Napa County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Napa County are managed by the Superior Court and the county sheriff. Napa County is a smaller county in northern California with roughly 140,000 residents. The county seat is the city of Napa. All criminal cases in the county go through one court. The court has a research and records page on its website where you can learn about fees and procedures for getting case documents. The Napa County Sheriff runs the county jail and publishes jail reports online through a web tool. For a county of this size, the process of finding criminal records is fairly straightforward.

Napa Court Criminal Records Access

The Napa County Superior Court provides information about accessing court records on its research and records page at napa.courts.ca.gov/research-records. This page explains how to request criminal case files, what fees apply, and how to contact the clerk. You can request records in person, by mail, or by phone. The criminal division phone number is (707) 299-1180.

The court's research and records page is your starting point for understanding how to access criminal case data in Napa County.

Copies of criminal court documents cost 50 cents per page. Certified copies are $40 under state law. If the clerk spends more than 10 minutes searching for your records, a $15 fee gets added. Bring the case number if you have it. A case number lookup goes faster than a name-only search. The courthouse is at 825 Brown Street, Napa, CA 94559. Hours vary, so it helps to call ahead.

Napa County does not have the same kind of large-scale online case search portal that bigger counties run. You work more closely with the clerk's office here. That can actually be an advantage. Smaller courts tend to have shorter wait times. Staff can often help you by phone without needing to come in.

Napa Sheriff Jail Reports

The Napa County Sheriff operates the county jail. The sheriff publishes jail reports through an online tool at services.countyofnapa.org/CJNetWeb. You can check who is currently in custody. The reports show booking dates, charges, and bail amounts. This covers people held at the Napa County Department of Corrections facility.

The DOJ Live Scan locator helps Napa County residents find the nearest fingerprinting site for background checks and personal record reviews.

If someone has been transferred from county jail to state prison, they will not appear in the sheriff's system. Use the CDCR's CIRIS search tool for state prison inmates. That database shows which facility the person is at, their CDCR number, and their next parole hearing date. The county jail holds people before trial and those with sentences under a year. State prison is for longer sentences.

Note: Booking reports can lag a few hours behind actual bookings. If you know someone was just arrested, check back later if they do not appear right away.

California Criminal Records for Napa

The California DOJ maintains the statewide criminal history database. Napa County residents can request their own RAP sheet through Live Scan. The state fee is $25. You fill out form BCIA 8016RR at any certified Live Scan location. The DOJ locator shows sites in the Napa area. Processing takes two to three business days when the system finds no matching prints. Records that need manual review by a DOJ technician take longer.

Track your background check progress at applicantstatus.doj.ca.gov. You need the ATI number from your Live Scan receipt and your date of birth. The status tool tells you where your check stands in the process. It does not show the actual results. Those go to the requesting agency or come by mail for personal reviews.

The Megan's Law registry at meganslaw.ca.gov lets Napa County residents search for sex offenders in their area. Search by name, address, or ZIP code. Penal Code Section 290.46 governs what appears on the site. Some offenders show their full address. Others show only a ZIP code. A few do not appear at all.

Record Clearing in Napa County

People with criminal records in Napa County can petition to clean up their history. Penal Code Section 1203.4 is the main tool. It applies to anyone who finished probation. You file a petition with the Napa County Superior Court. If the judge grants it, your guilty plea is withdrawn and the case is dismissed. The conviction still shows on your RAP sheet, but with a dismissal note. Many employers and landlords treat a dismissed case differently from a standing conviction.

Arrest records that did not lead to a conviction can be sealed under Penal Code Section 851.87. You do not need to prove innocence. The court seals the record and it drops off most background checks. This law was added in 2017 by SB 393. Proposition 47 covers certain nonviolent felonies that can be reduced to misdemeanors, like petty theft and simple drug possession. Proposition 64 deals with old marijuana convictions. Both require filing a petition with the court. Bay Area legal aid groups serve Napa County and can help people who cannot afford a lawyer.

Note: Clearing or sealing a record in Napa County requires court approval. It is not automatic. You must file the petition and wait for the judge's decision.

How to Get Records in Napa County

Getting criminal records in Napa County is a fairly simple process because of the county's size. There is one courthouse. One sheriff. A small number of local police agencies. Start by contacting the criminal division of the Superior Court at (707) 299-1180. Ask about the case you need. If you have the case number, give it to them. They can tell you what is available and how to get copies.

• Criminal division phone: (707) 299-1180
• Courthouse at 825 Brown Street, Napa, CA 94559
• Document copies at 50 cents per page
• Certified copies at $40
• Sheriff jail reports at services.countyofnapa.org/CJNetWeb
• Live Scan for personal RAP sheet ($25)

Police reports in Napa County come from the Napa Police Department for the city, American Canyon PD for that area, Calistoga PD for their jurisdiction, and the sheriff for unincorporated parts of the county. Each keeps its own records. The court does not hold police reports. These are separate systems. Contact the specific agency that made the arrest or took the report.

Nearby Counties

Napa County is surrounded by several other counties. Records from those areas are kept in their own court and sheriff systems.