San Mateo County Criminal Records

Criminal records in San Mateo County are kept by the Superior Court and the county sheriff. The court sits in Redwood City and handles all felony and misdemeanor cases for the county. San Mateo County is on the San Francisco Peninsula, just south of the city. More than 750,000 people live here. The court uses an online records index called MIDX. Visitors can look up case data by appointment at the clerk's office. The sheriff runs a jail in Redwood City and posts booking data for public view. Between the court and sheriff systems, you can track most criminal cases from start to finish in San Mateo County.

San Mateo County Court Records Search

The San Mateo County Superior Court provides access to criminal case records through its MIDX records index. You can view the system at web.sanmateocourt.org/midx. The tool lets you look up cases by name or case number. It covers both felony and misdemeanor filings. The court clerk's office in Redwood City can also pull records for you in person. In-person visits are by appointment only, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Bring a case number if you have one. Name searches take more time and cost more when the clerk has to dig through files.

The MIDX portal shown below is the main public gateway to San Mateo County criminal court records.

Keep in mind that online results may not include every detail from the full case file. You can see case numbers, charges, filing dates, and disposition data. For full documents like police reports or witness statements, you will need to visit the clerk. Copies cost 50 cents per page. Certified copies cost $40 under state law. If the clerk needs more than 10 minutes to find your records, there is a $15 search fee on top of copy costs.

Note: The clerk's office has limited hours for walk-in service, so call (650) 261-5100 ahead of time to set up an appointment.

San Mateo Sheriff Criminal Records

The San Mateo County Sheriff runs the Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City. This is the main jail for the county. The sheriff handles bookings, holds, and releases for all arrests made in San Mateo County. You can call the sheriff at (650) 363-4911 for help finding booking records or checking on someone in custody. The jail holds people awaiting trial and those serving short sentences. Anyone sentenced to more than a year goes to state prison instead.

The California DOJ background check status portal can be used to track Live Scan fingerprint results for San Mateo County residents and applicants.

Booking records change often. People get booked in and released throughout the day. If you cannot find someone in the sheriff's system, they may have already been released or moved to a state facility. For state prison inmates, use the CDCR's CIRIS search tool. That database covers everyone in California state prison custody, regardless of which county their case came from.

California Criminal Records in San Mateo

San Mateo County residents can access state-level criminal records through the California Department of Justice. The DOJ keeps the statewide criminal history database. You can get your own RAP sheet by submitting fingerprints through Live Scan. The fee is $25. There are many Live Scan locations in San Mateo County. Find one at the DOJ Live Scan locator. Results come back in 48 to 72 hours if no record is found. It takes longer when the system flags something for manual review.

Employers in San Mateo County use the DOJ system for background checks too. They need state authorization first. After you get fingerprinted, you can check your status at applicantstatus.doj.ca.gov using your ATI number and date of birth. The DOJ handles about 2 million background checks a year statewide.

The California sex offender registry at meganslaw.ca.gov shows registered offenders in San Mateo County by name or address. Penal Code Section 290.46 controls what data appears on the site. Not all registered offenders show up. Some are listed by ZIP code only, and others are not posted at all based on their offense category.

Clearing Records in San Mateo County

California law gives people paths to clear criminal records. Penal Code Section 1203.4 is the most common route. It lets you petition to dismiss a conviction after you finish probation. You file the petition with the San Mateo Superior Court. The conviction stays on your RAP sheet but shows as dismissed. This can help with jobs and housing. You must file in the same court where your case was heard.

Penal Code Section 851.87 lets you seal arrest records when no conviction resulted from the arrest. This law came from SB 393 in 2017. You do not need to prove innocence. Once sealed, the arrest will not show on most background checks. Proposition 47 resentencing is also an option if you were convicted of certain nonviolent felonies that now count as misdemeanors. Proposition 64 marijuana record relief lets people with old pot convictions get their records reduced or dismissed. Both require a petition to the court. Legal aid groups in the area can help if you qualify for their services.

Note: Dismissal under PC 1203.4 does not remove the conviction from your criminal history. It shows as dismissed, but employers running a thorough check may still see it.

How to Get Criminal Records in San Mateo

There are several ways to get criminal court records in San Mateo County. The MIDX online portal gives you basic case data. For full documents, visit the clerk's office at the Hall of Justice in Redwood City. Staff can look up records by case number or defendant name. Bring ID and the case number if you have it. The main court address is 400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063.

• Online MIDX search at web.sanmateocourt.org for case numbers and filing data
• In-person at the clerk's office by appointment (8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)
• Copies at 50 cents per page, certified copies at $40
• Record search fee of $15 if the search takes more than 10 minutes
• Sheriff booking records by calling (650) 363-4911

Police reports are separate from court records. Local police departments in San Mateo County (Redwood City PD, Daly City PD, San Mateo PD, and others) handle their own reports. You will need to contact the specific department that took the report. The sheriff handles reports for crimes in unincorporated parts of the county.

Note: Court records and police reports are kept by different agencies, so you may need to reach out to more than one office depending on what you need.

Nearby Counties

Criminal cases can cross county lines. If you need records from a neighboring area, check these county pages for more criminal record resources.