San Luis Obispo County changed its criminal case-information process on July 1, 2026. The court says ordinary third-party requesters no longer receive case summaries through the request form. A party or qualifying agency may request a summary under the form’s limits; members of the public can separately seek available individual documents or use the court’s online case-information service. These are different requests. SLO criminal case-information instructions
Choose the right request
For a case summary, check whether you are a party of record or an agency required by law. The court offers a defendant or attorney of record a free summary for the case, and victims a free summary and their protective orders. Its instructions call for valid ID for the defendant or victim, or a business/bar card for counsel, and describe making these requests in person or by mail. Being related to a person or having a case number does not establish eligibility. SLO requester instructions
For a specific document, use one revised request form per defendant, identify the case, and select the item—for example, the complaint, plea disposition, sentencing order or dismissal order. For another document, give its name and date or identify it on an attached docket. The form excludes police reports, transcripts, warrants and confidential documents from this route. A summary restriction does not itself make all public individual documents unavailable. Ordinary document requests can be submitted by mail, email or in person, not fax; include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want a mailed return. SLO revised request form
Most public case information may also be checked through re:SearchCA, while criminal documents can be viewed at court kiosks. Requests may take up to 30 days. The June 2026 form lists copies at $0.50 per page and document certification at $40, with possible research charges. Ask the clerk to confirm the total and payment method; the form and webpage describe research and certification charges differently. SLO instructions; revised request form
Older pre-2014 name searches are separate
For older pre-2014 case research by name, use the separate bulk case-information spreadsheet. List exact first and last names, any optional middle name, each name variation separately, the case category, and the starting file date to search back to. Staff use exact name matches and cannot use a date of birth or partial birth date for third-party searches. Submit background research in writing by mail or email; the court no longer conducts it immediately at the counter. Confirm what results your requester status permits. SLO research instructions; bulk request spreadsheet
Before submitting, decide whether you need a summary, a named document, or older name-based research. Check the requester rules, permitted channel, exclusions, and current fee language for that lane. Do not use a document request to try to bypass confidentiality restrictions.
For help understanding a California criminal-record issue, contact the Law Offices of David S. Chesley at (800) 755-5174.