Los Angeles County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Los Angeles County come from the largest court system in the country. The LA Superior Court handles millions of cases. The sheriff runs the biggest county jail system in the nation. Whether you need to search a criminal case, check on an inmate, or get copies of court filings, Los Angeles County has online tools and in-person options for most record types. Criminal cases in this county go back decades in the court's digital system, with felony records starting from 1980 and misdemeanor data from 1988.

Los Angeles County Criminal Case Search

The Los Angeles Superior Court runs an online criminal case search at lacourt.org. You can look up cases by defendant name. The system returns a list of matching case numbers, defendant names, filing dates, and court locations. Felony records go back to 1980. Misdemeanor records start from 1988. This is the fastest way to find a criminal case in Los Angeles County without going to the courthouse. Each search costs a fee. Guest users pay a flat rate per name. Registered users get a sliding scale based on how often they use the system.

That search tool is the public gateway to LA Superior Court criminal records. You need at least the defendant's name to run a search. Having an approximate date helps narrow results in a county this large. Los Angeles County files more criminal cases than most states do in total. The sheer volume means you may get many results for common names. Adding middle names or dates of birth, when known, makes your search more precise.

For copies of court documents, contact the court clerk at the location where the case was filed. Copies cost 50 cents per page. Certified copies cost $40 under state law. You can also email onlineServices@lacourt.org for help with the online system.

LA County Sheriff Inmate Search

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department runs the largest jail system in the country. It holds thousands of inmates at any given time across multiple facilities. The main jail is the Men's Central Jail at 441 Bauchet Street in downtown Los Angeles. You can search for current inmates through the sheriff's inmate information center at app5.lasd.org/iic. Search by name or booking number. The system shows current custody status, charges, bail amount, and facility location.

The inmate search covers people currently in LA County jail custody. It does not show people who have been released or transferred to state prison. For inmates in the California state system, use the CDCR's CIRIS search tool instead. Call the 24-hour inmate information line at (213) 473-6100 if you cannot find someone online or need more details about a booking in Los Angeles County.

Note: Booking records update throughout the day, but there can be a delay of several hours between an arrest and when the record appears in the online system.

California Criminal Records in LA County

Beyond the local court and jail, Los Angeles County residents can access criminal records through state agencies. The California DOJ keeps the statewide criminal history database. Anyone can request their own RAP sheet by submitting fingerprints through Live Scan and paying a $25 fee. There are hundreds of Live Scan locations across Los Angeles County. Find one near you through the DOJ Live Scan locator. The process takes 48 to 72 hours when no criminal history is found, longer when the system flags a record for manual review.

Employers and licensing agencies in Los Angeles County also use the DOJ system for criminal background checks. They must have authorization from the state before running a check. The DOJ processes about 2 million background checks per year statewide. A large share of those come from Los Angeles County given its size. You can track your background check status at applicantstatus.doj.ca.gov with your ATI number and date of birth.

Los Angeles County residents can also check the California sex offender registry at meganslaw.ca.gov. The registry shows registered sex offenders by name or location. Given the county's large population, results in urban areas like downtown LA, the San Fernando Valley, and the San Gabriel Valley can be extensive.

Clearing Criminal Records in Los Angeles County

If you have a criminal record in Los Angeles County, California law offers several paths to clear or reduce it. Penal Code Section 1203.4 lets people who finished probation petition to have their case dismissed. This is the most common form of record relief in the county. You file the petition with the LA Superior Court in the same courthouse where your case was heard. The conviction stays on your RAP sheet but shows as "dismissed." It helps with jobs and housing.

Penal Code Section 851.87 lets you seal arrest records when no conviction came from the arrest. This is a newer law from 2017. You do not need to prove you were innocent. The sealed record will not show on most background checks. Proposition 47 resentencing and Proposition 64 marijuana record relief are also available in Los Angeles County. Both require filing a petition with the court. Legal aid groups in the area can help with the paperwork if you qualify for their services.

How to Get Criminal Records in Los Angeles County

You can get criminal court records from the LA Superior Court in several ways. The online case search gives you case numbers and basic filing data. For full documents, go to the clerk's office at the courthouse where the case was filed. The Records Bureau is at 211 W Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Bring the case number if you have it. Staff can search by name, but a case number speeds things up.

• Online case search at lacourt.org for case numbers and filing dates
• In-person at the clerk's office for full case file access
• Copies at 50 cents per page, certified copies at $40
• Police reports from LAPD Records Division at 100 W 1st Street
• Inmate records from the Sheriff's inmate information center

Police reports are separate from court records. The LAPD handles its own records through the Records and Identification Division. Crime reports cost $29. Arrest summaries cost $25. Detention letters cost $27. Contact the LAPD Records Division at 213-486-8300 for more details about getting police records in Los Angeles.

Note: Court records and police records are held by different agencies in Los Angeles County, so you may need to contact both depending on what you need.

Cities in Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County has many cities. These cities file criminal cases through the LA Superior Court system. Select a city below for local criminal record resources.

Nearby Counties

Criminal cases sometimes involve neighboring counties. Check these nearby county pages for additional criminal record resources.