Criminal records in San Bernardino County, California, are available through several channels. SanBernardinoCourt.us allows you to quickly find publicly available information about criminal cases. Additionally, records can be obtained through the official county court system, law enforcement agencies — including the sheriff's department — and the clerk's office, which maintains case materials and issues certified copies of documents.
How to Search Criminal Records in San Bernardino
Start your search by determining what specific information you are looking for: court materials, arrest data, or inmate status. This will determine where to go.
Online Search
- SanBernardinoCourt.us — enter the full name of the person or case number to view publicly available criminal case data.
- Superior Court Portal — The San Bernardino County Superior Court provides remote access to certain case information, including criminal cases.
- Sheriff's Department Inmate Locator — allows you to find current inmates in county correctional facilities and view booking information.
- San Bernardino City Police Arrest Logs — contain data on recent arrests within the city.
In-Person Visit
The Superior Court clerk's office accepts visitors at several locations in the county. The main building is located in San Bernardino. There, you can use public access terminals or ask a clerk to find a case by name or number. Bring a valid photo ID.
Written Request by Mail
Send a request to the court clerk's office with the full name of the person, date of birth (if known), and case number. Include a money order to cover the cost of copies. To obtain a complete criminal history at the state level, submit a request to the California Department of Justice via the Live Scan procedure — this requires fingerprinting.
For law enforcement documents — police reports, arrest records — contact the sheriff's department public records division.
What You Need to Start a Search
- Full first and last name of the person
- Date of birth — recommended
- Case number — if known
- Booking number — for inmate searches
Search San Bernardino Criminal Cases by Case Number
Each criminal case in the California Superior Court is assigned a unique number. In San Bernardino, the format usually looks like this:
- Letter Prefix — indicates the type of case. For example, FWV or FSB may denote a specific court division or filing location.
- Year — two digits corresponding to the year the case was opened.
- Sequential Number — a consecutive number assigned when the case is registered.
Example: FSB2301234 may indicate a criminal case registered in 2023 in the San Bernardino division. If you have the exact number, the search is much faster — the result appears immediately without the need to filter records by name. The case number is usually indicated in court summons, attorney documents, or notices from the prosecutor's office.
Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in San Bernardino
Charges
| Element | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Statute Code | Reference to the California Penal Code (e.g., PC 459 — burglary). The code is accompanied by a brief description of the offense. |
| Severity | Felony (serious crime), Misdemeanor (minor offense), Infraction (violation). Some crimes in California are classified as "wobblers" — the prosecutor chooses the degree. |
| Amended Charges | The prosecutor may change the initial charges — add new ones, drop some, or reclassify from felony to misdemeanor. |
Case Status
- Pending — the case is open, no decision yet
- Active — the case is actively being considered
- Disposed — the court has made a final decision
- Closed — all procedural actions are completed
Types of Hearings
A criminal case goes through several stages. Arraignment — the first hearing where the defendant is read the charges and responds (guilty / not guilty). Preliminary hearing occurs only in felony cases: the judge determines if there is enough evidence to proceed to trial. Pre-trial conferences are meetings of the parties to discuss agreements or prepare for trial. Sentencing — the session for announcing the sentence. Review hearings monitor compliance with conditions, such as probation.
Court Results
- Guilty — found guilty (by court decision or defendant's admission)
- Not Guilty — found not guilty by jury or judge
- Dismissed — the case is closed without a guilty verdict
- Acquitted — acquitted after a full trial
How to Request Certified Criminal Records in San Bernardino
Certified copies of criminal records are issued by the county Superior Court clerk's office. These are official documents with the court's seal, accepted by other institutions as proof.
Ways to Submit a Request
- In Person — visit the court clerk's office. Submit a request at the service window, providing the case number or the defendant's full name. Payment on-site.
- By Mail — send a written request to the court's address with case details and a money order for the appropriate amount. Detailed information about ordering documents and their cost is available on the court's website.
- Online — for some categories of documents, the court offers remote ordering options.
To obtain a complete state-level criminal history (not just materials for a specific case), you need to contact the California Department of Justice. The procedure requires fingerprinting through an authorized Live Scan location.
What to Bring
- Valid photo ID (driver's license, passport)
- Case number or full name and date of birth of the defendant
- Payment in the form of a money order or credit/debit card (depending on the office)
Law enforcement records — police reports, arrest data — are issued by the sheriff's department through the public records division. For city arrests, contact the San Bernardino City Police Department.
Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in San Bernardino
The cost of copies and certification is set according to the California Government Code. Below are typical fees applicable to the county Superior Court.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Copy of court document (per page) | $0.50 (first page), $0.50 for each additional page |
| Document certification | $25 per document |
| Criminal history check via DOJ (Live Scan) | From $25 (DOJ fee) + Live Scan operator fee (varies) |
| Copies of police reports (sheriff's department) | Depends on volume; inquire when requesting |
Processing Times
- In Person — simple requests are usually processed the same day
- By Mail — 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the clerk's office workload
- Live Scan (DOJ) — results are received within a few days, but more complex checks may take several weeks
The court accepts money orders and generally credit and debit cards. Cash is not accepted at all divisions — confirm this in advance by phone. The current fee schedule is available on the official Superior Court website.