Lassen County Courthouse: What to Expect for a Criminal Case

Lassen County hears every case, including criminal charges, at one building: the Hall of Justice, 2610 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 96130, (530) 251-8205. Its Criminal Division handles everything from infractions to serious felonies, with its own online case portal, a felony and misdemeanor bail schedule, and limited remote appearance by Zoom or CourtCall.

This guide is part of our statewide courthouse and jail guides by county. For custody, bail, and visiting at the jail, see our Lassen County Jail guide.

Which courthouse hears a criminal case in Lassen County?

Lassen County Superior Court lists one courthouse for every division, including Criminal: the Hall of Justice in Susanville, which hears every case type.

The court's own Criminal Division page confirms criminal matters, in-custody arraignments included, are heard here. A separate building in Susanville, the Historic Courthouse at 220 South Lassen Street, holds the county office that reviews eligibility for a court-appointed lawyer (see below); hearings are held at the Hall of Justice.

How do you look up a Lassen County criminal case online?

Lassen's Case Index and Calendar Portal lets you search by case number or by name, and walks you through converting an older case number to the court's current format.

1. If your case number looks like 2026-CR1234567, open the Case Index and Calendar Portal, select Cases, then Criminal Case, enter the number, and select Hearings.
2. If your case number looks like the shorter, older format, such as CR123456, use Previous Case Number Search under Searches to find the new number the court assigned, then look up hearings under that new number.
3. If you do not know your case number at all, search by party name under Case Searches.
4. Each case's Hearing Summary page lists the date, time, and courtroom for every hearing that is not sealed or confidential.
5. If the portal does not show your case, call the court at (530) 251-8205, select option 1 for case information, then option 2 for Criminal.

What happens at your first Lassen County court date?

A defendant who is held in custody in Lassen County must be arraigned without unnecessary delay, and no later than 48 hours after arrest, not counting Sundays and court holidays.

Penal Code section 825(a)(1) sets that limit directly:

"the defendant shall in all cases be taken before the magistrate without unnecessary delay, and, in any event, within 48 hours after his or her arrest, excluding Sundays and holidays."

If those 48 hours would end while court is not in session, Penal Code section 825(a)(2) extends the deadline through the end of the next court session on the following court day, and someone arrested on a Wednesday after that day's court session must be brought before a judge by Friday, if neither day is a court holiday. Because the exact deadline depends on exactly when the arrest happened, Lassen's own Criminal Division page recommends asking an attorney about the timing in a specific case rather than counting the hours alone. At the arraignment itself, the judge explains the charges, confirms the defendant understands them, takes a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest, and decides whether the defendant will be released and on what terms; answering that you understand the charges is not an admission of guilt. If a defendant does not appear as required, the judge may issue a bench warrant, and willfully failing to appear can be charged as its own separate offense regardless of how the original charge turns out. For a fuller walkthrough of what happens at an arraignment across California, see our arraignments overview.

How is bail set in a Lassen County criminal case?

Lassen's own bail schedule sets $5,000 for Penal Code, Health and Safety Code, and Business and Professions Code misdemeanors unless an offense lists another figure; a judge can change it.

That schedule, printed as the "Jail Bail Schedule for Offenses Committed within the County of Lassen," states: "Adopted by Lassen County Superior Court Pursuant to Penal Code 1269b. Effective January 1, 2026." It is part of the court's 2026 Edition Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedules, adopted for felony, misdemeanor, and infraction charges under Penal Code section 1269b. If a prior conviction is on record, the bail amount doubles. A schedule figure is still only a starting point. In re Humphrey (2021) requires a judge setting money bail to weigh the person's ability to pay, and whether nonfinancial conditions, such as supervision, could reasonably protect the public and the victim or reasonably assure the person's appearance in court. In re Kowalczyk (2026) holds that, outside a capital case, a judge may deny bail outright only for the offenses article I, section 12(b) and (c) of the California Constitution lists, and that an amount the judge does set must generally be one that is reasonably attainable for that person. Before arraignment, the defendant, an attorney, a friend, or a family member can also ask a judge for a lower amount, or for release on the defendant's own recognizance, under Penal Code section 1269c, except for offenses listed in Penal Code section 1270.1(a), such as serious or violent felonies other than residential burglary, and misdemeanor domestic battery. See How Bail Amounts Are Set in California for the full rule.

Can you appear remotely in a Lassen County criminal case?

Remote appearance in a Lassen County criminal case is allowed only for some hearings and generally needs the court's permission in advance; do not assume it is available.

The court's own Criminal Division page puts it plainly: ask your attorney, or contact the court at (530) 251-8205 before the hearing, and if remote appearance is allowed, the Remote Appearance page explains how to join by Zoom, which is free, or CourtCall, which can carry a fee; Local Rules of Court, Rule 6 covers the details. Penal Code section 977 sets the floor under any local rule. A misdemeanor-only defendant may appear through counsel and, if the defendant agrees, remotely except at trial; but a domestic violence misdemeanor requires the defendant's presence at arraignment and sentencing, and a judge may order presence in a misdemeanor DUI case. A felony defendant must be physically present at arraignment, plea, the preliminary hearing, the taking of evidence at trial, and sentencing unless that right is waived; even then, no trial can be remote, and felony sentencing can be remote only in postconviction relief proceedings and as otherwise provided by law.

What should you bring to court, and how do you get there?

Bring identification and your case paperwork, turn off Main Street (State Route 36) onto Riverside Drive and go two blocks, and plan to spend much of the day.

The Hall of Justice is two blocks off Main Street (State Route 36) on Riverside Drive; the court's Location & Directions page lists routes. Check the electronic court docket next to the elevator in the Hall of Justice lobby for your name, case number, and courtroom; if your name is not listed, go to the Clerk's Office instead of guessing which courtroom to enter. Bring identification and any paperwork connected to the arrest or the case, such as jail release paperwork, a notice to appear, a bail or bond receipt, or an arraignment letter. The courthouse does not allow shorts, cut-offs, see-through clothing, or bare feet in the courtroom. Plan to spend a substantial part of the day there, and arrange work and child care around that rather than a specific appointment time.

Who handles indigent defense, interpreters, prosecution, and probation in Lassen County?

Lassen County does not have a public defender's office; an eligible defendant is instead represented by a private attorney under contract with the county or appointed by the court.

You may ask the judge to appoint an attorney at your first court appearance. Whether you qualify turns on a financial evaluation that the Lassen County Office of Recovery and Reimbursement reviews, listing household income and expenses with proof of income; an incomplete form will not be accepted. On the right to an interpreter: a person charged with a crime in California who cannot understand English has a constitutional right to an interpreter throughout the case, under California Constitution article I, section 14, and in a criminal case the cost is "a charge against the court," not the defendant, under Evidence Code section 752(b)(1). Lassen's own Language Access Services page says free interpreters are provided in all criminal cases and asks you to request one as early as possible, at least one week before the court date, by filing form INT-300, calling (530) 251-8205, or emailing interpreters@lassencourt.ca.gov; if no interpreter is available by the hearing, the case may be continued. Court staff can explain procedures and forms but cannot give legal advice or tell you how your case will likely turn out; the court's own Self-Help Center and the statewide self-help guide cover general questions that are not legal advice.

Does Lassen County have a CARE Court or other collaborative program?

Lassen County Superior Court's own list of divisions names a CARE Court among its programs, without separately naming a drug court, veterans court, or mental health court.

CARE Court is a civil proceeding, not a criminal calendar: under the CARE Act, certain family members and other listed petitioners can ask a civil court for a treatment and services plan for an adult with a qualifying diagnosis. Welfare and Institutions Code section 5972(b) limits qualifying diagnoses to schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, or bipolar I disorder with psychotic features, excluding psychosis from current intoxication. Ask your attorney whether it could apply. See the firm's criminal defense practice page for how it approaches a Lassen County charge generally.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Lassen County Courthouse located?

The Hall of Justice, 2610 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 96130, is Lassen County's only courthouse, and it hears criminal cases along with every other case type. Building hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

How do I find my courtroom at the Lassen County Courthouse?

Check the electronic docket near the elevator in the Hall of Justice lobby for your name, case number, and courtroom on your court date. If you are not listed, go to the Clerk's Office rather than guess.

Can my lawyer appear for me instead of me going to court?

Sometimes, in a misdemeanor case. Penal Code section 977 lets a defendant charged only with a misdemeanor appear through counsel, except that a domestic violence misdemeanor requires the defendant to be present at arraignment and sentencing, and a judge can order presence in a misdemeanor DUI case. Some hearings also allow remote appearance; ask your attorney whether either applies to your hearing.

How much is bail in Lassen County, and can I ask for less?

Lassen County Superior Court's Jail Bail Schedule, effective January 1, 2026 under Penal Code section 1269b, sets $5,000 for Penal Code, Health and Safety Code, and Business and Professions Code misdemeanors unless an offense lists another amount, doubled for a prior conviction. Before arraignment, the defendant, an attorney, a friend, or a family member can ask a judge for less, or for own recognizance release, under Penal Code section 1269c, except for offenses listed in section 1270.1.

Does Lassen County have a public defender's office?

No. Lassen County does not maintain a standing public defender's office. An eligible defendant who cannot afford a lawyer is represented by a private attorney under contract with the county or appointed by the court, after the Office of Recovery and Reimbursement reviews a financial evaluation.

What happens if I miss my Lassen County court date?

The judge may issue a bench warrant for your arrest, and willfully failing to appear can be charged as its own separate offense no matter what happens with the original charge. Contact your attorney immediately if you have already missed a date or are worried you might.

Where do I go if someone was arrested and is at the Lassen County Jail?

See our Lassen County Jail guide for how to confirm custody, how bail and release work, and what happens before the court date described above.

Talk to a lawyer about your Lassen County case

A Lassen County court date is easier to face with a lawyer beside you from the start, whatever the charge. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley offers a free, confidential consultation, available 24 hours a day, with payment plans and service in Spanish. Call (800) 755-5174, or request a free consultation online.