Napa County Courthouse: What to Know About Your Criminal Case

Napa County's criminal cases are heard at one building, the Criminal Courthouse at 1111 Third Street in Napa, separate from the county's Historic Courthouse and Juvenile Hall Courthouse. Felony in-custody arraignments run Monday through Friday at 2:30 p.m.; misdemeanor not-in-custody arraignments run at 8:30 a.m. Your citation or paperwork sets your own date, time and place.

The firm lists this Napa guide, with every other county's, in its California courthouse and jail directory.

Which Napa County courthouse hears a criminal case?

Napa Superior Court runs four criminal departments out of the Criminal Courthouse, each assigned its own calendar of hearing types.

The court's Criminal/Post Court Services Division sits at 1111 Third Street, Napa, CA 94559, (707) 299-1180, with a general information line at (707) 299-1100; all divisions keep the same 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. hours, Monday through Friday, including the noon hour, and a drop box for same-day filings and payments stays open until 5:00 p.m. Napa's other two court buildings handle different matters: the Historic Courthouse at 825 Brown Street holds civil, family and probate divisions, and the Juvenile Hall Courthouse at 2350 Old Sonoma Road handles juvenile matters; neither hears an adult criminal case.

Napa Superior Court's current criminal calendars by department.

The notice to appear, citation or clerk's instruction controls which department and time actually apply to a given case; this table describes the court's current published assignments, which the court can change.

How do you look up a Napa County case online?

The court's own portal and daily calendar let anyone check a case or an upcoming hearing without visiting in person.

Napa Superior Court's Case Lookup and Self Service page offers a Case Information Access Portal, plus a searchable Daily Court Calendar covering the current day through the next 14 business days. For a fuller walkthrough of the hearing itself, see the firm's arraignment guide.

What happens at your first Napa County court appearance?

For a person held in custody, the law requires a judge within 48 hours of arrest, not counting Sundays or court holidays.

Penal Code 825(a)(1) requires that "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." Should the 48 hours end while court is not in session, Penal Code 825(a)(2) carries the deadline "to include the duration of the next court session on the judicial day immediately following," so it runs through the end of that session; the same subdivision sends a Wednesday arrest that occurs after that day's session has already closed to court no later than the following Friday, as long as neither day is a court holiday. This rule gets a person before a judge; it is not a charging deadline and does not by itself mean release.

At that hearing, the judge informs the defendant of the charge and the right to counsel at every later stage (Penal Code 858(a)). From there, Penal Code 1382 sets statewide trial deadlines absent a waiver or good cause: 60 days from arraignment on the information or indictment for a felony; for a misdemeanor, 30 days after arraignment or plea, whichever is later, if the defendant is in custody, or 45 days otherwise.

How does bail work in Napa County?

Napa Superior Court publishes its own felony and misdemeanor bail schedule separately from the statewide traffic schedule, but a judge can set a different amount at arraignment.

Napa's current bail schedule carries an Order Re: Revised Bail Schedule effective July 29, 2025; the court's Fines and Fees page lists both alongside the separate statewide CA Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedule for traffic, boating and similar matters. Under Penal Code 1269b, that schedule sets the amount used before a defendant has appeared, and once the defendant does appear, the judge's own amount controls. When a judge sets or reviews bail, In re Humphrey requires weighing the person's ability to pay and whether nonfinancial conditions could reasonably protect the public and the victim or reasonably assure a return to court, and In re Kowalczyk (2026) adds that in noncapital cases a judge may deny bail only for the offenses in California Constitution article I, section 12(b) and (c), and that any dollar amount actually set must generally be reasonably attainable for that person. A court-ordered remand date, meaning a date to surrender directly to the jail rather than appear in court, is different: the court's own FAQ says plainly that "all remand dates are mandatory and cannot be changed or postponed," and directs questions to the jail at (707) 253-4401. The firm's answer on how California bail amounts are set explains how a judge reaches a number, and its page on a motion for bail reduction covers asking for a lower one.

Can you appear by Zoom instead of coming to Napa?

Napa's courtrooms run Zoom hearings by department, but whether any single hearing can be remote is the judge's call, not an automatic right.

The court's own Courtroom Remote Appearances page states plainly: "Remote appearances are at the discretion of the Judicial Officer." A defendant or attorney with a question about a remote hearing is told to call (707) 299-1100 rather than email the court; recording a hearing through the video platform or any other means without the judge's permission is barred under California Rules of Court, rule 1.150(c) and (d). Separately, Penal Code 977(a)(1) lets a misdemeanor-only defendant appear through counsel and, with consent, handle most proceedings short of a jury or court trial remotely, except that misdemeanor domestic violence keeps the defendant present for arraignment and sentencing and a misdemeanor DUI defendant may be ordered present at the court's discretion. A felony defendant must be physically present for arraignment, plea, the preliminary hearing, the evidence phase of trial and sentencing unless that right is waived, and even a waiver never opens the door to a remote jury or court trial or, apart from postconviction relief matters and other exceptions provided by law, remote felony sentencing.

Custody status and the Napa County Jail

The Napa County Department of Corrections, a separate agency from the Sheriff's Office, runs the jail and offers both an online custody check and in-person or video visiting.

The jail sits at 2210 Napa Vallejo Highway, Napa, CA 94558; its own site links a custody report so the public can check who is currently booked. Canteen deposits to an incarcerated person's account can be made by phone, through the MyCarePack website, or in person at lobby kiosks during business hours; video visitation is free, offered from six lobby stations, with an appointment available no sooner than 24 hours out. The Napa County Sheriff's Office, which runs patrol and investigations rather than the jail itself, is at 1535 Airport Boulevard, Napa, CA 94558, (707) 253-4509. The jail's own number for remand and custody questions is (707) 253-4401.

Who handles a Napa County criminal case?

Napa County's public defender, district attorney and probation department each keep a separate office in the city of Napa, listed below with their addresses and phone numbers.

Asking for a lawyer at the first appearance triggers Penal Code 987(a)'s rule that the court must appoint one for a defendant who cannot afford one, and Government Code 27706(a) keeps that representation "without expense to the defendant."

Napa County offices a defendant or family member may need to call.

Probation's Adult Community Corrections Service Center, also at 1125 Third Street in Napa, keeps longer hours (Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., weekends noon to 5:00 p.m.) than the after-court check-in office at 555 Gateway Drive. For how an appointed lawyer and one you pay for yourself differ, read the firm's answer on the difference between a public defender and a private attorney.

Does Napa County have mental health or drug court?

Yes. Napa Superior Court's own calendar lists a misdemeanor Drug Court, a Mental Health Court and mental health diversion hearings for qualifying cases.

Department 3 runs misdemeanor Drug Court on Fridays, and Department 5 runs Mental Health Court and Mental Health Diversion Review on the fourth Thursday of the month; both Departments 1 and 3 separately hear Penal Code 1001.36 mental health diversion eligibility, suitability and termination questions, felony matters in Department 1 and misdemeanor matters in Department 3. Whether a particular charge and record fit any of these programs depends on that program's own rules, so raise it with your attorney early.

What happens if you miss a Napa County court date?

A failure to appear can lead to a warrant, and clearing one in Napa means showing up during specific check-in windows, not whenever is convenient.

The court directs anyone with an outstanding warrant to appear in person: for a felony, Monday through Friday, with check-in from 8:00 to 8:15 a.m. for the morning calendar or 1:45 to 2:00 p.m. for the afternoon calendar; for a misdemeanor, check-in runs 1:45 to 2:00 p.m. on Monday and Friday, or 12:45 to 1:00 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. The court does not accept a late check-in. Under Penal Code 978.5, a judge may, but is not required to, issue a bench warrant for a missed required appearance after a bail or own recognizance release, while after a signed citation without bail Penal Code 853.8 says the magistrate shall issue one within 20 days; a willful no-show meant to dodge the case becomes its own charge under Penal Code 1320 for an own-recognizance release or Penal Code 1320.5 for a felony bail release. Options for clearing a warrant are in the firm's answer on what to do about a California bench warrant.

Talk to a lawyer about a Napa County case

If you or a family member is facing a criminal case at the Napa County Courthouse, talk to a lawyer before the court date. 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. See also the firm's Napa criminal defense and Napa DUI pages.

Frequently asked questions

Which Napa building hears my criminal case, not just my court papers?

Every adult criminal case in Napa County, felony or misdemeanor, is heard at the Criminal Courthouse at 1111 Third Street; the Historic and Juvenile Hall courthouses handle other matters.

Can I change the date on a Napa County remand order?

No. The court states that remand dates are mandatory and cannot be changed or postponed; contact the jail at (707) 253-4401 with questions about reporting.

Does Napa County allow a defendant to skip court by Zoom?

Only at the judge's discretion for that specific hearing. Under Penal Code 977, a felony defendant must be physically present for arraignment, plea, the preliminary hearing, trial evidence and sentencing absent a waiver, and no waiver allows a remote trial or, outside postconviction relief and other exceptions in law, remote felony sentencing.

How do I find out whether someone is in the Napa County Jail?

The Department of Corrections links an online custody report from its own site; call the jail's number, (707) 253-4401, if the online tool does not answer your question.

What happens if I am late to my Napa County warrant check-in?

Late check-ins are not accepted. Arrive within the court's posted felony or misdemeanor window, since missing it can leave the warrant outstanding.

Do I need a lawyer at my first Napa County court appearance?

You have the right to one. The judge confirms that right at arraignment under Penal Code 858(a); if you cannot afford a lawyer, ask the court to appoint the Napa County Public Defender.

Is there a fee for video visitation at the Napa County Jail?

No. The Department of Corrections offers video visitation in its lobby at no charge, through six stations, with an appointment available no sooner than 24 hours ahead.