Colusa County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Colusa County flow through a compact court system in the Sacramento Valley. With about 22,000 residents, Colusa is one of the least populated counties in California. The Superior Court in the city of Colusa handles all criminal cases for the county. The sheriff runs the county jail and keeps booking records. Because of the county's small size, most criminal record searches involve either contacting the court clerk directly or using statewide databases run by the California DOJ and CDCR. These state tools fill in the gaps that a small county system cannot cover on its own.

Colusa County Court Records

The Colusa County Superior Court sits in the city of Colusa, the county seat. The court's website is at colusa.courts.ca.gov. This single courthouse handles every criminal case filed in the county, from misdemeanor traffic offenses to serious felonies. The caseload is light compared to urban California counties. That can work in your favor when you need records, because the staff is not overwhelmed with requests.

To look up a criminal case, contact the clerk's office. You can search by the defendant's name or by case number. A case number search goes quickly. Name-only searches may take longer, and the clerk can charge $15 if the search runs past 10 minutes. Copies of court documents cost 50 cents per page. Certified copies are $40 per document. These are statewide fees that apply in every California Superior Court.

Colusa County is part of the Third Appellate District, which is based in Sacramento. Criminal appeals from Colusa go to that appellate court. The county does not have branch courthouses. Everything runs through the single location in the city of Colusa.

Colusa Sheriff and Jail Records

The Colusa County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement in the unincorporated parts of the county. The sheriff also runs the county jail. You can reach the sheriff at (530) 458-5149. When someone is booked into the Colusa County jail, the sheriff's office creates a booking record that includes charges, bail amount, and booking date. To check if someone is currently in custody, call the jail. They can confirm who is being held.

Like many small California counties, Colusa does not have a public online jail roster or inmate search tool. Phone calls are the standard way to check. If the person you are looking for has already been released or transferred, the jail staff can sometimes tell you when they left custody. For people sent to state prison, the local jail will not have current records. You need the CDCR system for that.

The sheriff also handles arrest reports. If you need a copy of an arrest report from an incident the sheriff investigated, contact the office directly. Reports from the Colusa Police Department or Williams Police Department are held by those agencies, not the sheriff.

Note: Colusa County sits along Interstate 5 in the Sacramento Valley. Some criminal cases here involve transient offenses, where the person was just passing through. For these cases, the booking record may be in Colusa County even though the defendant lives elsewhere.

State Criminal Records Access

State databases are especially useful in a small county like Colusa, where local online tools are limited. The California DOJ keeps the master criminal history database for the entire state. You can get your own RAP sheet by going to a Live Scan provider and paying $25 to the DOJ. Live Scan locations in the Colusa area may be limited, but nearby cities like Yuba City and Woodland have providers. Use the DOJ Live Scan locator to find one. Processing takes 48 to 72 hours if no record turns up.

Employers in Colusa County who need criminal background checks use the same DOJ system. They must be authorized by the state first. You can check the status of a pending background check at applicantstatus.doj.ca.gov with your ATI number and date of birth.

For state prison inmates, the CDCR's CIRIS search tool lets you look up people in California state custody. Search by name to find their facility, admission date, and parole hearing schedule. The sex offender registry at meganslaw.ca.gov covers Colusa County as well. You can search by name or check a map of any area in the county.

Clearing Records in Colusa County

California law provides paths to clear a criminal record, and these apply equally in Colusa County. The main option is Penal Code Section 1203.4, which lets you petition for a dismissal after finishing probation. File the petition with the Colusa County Superior Court. If the court grants it, the conviction is marked as dismissed on your RAP sheet. The record is not erased, but the new status helps when you are applying for work or housing.

You can also seal arrest records under Penal Code Section 851.87 if no conviction came from the arrest. This law does not require proof of innocence. Proposition 47 resentencing covers certain nonviolent drug and theft felonies. Proposition 64 provides relief for past marijuana offenses. All petitions go to the Superior Court in Colusa. Legal aid groups that serve the Sacramento Valley region may assist with filings if you cannot hire a private attorney.

Getting Criminal Records in Colusa

Criminal records in Colusa County are split across a few agencies. The court holds case files. The sheriff holds booking records and arrest reports. The state DOJ holds criminal history data. Start with the agency that has what you need.

• Contact the Superior Court clerk for criminal case records
• Call the sheriff at (530) 458-5149 for booking and arrest records
• Get your own RAP sheet through Live Scan at the closest provider
• Look up state prison inmates on CIRIS
• Search the sex offender registry at meganslaw.ca.gov

In-person visits to the courthouse give you the most direct access to court files. The courthouse is in the city of Colusa, which is along Highway 20 west of Interstate 5. If you are coming from the Sacramento area, the drive takes about an hour. Call ahead to confirm hours, as small county courthouses sometimes have limited schedules.

Note: Colusa County does not have any cities that are large enough to have their own dedicated criminal record systems. The court and sheriff are your main local sources for all criminal record types.

Nearby Counties

Colusa County is in the Sacramento Valley between the Coast Range and the Sacramento River. These neighboring counties have additional criminal record resources.