Find Ventura County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Ventura County are managed by the Superior Court and the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. About 840,000 people live in Ventura County, which sits along the coast between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. The court handles all criminal filings for the county, from misdemeanors to serious felonies. You can search for criminal case information through the court's online case inquiry tool. The sheriff keeps booking records and runs the county jail. Both agencies offer ways to look things up without having to visit in person, though some requests still need a trip to the courthouse or a phone call to the records department.

Ventura County Criminal Case Inquiry

The Ventura Superior Court offers case lookup through an online inquiry tool. Criminal and traffic case searches are available at countyofventura.org, linked from the court's case inquiry page. You can search by defendant name, case number, or citation number. The system returns case details including charges, hearing dates, and disposition. It is a good starting point if you need to find a case number or check on the status of a criminal filing.

The Ventura County Superior Court's case inquiry page is shown below, with links to the criminal and traffic search tools.

The court charges a $15 record search fee for up to 15 names. This fee applies to searches done by court staff that take more than 10 minutes. Simple online lookups may not trigger this fee. Copies are 50 cents per page. Certified copies cost $40. You can request records in person at the Ventura County Superior Court Records Department. The main courthouse is at 800 South Victoria Avenue in Ventura. Call (805) 289-8668 for questions about record requests.

Ventura County also has a juvenile courthouse. Records from juvenile cases are confidential under California law. You cannot access juvenile criminal records through the public case inquiry system. Contact the Juvenile Courthouse at (805) 289-8820 if you have questions about juvenile case records.

Note: The court's online search tool may have limited hours or maintenance windows, so try again later if the system is down.

Ventura Sheriff Inmate Information

The Ventura County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail system. You can search for current inmates at sheriff.venturacounty.gov. Search by name to find people in county custody. Results show charges, bail amount, and the facility where the person is being held. The main facility is the Todd Road Jail in Santa Paula. The Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura also holds inmates.

The DOJ Live Scan system is another tool for Ventura County residents who need to check their own criminal record background.

The sheriff's search only covers people currently held in Ventura County jail. Once someone is released or moved to state prison, they will not appear in this system. For state prison inmates, use the CDCR CIRIS search. Contact the sheriff's jail information line at (805) 654-3335 for help with specific booking inquiries.

California State Records in Ventura County

The California DOJ maintains all statewide criminal history records. To get a copy of your own RAP sheet, go to any Live Scan location, submit your fingerprints, and pay $25. Ventura County has Live Scan sites in Ventura, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, and other cities. Find locations through the DOJ locator tool. Processing takes about 48 to 72 hours for clean records. When the DOJ finds a match, a technician reviews it manually, and that can add days or even weeks to the timeline.

Background checks for employment and licensing in Ventura County go through the same DOJ system. The employer or agency must be authorized by the state. They submit your fingerprints and wait for the DOJ to send back results. Track your background check status at applicantstatus.doj.ca.gov. You need the ATI number from your fingerprint session and your date of birth.

The California sex offender registry at meganslaw.ca.gov is also available to Ventura County residents. You can search by name or look up offenders in specific neighborhoods. The data comes from the California Sex and Arson Registry maintained by the DOJ.

Record Clearing in Ventura County

Ventura County residents with a criminal record can seek relief under several California statutes. Penal Code Section 1203.4 allows people who completed probation to petition for dismissal of their conviction. File the petition at the Ventura Superior Court. The conviction remains on your RAP sheet but gets marked as dismissed. It helps with job applications and housing. The court considers factors like whether you completed all terms of probation, paid all fines, and stayed out of trouble.

Arrest record sealing under Penal Code Section 851.87 is available when no conviction resulted from an arrest. You do not have to show factual innocence. Proposition 47 can help with older felony convictions for certain drug and theft crimes. If your offense now qualifies as a misdemeanor, you can petition to have it reduced. Proposition 64 applies to prior marijuana charges. The Ventura County Public Defender's office sometimes holds expungement workshops. Legal Aid of Ventura County is another option for free help with the paperwork if you meet their income guidelines.

Note: Filing fees for record relief petitions can vary, and fee waivers are available for people who qualify based on income.

How to Get Ventura County Criminal Records

Getting criminal records from Ventura County depends on what you need. The online case inquiry tool gives you basic case data. For complete documents, visit the clerk's office at the main courthouse in Ventura. You can also call (805) 289-8668 to ask about record availability before making the trip.

• Online case inquiry for case numbers and hearing dates
• In-person at the clerk's window for full case files
• Copies at 50 cents per page, certified copies at $40
• Sheriff's inmate search for booking and custody data
• DOJ Live Scan for your own criminal history ($25)

Police reports are handled by the agency that made the arrest. If the Ventura Police Department made the arrest, contact them for the report. For arrests in Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, or other cities, reach out to that city's police department. Arrests in unincorporated areas go through the sheriff's office. Always confirm which agency handled the arrest before you request a police report.

Nearby Counties

Ventura County borders a few other counties. Check these pages if you need criminal records from a neighboring jurisdiction.