Sonoma County Criminal Records
What Is Sonoma County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Sonoma County are official documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system within the county's jurisdiction. These records encompass a comprehensive history of arrests, charges, court proceedings, and dispositions maintained by various law enforcement and judicial agencies throughout Sonoma County.
Criminal records are categorized into several distinct types:
- Arrest Records: Documents created when an individual is taken into custody by law enforcement, but do not necessarily indicate guilt
- Conviction Records: Official documentation of cases where individuals have been found guilty of criminal offenses
- Felony Records: Documentation of serious crimes punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year
- Misdemeanor Records: Records of less serious offenses typically punishable by fines or imprisonment of less than one year
Juvenile records in Sonoma County are generally sealed and not accessible to the public, pursuant to California Welfare and Institutions Code § 827, which protects the confidentiality of minors involved in the juvenile justice system.
Several agencies maintain criminal records in Sonoma County:
Sonoma County Sheriff's Office
2796 Ventura Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 565-2511
Sonoma County Sheriff's Office
The Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, booking information, and jail records for the county.
Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma
Hall of Justice
600 Administration Drive
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 521-6500
Sonoma County Superior Court
The court maintains case files, proceedings, dispositions, and sentencing information.
California Department of Justice
P.O. Box 903417
Sacramento, CA 94203-4170
(916) 210-6276
California Department of Justice
The state DOJ maintains the central repository of criminal history information for California.
Sonoma County criminal records typically include information about charges filed, arraignments, pleas entered, trial proceedings, verdicts, and sentencing details. These records may also contain information about probation, parole, and compliance with court-ordered conditions.
According to California Penal Code § 13100-13326, criminal records are defined as "the master record of information pertaining to one person compiled by a criminal justice agency consisting of a summary of arrests, pretrial proceedings, the nature and disposition of criminal charges, sentencing, incarceration, rehabilitation, and release."
Are Criminal Records Public In Sonoma County
Criminal records in Sonoma County are generally considered public information under the California Public Records Act (CPRA), which provides that government records shall be disclosed to the public upon request unless there is a specific reason not to do so. This right is further reinforced by Article I, Section 3(b) of the California Constitution, which establishes the public's right to access information concerning the conduct of government.
Pursuant to Government Code § 6250-6270, "access to information concerning the conduct of the people's business is a fundamental and necessary right of every person in this state." This statute establishes the presumption that records are open to the public unless specifically exempted by law.
However, not all criminal records are publicly accessible. The following categories of records typically have restricted access:
- Ongoing investigations: Records pertaining to active law enforcement investigations may be withheld to protect the integrity of the investigation
- Sealed records: Cases that have been judicially sealed are not available to the public
- Juvenile records: As mentioned previously, records involving minors are generally confidential
- Expunged records: Records of convictions that have been legally expunged are removed from public access
- Certain domestic violence and sexual offense records: Information that might identify victims of these crimes is often redacted
Adult conviction records are generally accessible to the public through the Sonoma County Superior Court case portal. Court proceedings in Sonoma County are presumptively open to the public, with certain exceptions for sensitive cases or portions of proceedings that may be closed at a judge's discretion.
The California Rules of Court, specifically Rule 2.503, governs public access to electronic trial court records and establishes parameters for what information is available electronically versus in-person only.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Sonoma County in 2026
Members of the public seeking criminal records in Sonoma County may utilize several methods to access this information. The county provides both in-person and online options for record retrieval.
For in-person requests at the courthouse:
- Visit the Criminal Division of the Sonoma County Superior Court during regular business hours
- Complete a Criminal Records Request Form
- Present valid government-issued photo identification
- Pay applicable fees for copies (currently $0.50 per page)
- Wait for staff to process the request (some records may be available immediately, while others may require additional time)
Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma - Criminal Division
Hall of Justice
600 Administration Drive, Room 109-J
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 521-6500
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
For requests through the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office:
- Visit the Sheriff's Office Records Bureau
- Complete a Public Records Request form
- Provide specific information about the record being sought (name, date of birth, case number if known)
- Pay applicable fees for copies
- Allow time for processing (complex requests may take 10 business days or longer)
Sonoma County Sheriff's Office Records Bureau
2796 Ventura Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 565-2751
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
For statewide criminal history information:
- Submit fingerprints through the Live Scan system at an authorized fingerprinting agency
- Complete the Request for Live Scan Service form (BCIA 8016)
- Pay required fees (currently $25 for the state search plus Live Scan operator fees)
- Wait for results to be mailed to the requesting party
Under current California law, specifically Penal Code § 11105, individuals may request their own criminal history records from the California Department of Justice, but third-party requests for another person's complete criminal history are restricted to authorized entities.
How To Find Criminal Records in Sonoma County Online?
Sonoma County offers several online resources for accessing criminal records digitally. These electronic systems provide convenient alternatives to in-person visits for many record types.
The Sonoma County Superior Court Case Portal serves as the primary online resource for court case information. This web-based case management system allows users to:
- Search for cases by name, case number, or citation number
- View case summaries, charges, and disposition information
- Access court calendars and scheduled hearings
- View certain case documents (though some may require in-person requests)
No registration is required to perform basic searches, though certain advanced features may require user accounts.
The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office Arrest Data portal provides access to arrest information. This database includes:
- Arrest date and time
- Arresting agency
- Charges filed
- Basic demographic information
For daily arrest information, the Sheriff's Office Daily Arrest Log provides a regularly updated listing of recent arrests within the county.
The Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder's Office maintains an online index of official public records recorded from 1964 to the present, which may include certain criminal-related documents.
For state-level incarceration records, the California Incarcerated Records & Information Search (CIRIS) provides information about individuals currently incarcerated in state facilities.
It is important to note that certain records may not be available online due to confidentiality restrictions or technical limitations. In such cases, in-person requests remain necessary. Additionally, pursuant to California Rules of Court, Rule 2.503, some court records that are publicly accessible at the courthouse may have limited online availability.
Can You Search Sonoma County Criminal Records for Free?
Sonoma County provides several options for free access to criminal records, though certain services may incur fees. Under the California Public Records Act, specifically Government Code § 6253(a), public records are open to inspection during regular office hours at no charge, though fees may apply for copies.
Free in-person inspection is available at:
Sonoma County Superior Court - Criminal Division
Hall of Justice
600 Administration Drive, Room 109-J
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sonoma County Sheriff's Office
2796 Ventura Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Several online resources provide free access to criminal record information:
- The Sonoma County Superior Court Case Portal offers free basic case searches without registration
- The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office Arrest Data portal provides free access to arrest information
- The Daily Arrest Log is freely accessible online
While basic searches are free, fees may apply for:
- Certified copies of court documents ($25 per document plus $0.50 per page)
- Background checks requiring fingerprint submission ($25 state fee plus Live Scan operator fees)
- Extensive record searches requiring significant staff time
- Copies of documents ($0.50 per page for standard copies)
The Sonoma County Superior Court may waive fees for individuals who demonstrate financial hardship by filing a Fee Waiver Application (FW-001 form).
What's Included in a Sonoma County Criminal Record?
Sonoma County criminal records typically contain comprehensive information about an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system. These records are structured to include several key categories of information.
Identifying Information:
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth and age
- Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
- Mugshot or booking photograph when available
- Last known address
- State Identification Number (SID)
- FBI number (if applicable)
Arrest Information:
- Date and time of arrest
- Arresting agency and officer
- Booking number and facility
- Charges filed at time of arrest with corresponding California Penal Code sections
- Bail amount and status
- Detention facility information
Court Case Information:
- Case number and filing date
- Court of jurisdiction (specific Sonoma County courthouse)
- Charges filed by the prosecutor with statute citations
- Classification of charges (felony, misdemeanor, infraction)
- Plea entered
- Attorney information (public defender or private counsel)
- Hearing dates and proceedings
Disposition Information:
- Verdict or case outcome
- Conviction date (if applicable)
- Sentencing details including:
- Incarceration terms and location
- Probation conditions and duration
- Fines, fees, and restitution ordered
- Court-ordered programs or treatment
- Appeal information (if applicable)
- Probation or parole status
Additional Information:
- Active warrants
- Protective or restraining orders
- Sex offender registration requirements
- DUI/DWI history
- Traffic violations connected to criminal matters
- Pending charges in other jurisdictions
The comprehensiveness of records may vary depending on the age of the case and the maintaining agency. Newer records tend to contain more detailed information due to improved record-keeping systems implemented in recent years.
How Long Does Sonoma County Keep Criminal Records?
Sonoma County maintains criminal records according to retention schedules established by California state law and local policies. These schedules vary based on the type of record and its significance.
Under Government Code § 26202, counties are authorized to establish retention periods for various records, with certain minimum requirements mandated by state law.
For court records, the retention periods generally include:
- Felony case files: Permanent retention for cases resulting in imprisonment in state prison
- Other felony cases: 75 years from the filing date
- Misdemeanor case files: 5 years from the date of final disposition
- Infractions: 3 years from the date of final disposition
- Arrest records without charges filed: 3 years from the date of arrest
The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office typically maintains:
- Arrest reports: 7 years for adults; until age 18 plus 3 years for juveniles
- Booking photos and fingerprints: Permanent retention
- Jail records: 5 years after release from custody
For probation records, retention periods include:
- Adult probation files: 7 years after case closure
- Juvenile probation files: Until the subject reaches age 38
Certain serious offenses, including homicide, sexual offenses, and arson, have permanent retention requirements regardless of disposition.
Digital records maintained in county databases may have different retention periods than physical records. The transition to electronic record-keeping has allowed for longer retention of certain record types due to reduced storage constraints.
It is important to note that even after official retention periods expire, information about criminal cases may persist in third-party databases that have previously collected the data.
Lookup Criminal Records in Sonoma County
Sonoma County Sheriff's Office Arrest Data
Sonoma County Court Case Portal
Search Official Public Records
Criminal Record Request Information
California Department of Justice Records