Tehama County Criminal Records Lookup

Criminal records in Tehama County are managed through the Superior Court in Red Bluff and the Tehama County Sheriff's Office. The county sits in the northern Sacramento Valley with about 65,000 residents. Red Bluff serves as the county seat and is where the courthouse and main sheriff's office are based. Criminal cases from across the county, including Corning and the surrounding rural areas, all go through the Red Bluff courthouse. Tehama County has more criminal case activity than many rural Northern California counties due to its position along Interstate 5, though volume is still modest compared to urban areas.

Tehama County Court Criminal Records

The Tehama County Superior Court in Red Bluff handles all criminal cases in the county. You can reach the court through its website at tehama.courts.ca.gov. The court provides some online services, though the scope of online case searching is more limited than what you would find in a larger county. Contact the clerk directly for criminal case lookups.

Criminal court files are public records in California. The clerk can search by defendant name or case number. If you have both, the search goes faster. The standard fees apply here: 50 cents per page for copies, $40 for a certified copy, and $15 if the clerk spends more than 10 minutes searching. These are set by state law and are the same at every Superior Court in California.

The courthouse sits at 1740 Walnut Street in Red Bluff. If you plan to visit, check the court's website for current hours and any appointment requirements. Some California courts adopted appointment systems during recent years and have kept them in place. Calling ahead saves you a wasted trip.

Note: Tehama County shares a judicial district with some neighboring counties for certain purposes. Make sure the case you are looking for was actually filed in Tehama, not in an adjacent county.

Tehama County Sheriff Records

The Tehama County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for unincorporated areas and operates the county jail. The sheriff's phone number is (530) 527-3484. Call this number to ask about current inmates, booking records, and arrest reports. The sheriff handles a large portion of the county's law enforcement activity. Red Bluff and Corning have their own police departments for incidents within city limits.

Booking records show who is in custody, what they were charged with, and when they were booked. These records update as new arrests come in and as people are released or transferred. Tehama County does not appear to have a public online inmate search, so phone inquiries are the standard method for checking on someone in jail.

People convicted in Tehama County and sentenced to state prison will be in the CDCR system. Use the CIRIS inmate search to look them up. The local jail only holds pretrial detainees and those serving sentences of a year or less.

State Criminal Records Resources

For formal background checks and statewide criminal history data, Tehama County residents use the California DOJ. The DOJ keeps the central criminal history database that includes arrest and court records from all 58 counties. You can request your own RAP sheet through Live Scan fingerprinting for $25. The DOJ Live Scan locator can help you find a certified provider. Red Bluff and the surrounding area should have options, and Redding in Shasta County is not far if you need more choices.

Processing takes 48 to 72 hours when no record is on file. A hit takes longer because a technician has to look at it manually. You can check the status at applicantstatus.doj.ca.gov. Employers who run background checks in Tehama County must be authorized by the DOJ to access criminal history information. The DOJ processes about 2 million state-level checks per year.

The California sex offender registry at meganslaw.ca.gov is free to use. Search by name, address, or zip code to find registered sex offenders in the Tehama County area. The DOJ runs this registry under Penal Code Section 290.46.

Clearing Records in Tehama County

Tehama County residents with a criminal history can petition for relief under several California statutes. Penal Code Section 1203.4 is the most used. It lets you ask the court to dismiss a conviction after probation is done. File the petition with the Tehama County Superior Court in Red Bluff. The conviction stays on your record but gets marked as dismissed. That change matters for job searches and professional licensing.

Other options include Penal Code Section 851.87 for sealing arrest records that did not result in a conviction. No innocence proof is needed for this one. Proposition 47 covers resentencing for certain nonviolent drug and theft crimes originally charged as felonies. Proposition 64 helps with old marijuana convictions. Each petition goes through the Superior Court. Legal aid in the Red Bluff area is limited, but Legal Services of Northern California may be able to help with filing if you meet income requirements.

How to Get Tehama County Records

Several agencies hold criminal records related to Tehama County. The type of record determines where you go. Court filings, arrest data, and statewide background checks are all separate systems run by different offices.

• Contact the Tehama County Superior Court clerk for criminal case records
• Call the sheriff at (530) 527-3484 for jail and arrest information
• Request your RAP sheet through Live Scan at any certified provider ($25 DOJ fee)
• Use CIRIS online to search for California state prison inmates
• Check meganslaw.ca.gov for sex offender registry information
• Contact Red Bluff PD or Corning PD for city police reports

You can visit the courthouse at 1740 Walnut Street, Red Bluff, CA 96080, or make a request by mail. Mail requests should include the defendant's name, case number if known, payment for copy fees, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Call ahead to confirm current procedures and the amount you need to send.

Note: Red Bluff PD and Corning PD each maintain their own police records. The sheriff handles records for the rest of the county. If you are not sure who handled the original arrest, start with the sheriff's office and they can point you the right way.

Nearby Counties

Tehama County borders several Northern California counties. These pages cover criminal record resources in surrounding areas.