Adult felony and misdemeanor cases in Monterey County go to the Salinas Courthouse, 240 Church Street, Salinas, CA 93901. Infractions are handled separately. A self-service portal lets you search your case online, and the court publishes its own bail schedule for a starting figure.
Our Monterey County Jail guide covers finding someone in custody right now, starting with the In Custody Log on the Sheriff's Office website; this page is for a scheduled court date, and it is part of our broader California courthouse and jail directory covering counties statewide.
Which courthouse hears a criminal case in Monterey County?
Monterey County Superior Court's own 2026 Judicial Assignments list, not a building's name, settles where a criminal case is heard: the Salinas Courthouse, not the separately named Monterey Courthouse.
| Division | Address | Phone | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas Courthouse (Salinas Division) | 240 Church Street, Salinas, CA 93901 | (831) 775-5400 | Adult felony and misdemeanor criminal cases |
| Marina Courthouse (Marina Division) | 3180 Del Monte Blvd., Marina, CA 93933 | (831) 883-5300 | Adult infractions and misdemeanor unlicensed driving (Vehicle Code 12500(a)) |
The judicial assignments list shows Salinas Courthouse departments running felony arraignments, felony and misdemeanor trials, and criminal mental health and diversion calendars; a differently named Monterey Courthouse, at 1200 Aguajito Road in Monterey, hears only probate, civil, and family law matters, not criminal cases, so the city name "Monterey" on a building is not a shortcut to the right address. Salinas also functions as the county seat for filing criminal matters, and the court's own materials note that the District Attorney can choose to file a complaint there no matter where in the county the offense happened. The Marina Division instead takes adult infractions, and the court names one misdemeanor heard there: unlicensed driving under Vehicle Code section 12500(a). When in doubt about which division applies, check the citation or notice to appear; it will say.
How do you look up a Monterey County criminal case online?
The court's self-service records portal, which needs no registration, reaches current and completed Monterey County cases going back to 2008, and shows scheduled hearings.
- Open the court's Case Search page and go to its self-service records portal.
- Pull up a case by name or case number to see its status or upcoming hearings; the portal doubles as a place to pay criminal and traffic fines.
- Before a hearing, re-check your name through the same search, or browse the court's weekly public calendars directly.
- Missed a court date, or think a warrant might be out for you? The Superior Court Clerk's Office in Salinas can put the matter back on calendar in person.
What happens at your first court appearance?
A person held in custody after an arrest must be brought before a judge without unnecessary delay, and within 48 hours at the latest, not counting Sundays or holidays.
"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."
That 48-hour clock, from Penal Code section 825(a)(1), sets how fast a person held in custody must see a judge; it is not a deadline for filing charges and not a promise of release. If the 48 hours run out 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.
Give yourself extra time at the Salinas Courthouse: the court says parking is very limited and asks you to allow time for entrance security screening. Past security, your name and courtroom should be posted on the central calendar board; if it is not there, the Clerk's Office can help. At a misdemeanor arraignment, the defendant enters a plea: guilty, no contest, or not guilty. Pleading guilty or no contest raises the question of sentencing that same day versus a later date; pleading not guilty raises a different question, whether you will hire a lawyer, represent yourself, or ask the court to appoint one.
A felony or misdemeanor arrest in Monterey County carries a bail figure under the court's 2025 Criminal Bail Schedule, adopted and effective February 13, 2025, separate from the statewide traffic and infraction schedule posted on the same page. Treat that number as a starting point, not a final answer: a judge can set a different amount. In re Humphrey (2021) requires a judge setting money bail to consider what the person can afford, and whether nonfinancial conditions, such as supervision, could reasonably protect the public and the victim or reasonably assure the person's return to court. In re Kowalczyk, decided by the California Supreme Court in April 2026, holds that money bail must generally be set at an amount that is "reasonably attainable," and limits outright bail denial, outside capital cases, to the offenses listed in California Constitution article I, section 12, subdivisions (b) and (c). For more detail, see What Happens at an Arraignment in California and how California bail amounts are set.
Posted bail but your case never showed up on calendar the day you were bonded to appear? Keep checking the court's public website, and call the District Attorney's office at (831) 755-5070.
Can you appear remotely in a Monterey County criminal case?
Monterey's Local Rule 1.9 allows a remote appearance in a criminal case only where the law permits it and the court has authorized it in advance.
The court's criminal FAQ says appearances in its criminal departments are held in person and by remote video. Under the court's Local Rule 1.9, anyone who wants to appear remotely in a criminal proceeding where the law allows it must get the court's prior express authorization at least two court days ahead, by filing Local Court Form CR-117; without it, the appearance must be in person. It applies to defendants. Penal Code section 977 sets the limits for a defendant: in a felony case, remote appearance requires waiving the right to be physically present, never covers a jury or court trial, and does not cover sentencing except in postconviction relief proceedings and as otherwise provided by law; in a misdemeanor case, remote proceedings need the defendant's agreement and exclude trials, a domestic violence defendant must be present for arraignment and sentencing, and a judge may order a DUI defendant to appear. Ask your attorney whether your hearing qualifies.
What should you bring, and how do you request an interpreter?
Come ready to fill out a Financial Declaration form if you want a court-appointed lawyer, and ask for any interpreter well before the hearing; a defendant's interpreter is free.
If you want a court-appointed lawyer, the court says you will complete a Financial Declaration form before your name is called, so the judge can decide whether you qualify. California Constitution article I, section 14 gives anyone charged with a crime who cannot follow the proceedings in English a right to an interpreter at every stage of the case, and Evidence Code section 752(b)(1) makes the cost a charge against the court, not the defendant. The court asks parties and their lawyers to give notice of any interpreter need on its Interpreter Request form, handed to a clerk at the public counter or emailed to the Interpreter Coordinator, no later than 15 to 20 days before the hearing, since some languages are in great demand; a need not arranged in advance should be raised with the judge at the hearing, naming the language. Spanish is the exception: a Spanish interpreter already sits in the courtroom regularly, so an additional one for a specific hearing needs only 72 hours' notice. Questions go to (831) 775-5400, extension 3800.
Who are Monterey County's public defender and district attorney?
Monterey County's Public Defender and District Attorney both have offices on West Alisal Street in Salinas, and the court appoints the Public Defender or Alternate Public Defender for eligible defendants.
| Office | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Monterey County Public Defender | 168 W Alisal Street, Second Floor, Salinas, CA 93901 | (831) 755-5058 |
| Monterey County District Attorney | 142 W Alisal Street, Suite A, Salinas, CA 93901 | (831) 755-5070 |
If eligible, the court appoints an attorney through the Office of the Public Defender or the Alternate Public Defender's Office. The court's criminal page also lists release on Pretrial Services own recognizance or supervised release as one way a person leaves custody. The Clerk's Office in Salinas is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Does Monterey County have collaborative or treatment courts?
Monterey's own Collaborative Court page and judicial assignments list several programs a qualifying defendant might use instead of straight incarceration.
DUI/DWI Court pairs supervision and treatment with accountability for people facing repeat impaired-driving charges. Drug Treatment Court runs 12 months under Assembly Bill 1950 for people with substance use disorders, trading intensive supervision and treatment for jail time. The same materials also list a Mental Health Court, a Veterans Treatment Court, and a criminal mental health calendar covering diversion matters. The court's page also describes Military Diversion, a pretrial program for current and former service members when sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, or mental illness from military service may be involved; no honorable discharge or combat record is required, and the court says completing counseling or treatment and paying victim restitution in full gets the charges dismissed. The court's page describes it for misdemeanors, but Penal Code section 1001.80 has also covered felonies, except listed offenses, since January 1, 2025. Pre-Trial Diversion and a treatment track under Health and Safety Code section 11395 round out the list. Your attorney can tell you whether any of these fits your situation.
What a Monterey County case actually involves varies enormously by charge; our California criminal defense practice overview breaks down how the firm handles each type, and our Salinas DUI defense page is the place to start for a driving under the influence arrest specifically.
Talk to a lawyer about your Monterey County case
A Monterey County criminal case runs on fixed deadlines, from the 48-hour limit for someone held in custody to the date on the arraignment calendar. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley offers a free, confidential consultation, 24 hours a day, with payment plans and service in Spanish. Call (800) 755-5174, or request a free consultation online.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Monterey Courthouse the same as the Salinas Courthouse?
No. The Salinas Courthouse hears Monterey County's felony and misdemeanor criminal cases; the separately named Monterey Courthouse, at 1200 Aguajito Road in Monterey, hears only probate, civil, and family law matters.
Do I need an account to search my Monterey County case online?
No. The court says its self-service records portal requires no registration; it covers current and completed cases back to 2008 and can also take criminal and traffic fine and fee payments.
How much is bail in Monterey County?
The Monterey County criminal bail schedule, in effect since February 13, 2025 under Penal Code section 1269b(c), sets a starting figure by offense. A judge can set a different amount, and before arraignment the person, a lawyer, a friend, or a family member can ask for lower bail or own recognizance release under Penal Code section 1269c, except for offenses listed in section 1270.1(a). Money bail must generally be reasonably attainable for that person.
Can I appear by video for a Monterey County criminal hearing?
Only where the law allows it and the court authorizes it in advance: Local Rule 1.9 requires Local Court Form CR-117 at least two court days before the hearing. Penal Code section 977 bars a defendant from appearing remotely at a jury or court trial, and a felony defendant at sentencing except in postconviction relief proceedings and as otherwise provided by law. Ask your attorney about your hearing.
Do I need a lawyer at my first court appearance?
The right to one exists regardless of ability to pay. If hiring a lawyer is not an option, ask the court at arraignment to appoint the Public Defender's Office or the Alternate Public Defender.
Is there a fee for a court interpreter in Monterey County?
No. Evidence Code section 752(b)(1) makes the interpreter's cost a charge against the court, not the defendant, for anyone charged with a crime who does not understand English.
What happens if I miss my Monterey County court date?
A bench warrant can follow under Penal Code section 978.5(a). The Superior Court Clerk's Office in Salinas can sometimes put a missed case back on calendar in person, but call your attorney right away regardless.
Where is the Monterey County Public Defender's office?
168 W Alisal Street, Second Floor, Salinas, CA 93901, phone (831) 755-5058.