Criminal records of Santa Barbara County, California, are available through several channels. SantaBarbaraCourt.us allows quick access to public information about criminal cases in the county. Additionally, records can be obtained through the official Superior Court system, the sheriff's office, and the court clerk's office. Online tools, personal visits, or written requests — each of these methods provides access to criminal case materials in accordance with California public records laws.
How to Search Criminal Records in Santa Barbara
Start your search by determining what specific information you need — a case number, the full name of the defendant, or a date of birth significantly narrows down the results.
Through SantaBarbaraCourt.us
SantaBarbaraCourt.us is a convenient way to find publicly available information about county criminal cases. Enter a name or case number, and the system will display relevant records from court databases.
Online through Official Portals
- Visit the case records search page of the Santa Barbara County Superior Court. This tool allows searching for civil, family, and other cases by number or party name.
- Note: The online criminal case index is currently unavailable. To view criminal files, you need to visit the court clerk's office in person.
- To check if a person is in custody, use the "Who Is In Custody" tool on the county sheriff's office website.
- For searching inmates in California state facilities, use the CIRIS system by CDCR.
Personal Visit
Criminal cases can be viewed at the court records department window during business hours. The court has two main offices:
South County (Santa Barbara)
North County (Santa Maria)
Check the address and hours of the northern branch on the Court Records page.
Mail or Written Request
Send a completed Copy Request Form to the court clerk's office at the South County address. The form and instructions can be found on the court's website. To obtain an official state-level criminal history, submit a request to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) with fingerprinting through the Live Scan system.
What you need to start a search:
- Full name of the person (last name, first name)
- Case number (if known)
- Date of birth (preferable)
Search Santa Barbara Criminal Cases by Case Number
The case number is the quickest key to a search. In California, Superior Court case numbers typically have the following structure:
- Filing year — a four-digit number (e.g., 2024)
- Case type code — a letter prefix indicating the category: CR or F for criminal cases (felony), M for misdemeanor, TR for traffic violations
- Sequential number — a sequential numeric identifier
For example, the number 2024CR01234 indicates a criminal case filed in 2024. If you have the case number, enter it into the court's search tool — the result will appear immediately. Without the number, you'll have to search by name, which may return multiple records, especially for common surnames.
Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in Santa Barbara
Each criminal case contains several key elements. Here's what they mean in practice.
Charges
| Element | What it means |
|---|---|
| Statute code | Reference to the California Penal Code (e.g., PC 459 — burglary) |
| Felony | Serious crime; punishment may include imprisonment in state prison |
| Misdemeanor | Less serious offense; up to one year in county jail |
| Infraction | Minor violation (e.g., traffic fine); usually only a monetary penalty |
| Amended charges | Charges altered by the prosecutor after initial filing |
Case Status
- Pending — the case is open, awaiting consideration
- Active — the court process is ongoing
- Disposed — the case is resolved (verdict, dismissal, etc.)
- Closed — all procedures are completed
Hearings
Typical stages of a criminal case in the county:
- Arraignment — first court appearance, where charges are read and the defendant pleads guilty or not guilty
- Preliminary hearing — the judge determines if there is enough evidence to proceed to trial (felony only)
- Pre-trial conference — parties discuss the possibility of a plea deal or prepare for trial
- Trial — substantive court hearing
- Sentencing — sentencing after a guilty plea
- Review hearing — checking compliance with probation terms
Court Results
- Guilty — found guilty
- Not guilty — acquitted
- Dismissed — case closed by the prosecutor or judge
- Acquitted — acquitted as a result of the trial
- No contest (nolo contendere) — the defendant does not dispute the charges but does not formally admit guilt
How to Request Certified Criminal Records in Santa Barbara
Certified copies of court criminal records are issued by the Superior Court clerk's office. These are official documents with the court's seal, accepted by other institutions.
How to Submit a Request
- In person — visit the Court Records department at the South County address and fill out the Copy Request Form at the service window.
- By mail — send the completed Copy Request Form along with payment (check or money order payable to "Clerk of the Court") to the address:
- State-level criminal history — for a complete criminal background report, contact the California Department of Justice. You need to undergo the Live Scan fingerprinting procedure at an authorized center.
Required Documents
- Completed Copy Request Form (available on the court's website)
- Case number (if known)
- Valid photo ID (for in-person requests)
For police reports, contact the Records Bureau of the Santa Barbara Police Department in accordance with California Government Code § 6250 et seq.
Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in Santa Barbara
Fees for copies of court records are set according to California Government Code § 70626 and local court rules.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Copy of court document (per page) | $0.50 (uncertified) |
| Document certification | $40 for the first document, $25 for each subsequent one (according to GC § 70626) |
| Registry search (if case number is unknown) | An additional search fee may apply — check with the clerk's office |
| Criminal check through DOJ (Live Scan) | $25–$32 for DOJ processing + Live Scan operator fee (varies) |
Processing Times
- In person — copies are usually issued the same day if the file is available
- By mail — processing takes 5 to 10 business days after receiving the request
- DOJ Live Scan — results are received within 1–15 business days depending on the type of request
Payment is accepted by check or money order. Confirm acceptable payment methods directly with the court clerk's office, as rules may change. To check for warrants, call the sheriff's office at (805) 681-4330 and select the "Warrants" option in the voice menu.