California Statewide Criminal Records Search: 39 Superior Courts in One Order
California offers no government statewide criminal records search for employers. So, our California statewide criminal records search checks 39 Superior Courts at once.
Together, those courts cover more than 96% of residents. Researchers verify every possible record, and then you receive one FCRA-compliant report.
- Real-time Superior Court data, not a private database
- No separate county follow-up orders
- No setup or monthly fees for card customers
Does California Have a Statewide Criminal Records Search?
No. California has no single, free, public database for statewide criminal checks on other people. Instead, each county Superior Court keeps its own criminal records.
The state does let you review your own record. You submit Live Scan form BCIA 8016RR and pay a $25 fee. However, the Department of Justice bars employers from using a California DOJ record review for hiring.
Other state tools, meanwhile, serve narrow purposes. For example, CIRIS lists people in state prison custody. Similarly, California VINE sends custody status alerts.
Where California Criminal Records Actually Live
| Source | What it shows | Access | Employment screening use |
|---|---|---|---|
| DOJ Record Review | Your own state criminal history | Live Scan form BCIA 8016RR, $25 | Not allowed for hiring decisions |
| CDCR CIRIS | People currently in state prison or on parole | Free online lookup | Custody status only, not a criminal history |
| California VINE | Offender custody status changes | Free, confidential alerts | Notifications only |
| Superior Court online indexes | Criminal cases filed in one county | Name search, often with per-search fees | One county at a time |
| Courthouse kiosks and mail | Cases in counties without full online access | In person or by written request | Slow, one county at a time |
| BCS 39-county court search | Verified felony and misdemeanor cases | One order, one report | Built for FCRA-compliant employment screening |
How California County Court Searches Work
Today, most Superior Courts offer online criminal case name searches. For example, the Los Angeles Superior Court criminal index returns case numbers and filing dates for a per-search fee.
Other counties limit online access. In Santa Clara, the clerk accepts mail requests and offers courthouse searches.
Likewise, the Sacramento Superior Court uses public kiosks and charges $15 for searches over ten minutes.
As a result, searching dozens of courts yourself takes days and adds fees. Our search does it in one order.
How Our California Statewide Criminal Records Search Works
Automated reach meets human verification. In short, researchers confirm every record at the court level before we report it.
- 1
Parallel court searches
We search Superior Courts in 39 counties at the same time for broad coverage.
- 2
Automated retrieval
Next, our system pulls possible case matches directly from real-time court data.
- 3
Expert researcher review
Then, researchers verify each hit for identifiers, accuracy, and reportability.
- 4
One consolidated report
Confirmed records arrive in one FCRA-compliant report. No county follow-ups needed.
39 California Counties Covered in One Search
Together, these counties hold more than 96% of California’s population. Need a county not listed? Add a county criminal court search.
- Alameda
- Amador
- Butte
- Calaveras
- Contra Costa
- El Dorado
- Fresno
- Glenn
- Kern
- Kings
- Los Angeles
- Madera
- Monterey
- Napa
- Nevada
- Orange
- Placer
- Riverside
- Sacramento
- San Benito
- San Bernardino
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Joaquin
- San Luis Obispo
- San Mateo
- Santa Barbara
- Santa Clara
- Santa Cruz
- Shasta
- Siskiyou
- Solano
- Sonoma
- Stanislaus
- Sutter
- Tulare
- Ventura
- Yolo
- Yuba
Choose Your California Search: Full Coverage or Individual Counties
Most employers choose the full 39-county search for maximum coverage.
The five counties that cause most extended turnaround times are Amador, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Siskiyou, and Stanislaus.
Also, you can add other counties for additional fees and possible court costs.
| Feature | California Full 39 Counties Search | California Individual Counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population coverage | 96%+ | Varies per County |
| Counties included | 39 | 1 |
| Court fees | $20 per name | Varies |
| Best for | Maximum coverage | Faster turnaround with notable exception for counties listed as slow. |
What Each Confirmed California Record Includes
Every reported case comes straight from the court record. Researchers include the details you need for a fair, individualized review.
Case number
The official Superior Court case number for easy follow-up.
Court and county
The exact court that holds the record.
Charge level
Felony or misdemeanor classification for each charge.
Key dates
File, offense, and disposition dates, where the court provides them.
Final disposition
The case outcome, such as guilty, dismissed, or convicted.
Sentencing
The full sentence, including jail, probation, and fines.
Search scope: 10 years for felony and misdemeanor convictions, and 7 years by file date for non-convictions. California law can narrow what an employment report may include.
Sample California Statewide Criminal Records Search Report
This sample shows how confirmed records appear on your report. Every name, identifier, case number, and date below is fictitious.
Santa Clara County · Case C2412078
Record Found
- Fine: $570.00
- Fee: $0.00
- Restitution: $0.00
- Restitution fine: $165.00
- Victim restitution ordered, amount unspecified
- Probation: 3 years formal
- Jail: 30 days, served through the weekend work program
- Community service: 20 hours volunteer work
- Protective order and no-contact order
- Submit to search and seizure
- Seek and maintain employment, or attend full-time school or a vocational program
- Complete a domestic violence program
- Additional fines and fees waived
Fresno County · Case F22904417
Record Found
- Fine: $20.00
- Court fee: $0.00
- Jail: 65 days
- Jail credit: 65 days
Los Angeles County · Case 4DN01876
Record Found
- Fine: $0.00
- Fee: $0.00
- Restitution: $0.00
- Jail: 180 days
- Jail credit: 113 days
- Protective order
- Do not own, use, or possess any dangerous or deadly weapons, including firearms, knives, or other concealable weapons
- Weapon involved in the case ordered confiscated and destroyed by the arresting agency
Los Angeles County · Case BA512647
Record Found
- Probation: length and type unspecified
Sample for illustration only. For jobs in California, reports follow state limits under ICRAA and Labor Code § 432.7, which can restrict non-conviction outcomes such as dismissed charges.
California Compliance for Criminal Background Checks
California adds strict rules to every criminal check. First, the Fair Chance Act bars conviction questions before a conditional job offer.
Second, the Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act limits most criminal records to seven years. It also requires a California-specific disclosure.
Third, Labor Code § 432.7 bars using arrests without conviction and dismissed or sealed records.
Before you order, read our California background check laws guide. It explains each statute, the lookback limits, and local ordinances.
Complete Your California Background Check
A California court search covers state cases. For a fuller picture, pair it with these searches.
Federal Criminal Search
Covers federal cases in California’s four U.S. District Courts, which state searches miss.
Nationwide Background Check
Adds an SSN trace, national criminal database, sex offender registry, and watchlists.
County Criminal Court Search
Search California counties outside the 39. Alternatively, search courts in other states.
Motor Vehicle Records
Driving histories for delivery, trucking, sales, and CDL positions.
California Statewide Criminal Records Search: FAQs
Quick answers about searching California criminal records for employment.
Does California offer a statewide criminal records search for employers?
No. California has no single public database for statewide criminal checks on other people. Each county Superior Court keeps its own records.
Instead, our search checks 39 Superior Courts at once. Together, they cover more than 96% of California residents.
Which California counties does the statewide search cover?
The full search covers 39 counties, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, and Alameda.
You can add counties outside the 39 for additional fees and possible court costs.
How far back does the California court search go?
The typical scope covers 10 years for felony and misdemeanor convictions. It covers 7 years by file date for non-convictions.
However, California law can limit what an employment report may include. For example, ICRAA limits most criminal records to seven years.
What details appear on a confirmed California criminal record?
Each confirmed record lists the case number, court, charge level, dates, final disposition, and sentencing. It comes straight from the court file.
It also includes identifiers the court makes readily available. Researchers verify each record before we report it.
How much are the court fees for a California statewide search?
The full 39-county search carries $20 in court fees per name. These pass-through fees come from six courts: Los Angeles, Monterey, Orange, Sacramento, San Francisco, and Siskiyou.
What is the difference between the full search and the individual county?
The $129 full search covers 39 counties and 96%+ of residents. By contrast, one individual county price is $18 + court fee, if any. Individual slow counties are Amador, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Siskiyou, and Stanislaus, which cause most turnaround delays.
Can employers use a California DOJ record review for hiring?
No. The DOJ record review lets people see their own record for $25 using Live Scan form BCIA 8016RR.
However, the Department of Justice bars using that copy for employment. Employers should order an FCRA-compliant court search instead.
Order a California Statewide Criminal Records Search Today
Open your free account with BCS Background Screening LLC in minutes. Then, pay only for the searches you order.
All user accounts offer optional Multiple Authentication Factor (MAF) security.
Coverage, scope, and court fees reflect September 2026 and may change. This page offers general information, not legal advice.