Access Ventura County Criminal Records

Ventura County criminal court records are maintained by the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura. The court runs a Case Information Search portal that lets the public look up criminal case details online. Ventura County stretches along the coast northwest of Los Angeles, covering cities like Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Oxnard, and Ventura. All criminal cases from these cities go through the Ventura County Superior Court. This page covers the main ways to search for and get copies of criminal court records in Ventura County, California.

Search Ventura County Criminal Records Online

The Ventura County Superior Court provides online case access through the Case Information Search portal. This tool lets you search criminal cases by name or case number. Results show the case type, filing date, charges, upcoming hearings, and the current status. The portal covers felony and misdemeanor cases handled in Ventura County.

To use the search, enter the defendant's name or the case number. The system returns matching cases from the Ventura County Superior Court. Click on a case to see more detail, including the register of actions. The register tracks every event in the case from start to finish. It shows arraignment dates, plea entries, motions, trial dates, and sentencing. The portal is free and does not need a login or account to use.

The Ventura County Case Information Search portal shown above is the main online tool for looking up criminal court records. Enter a name or case number to get started. While the portal shows case indexes and hearing dates, some documents in criminal cases can only be viewed at the courthouse under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503.

Ventura County Criminal Court Locations

Ventura County operates multiple courthouse locations that handle criminal cases. The main courthouse is the Ventura County Government Center at 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009. There is also a courthouse in Simi Valley at 3855-F Alamo Street that serves the eastern part of the county. Criminal cases are assigned based on the location of the offense.

The clerk's office at each courthouse handles criminal record requests. In person is the fastest way to get copies. Bring the case number if you have it. The clerk can search by name too, but it takes longer. The Ventura courthouse handles most of the county's major felony cases. The Simi Valley courthouse handles cases from the east county area, including Simi Valley, Moorpark, and Thousand Oaks. Contact info for all locations is on the California Courts directory.

Note: The court's hours and available services can change, so call the clerk before visiting if you are coming from outside Ventura County.

Ventura County Criminal Court Record Fees

Ventura County charges the statewide rate for criminal court record copies. Plain copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $40 per document plus the per-page fee. A certified copy has the court's seal and the clerk's signature. You need one if you plan to submit the document to another court, a government agency, or for an official process.

The court can charge a $15 search fee when the clerk spends more than 10 minutes finding a record. This comes up more often with older cases or when you do not have a case number. Records stored in off-site facilities carry a $10 retrieval fee. These rates are set by California Government Code sections 70626 and 70627. They are the same in every county. For mail requests, include a check or money order made out to the Ventura County Superior Court. In-person payments are taken at the clerk's window at the Ventura or Simi Valley courthouse.

How to Get Criminal Records in Ventura County

There are three main ways to get criminal court records from the Ventura County Superior Court. In person is the quickest option. Go to the clerk's office at the courthouse where the case was handled. Give the clerk the case number or defendant name. They pull the file and print copies while you wait. Pay the fee at the counter.

By mail, write a request and send it to the Ventura County Superior Court. Include the case number, defendant name, what documents you need, and a check for the copy fees. Send it to the Ventura County Superior Court at the Government Center address. Mail requests take a few weeks. Online, the Case Information Search portal lets you view case info for free. But downloading or printing official copies from the portal may not cover all document types. The California Self-Help Center has a general guide that applies to Ventura County and every other court in the state.

Criminal Record Laws for Ventura County

Criminal court records in Ventura County are public under California law. Anyone can request copies. You do not have to be a lawyer or a party to the case. The clerk must provide access to non-confidential criminal case records. Juvenile records are sealed. Mental health records in criminal files are restricted. Certain domestic violence case documents have limits. But the standard criminal case file is open to the public.

Under Penal Code Section 11105, the California DOJ keeps a statewide criminal history system based on fingerprint records. That is separate from Ventura County court files. For your own DOJ record, pay $25 and go through the Live Scan record review. Third parties cannot get someone else's DOJ rap sheet. For court case records in Ventura County, though, the clerk's office is the source. Penal Code Section 1203.4 allows dismissal of a conviction after probation is done. The case record stays but shows the dismissal order.

Statewide Criminal Record Tools

Beyond Ventura County court records, there are California state-level tools for criminal record searches. The CDCR inmate search (CIRIS) lets you look up anyone currently in state prison. If someone was convicted in Ventura County and sent to a CDCR facility, you can find their status in that system. It is free and does not need an account.

The DOJ fingerprints and background checks page covers the Live Scan process for employers, licensing agencies, and individuals requesting their own records. For Ventura County arrest records, contact the local police department or the Ventura County Sheriff depending on which agency made the arrest. The court holds the criminal case file that begins after charges are filed. Arrest records and police reports are kept by law enforcement.

Ventura County Cities

These cities in Ventura County have a population over 100,000. All criminal cases from these cities go through the Ventura County Superior Court system.

Nearby Counties

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