior Court of California, County of Tulare, headquartered in Visalia. The court operates an online case search through Tyler Technologies that gives the public access to search criminal case filings. Tulare County covers a large part of the San Joaquin Valley and the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. Criminal cases from Visalia, Tulare, Porterville, Dinuba, and other towns all go through this court. This page covers how to search for and get copies of criminal court records in Tulare County.

Tulare County Criminal Records Online Portal

The Tulare County Superior Court offers an online case search at online.tulare.courts.ca.gov. This portal is built on the Tyler Technologies platform. You can search by name or case number. The results show case type, filing date, charges, court dates, and the current case status. It covers both felony and misdemeanor cases handled in Tulare County.

When you search by name, the system lists all matching criminal cases for that person in Tulare County. Click a case to see the register of actions. That is the detailed log of every step in the case, from the first hearing through disposition. The portal is free to use and does not need an account. It works on any computer or phone with a browser. This makes it the easiest way to start a search for Tulare County criminal court records without going to the courthouse.

Keep in mind that some documents in criminal cases are only available at the courthouse. California Rules of Court Rule 2.503 limits what can be viewed through remote electronic access. The online portal shows the index, calendar, and register of actions. But to see the full case file, you need to visit a Tulare County courthouse in person.

Tulare County Criminal Court Locations

Tulare County operates multiple courthouse locations. The main courthouse is in Visalia, the county seat. There are also court facilities in Porterville and other locations around the county. Criminal cases are assigned based on where the offense took place. The Visalia courthouse handles the largest share of felony cases for Tulare County.

The Visalia courthouse is located at 221 South Mooney Boulevard, Visalia, CA 93291. The clerk's office processes criminal record requests, copy orders, and case file access. Walk-in visits are the fastest way to get copies. Bring the case number if you have it. The Porterville courthouse serves the southern part of the county. Both locations can help you access Tulare County criminal court records. Contact information for all Tulare County court locations is available through the California Courts directory.

The California Courts Self-Help guide shown above walks you through the steps to request copies of court records from any Superior Court, including Tulare County.

Tulare County Criminal Record Copy Fees

Copy fees at the Tulare County Superior Court follow the statewide schedule. Plain copies are $0.50 per page. That is the standard rate across all California courts. Certified copies cost $40 per document plus the per-page fee. You need a certified copy if you plan to use the document in another court or as an official record for a government process.

The court may charge a $15 search fee if the clerk takes more than 10 minutes to find a Tulare County criminal court record. This is more likely when you do not have a case number and the clerk has to run a name search through older files. Records stored off-site carry an extra $10 retrieval fee. These fees are established by California Government Code sections 70626 and 70627. For mail requests, send a check or money order payable to the Tulare County Superior Court. In-person payments are made at the clerk's counter in Visalia or Porterville.

Get Criminal Court Records in Tulare County

You have several options for getting Tulare County criminal court records. In person is the quickest. Go to the clerk's office at any Tulare County courthouse and ask for the records you need. The clerk searches the system, pulls the file, and makes copies. You pay at the counter and leave with the documents.

By mail, send a written request to the Tulare County Superior Court, 221 South Mooney Boulevard, Visalia, CA 93291. Include the case number or defendant name, what documents you need, and a check for the estimated fees. Allow a few weeks for processing. Online, the Tyler Technologies portal gives you free access to case information. You can view the register of actions and hearing dates at no charge. But getting official copies of documents from the portal may have limits. The California Self-Help Center has more details on how to request court record copies from any California court.

Note: If you need records from a case that is very old, the court may have moved the file to storage, which adds time and the $10 retrieval fee.

Criminal Record Access Laws in Tulare County

Most criminal court records in Tulare County are open to the public. You do not need to be a party to the case. Anyone can ask for copies. Juvenile cases are sealed under California law. Certain mental health evaluations in criminal files are restricted. Records in some domestic violence cases may have limits. But the core criminal case file, including charges, pleas, and sentencing, is public.

Penal Code Section 11105 governs the statewide criminal history database run by the California DOJ. That system tracks arrests and dispositions based on fingerprints. It is separate from Tulare County court records. To get your own DOJ record, you need to pay $25 and go through the Live Scan record review process. Under Penal Code Section 1203.4, a person who finishes probation can petition to have a conviction dismissed. The case record remains in the Tulare County system but reflects the dismissal.

For people in state prison, the CDCR inmate search shows custody status, commitment county, and parole information. This is a statewide resource that covers convictions from Tulare County and every other county.

Cities in Tulare County

Tulare County includes Visalia, Tulare, Porterville, Dinuba, and Lindsay among others. None of these cities exceed the 100,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page. All criminal cases from every city in Tulare County go through the Superior Court system based in Visalia.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Tulare County. Each has its own Superior Court for criminal cases.