Search Santa Clara County Felony Records

Santa Clara County felony records are held by the Superior Court and the Department of Correction. The court runs an online portal called Case Information Online where the public can search and view info for civil, criminal, family, probate, and other case types. California law as of January 1, 2026 under AB 1524 permits members of the public who are entitled to view an electronic court record in the courthouse to use their own equipment such as a camera or cell phone camera to photograph the record. The county has a population of nearly 2 million people and includes Silicon Valley cities.

Santa Clara Superior Court Case Access

The Santa Clara County Superior Court offers Case Information Online at portal.scscourt.org/search. The public can search and view information for civil, criminal, family, probate, and other case types. Enter a name or case number to find records. The system shows case details, charges, court dates, and status. This is a free service with no registration required for basic searches.

Effective January 1, 2026, California law AB 1524 permits members of the public who are entitled to view an electronic court record in the courthouse to use their own equipment such as a camera or cell phone camera to photograph the record. This applies to records you can legally access. Ask court staff if you have questions about which records you can photograph. Some records remain restricted by law even with this new rule.

The main courthouse is at 191 N. First Street, San Jose, CA 95113. Other criminal courthouses are in Palo Alto, Morgan Hill, and other cities. For help with criminal records, visit the courthouse or call the clerk's office. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at most locations. Check the court website for specific branch hours.

Santa Clara Sheriff Inmate Locator

The Santa Clara County Sheriff operates an inmate locator at eservices.sccgov.org/ovr/findinmate/find. Search by name to find people currently in custody. The system shows booking date, charges, bail, and housing location. Data updates regularly. This tool is free and open to the public with no login required.

For questions about inmates or the jail system, call the Department of Correction at (408) 299-2305. The Main Jail Complex is at (408) 808-2800. The Sheriff provides law enforcement for unincorporated areas and some contract cities. Many Santa Clara County cities have their own police departments including San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Mountain View, Palo Alto, and others.

Finding Felony Records in Santa Clara County

Start with the court portal. Go to portal.scscourt.org/search and enter a name. Results show case numbers and basic info. Click on a case to view details. If you need copies of documents, visit the courthouse in person or call to request copies by mail. Fees apply for copies and certification. Ask the clerk about current fees and procedures.

For current inmates, use the Sheriff inmate locator. This shows who is in jail right now and what the charges are. If you need arrest records, contact the agency that made the arrest. City police departments keep their own records. The Sheriff handles arrests in unincorporated areas. All felony cases are filed with the Superior Court no matter which agency made the arrest.

If you find a case online and want to photograph court records at the courthouse, you can use your own camera or phone under AB 1524 effective January 1, 2026. This applies to electronic records you are entitled to view. Some records may still be restricted. Ask court staff before photographing records to make sure you are allowed to do so.

Cities in Santa Clara County

Santa Clara County includes several large cities. The biggest is San Jose which has over 1 million people. Other cities with populations over 100,000 are Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. Major cities under that threshold include Palo Alto, Mountain View, Milpitas, Cupertino, and others. Felony cases from any city are filed with the Superior Court.

Nearby Counties

Santa Clara County borders San Mateo County to the northwest, Alameda County to the north, Stanislaus County to the east, Merced County and San Benito County to the south, and Santa Cruz County to the southwest. Each county has its own court and sheriff. Search the appropriate county for cases filed there.