A public criminal or traffic record search in Los Angeles County begins with the type of information you need. A county court index can help locate a case number, filing date, court location, and parties. A custody system can show selected information about a person currently held in a county facility. Neither source is a complete California criminal-history report.
For a copy of your own statewide criminal-history summary, use the California Department of Justice Record Review process. The DOJ does not provide members of the public with another person's statewide criminal-history summary. For a broader explanation, see our California criminal and traffic records guide.
Start Here: Enter Any Name To View Records
Start with the source that matches your question
| Question | Starting point | What it may show |
|---|---|---|
| Was a criminal case filed in Los Angeles County? | Los Angeles Superior Court Criminal Defendant Name Search | Case-number, party, filing, and location information, subject to the court's access rules. |
| Is someone currently in county custody? | Los Angeles County Sheriff Inmate Information Center | The Sheriff states that its public inmate information can include booking details, arrest information, bail amount, housing location, court dates, and release information when available. |
| Do I need my own California criminal-history summary? | California DOJ Record Review | A fingerprint-based copy of your own state summary, not a public search of another person. |
Search Los Angeles County Superior Court records
Los Angeles Superior Court Criminal Defendant Name Search is the source for criminal case records filed in this county. The court allows a defendant-name search for criminal cases. Its index returns the case number, defendant name, filing date, and filing location. Felony index records run from 1980 to the present and misdemeanor index records generally run from 1988 to the present, with some earlier misdemeanor information available.
The court charges for a defendant-name search, including when no desired match is found. Use the resulting case number with the Criminal Case Access service or contact the court for current access and copy instructions. A case index can confirm that a case exists, but it should not be treated as a complete history for a person. Sealed, confidential, juvenile, and other restricted records are not available simply because a name is known.
Check current county custody separately
Los Angeles County Sheriff Inmate Information Center is separate from the court system. The Sheriff states that its public inmate information can include booking details, arrest information, bail amount, housing location, court dates, and release information when available. A custody result does not establish the final outcome of a criminal case. Conversely, a court case can exist even when the person is not currently in a county facility.
For an arrest by the Los Angeles Police Department, LAPD provides a separate process for an individual to request a summary of their own LAPD arrests. That request does not cover arrests by other agencies. Other cities in the county may maintain their own police records.
Request copies and older records
If an online index identifies a case number, use the court's records instructions to request copies or confirm where the file is held. Court access varies by case type and age. Some courts provide only an index online, while others require an in-person visit or a written copy request for criminal documents.
For an arrest or police incident report, contact the agency that created the record. A county sheriff, city police department, and Superior Court maintain different records.
What to keep in mind in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County court, sheriff, and city police records are maintained by different agencies. The filing location shown in a court result is more reliable than trying to infer a courthouse from a mailing address or city name.
- A court index, a jail lookup, and a DOJ Record Review answer different questions.
- An arrest does not establish that charges were filed or that a conviction resulted.
- A clean online result does not establish that no record exists. Online coverage and public access vary.
- Do not use these sources for employment, housing, insurance, credit, or another FCRA-regulated decision.
Frequently asked questions
Can I search Los Angeles County criminal cases by name?
Use Los Angeles Superior Court Criminal Defendant Name Search's current online access instructions. The court allows a defendant-name search for criminal cases. Its index returns the case number, defendant name, filing date, and filing location. Felony index records run from 1980 to the present and misdemeanor index records generally run from 1988 to the present, with some earlier misdemeanor information available. Search results and access rules vary by case type and may not include every historical or restricted matter.
Does a county court search show every California criminal record?
No. A Superior Court search covers cases filed in that court. California has separate county courts, and the DOJ's statewide criminal-history summary is not a public search of another person.
Can I search county jail custody online?
Use Los Angeles County Sheriff Inmate Information Center for its current custody-access rules. The Sheriff states that its public inmate information can include booking details, arrest information, bail amount, housing location, court dates, and release information when available. This information is separate from court case records.
How do I get copies of a criminal case file?
Start with the case number and contact the court that maintains the file. The court can explain whether records are available online, in person, or by mail, along with current fees and restrictions.
Are criminal court records always public?
No. California court access is limited for sealed, confidential, juvenile, and other restricted records. Remote online access can also be narrower than access available through a courthouse clerk.
Can I get another person's California DOJ criminal-history summary?
No. The DOJ Record Review process is for an individual to request their own criminal-history summary. Public court records follow separate county court access rules.
Can I use these searches for jobs, housing, or insurance decisions?
No. The services discussed on this page are not consumer reporting agencies and the information here is not a consumer report. They should not be used for employment, tenant screening, insurance underwriting, credit, or any other purpose regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
