Start by listing each case and the California county where it was filed. Request case documents from each county’s superior court; a statewide criminal history review from the California Department of Justice (DOJ) can help identify cases, but it is a summary record, not a substitute for court orders and filings. California Courts says court records are obtained from the court where the case was filed, and its court directory lists the county courts. The DOJ record-review process lets a person request their own California criminal history for accuracy and completeness.
Build a case list before ordering copies
Make one row per case, with the county, defendant name used at the time, approximate filing year, and case number if known. Old notices, probation papers, and prior attorney files may supply clues. If you do not know a case number, search the relevant court’s website or ask its clerk how to locate the case by name and year. California Courts says a name or case number is generally needed for a records request, and online criminal case information may be limited. A missing online result does not by itself establish that there is no case. See its guides to looking up a case and getting a copy of a court record.
If you are unsure which counties have cases, consider requesting your own DOJ Record of Arrest and Prosecution, often called a RAP sheet. California residents use the DOJ’s Record Review Live Scan form; people outside California use the fingerprint-card process described by DOJ. A person cannot use that self-review procedure to request somebody else’s record, and DOJ cautions that the response is not for visa or immigration transactions. The DOJ instructions explain the process and any processing fee or waiver. Use the resulting county and case information as leads to verify against the court’s actual file.
Ask for the documents that answer your question
When discussing an old conviction with a lawyer, a useful first request is the docket or register of actions and the minute orders or other orders showing the plea, verdict, sentence, and later changes. Ask about the charging document and any written plea agreement or judgment if those details matter to the review. These are practical document targets; a court’s file and naming conventions vary. Request the final disposition for each case and any later order changing it, so an old charge is not mistaken for the final outcome. If a clerk cannot identify a document by the name you use, describe the event and date you need to verify.
Ask the person or agency that will use a record whether a certified copy is needed before paying for certification. California Courts says copies can be requested in person, by mail, and at many courts online; older records may take longer. Its copy-of-record guide also explains that fees and access rules apply. A certified DOJ criminal history record is a different product: DOJ says it does not provide certified copies of criminal history records to individual applicants.
Keep county files separate, then reconcile them
Save documents under the county and case number, with the date received. Compare each court file with the DOJ summary: Does the case number match? Did the court dismiss a charge or change a sentence after the original entry? Is a disposition missing? DOJ says criminal justice agencies and courts submit arrest and disposition information to its statewide repository. If your own record-review response appears inaccurate or incomplete, DOJ provides a challenge procedure and asks for available supporting proof. Its fingerprint guidance also advises following up with the court where the case was heard about corrected court information. A discrepancy is a reason to investigate; do not guess which record is current.
Some files will not be fully visible online, and confidential records require proof of a right to access them. The California Courts lookup guide explains those limits. If a case is sealed, juvenile, or otherwise restricted, ask the court or a lawyer about the access process that applies to that particular file. A general records request does not guarantee access.
Collecting records and seeking record relief are different steps. The documents help identify what happened and what may need review; they do not themselves dismiss or seal a conviction. California Courts’ clean-your-record guide describes relief options that depend on the type and status of the case. For a broader discussion, see our post-conviction relief page. To discuss records from several counties with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, call (800) 755-5174.