What should I expect at the Tulare County Courthouse?

Tulare County Superior Court hears criminal cases at two locations: the Visalia Division, 221 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia, and the South County Justice Center, 300 E Olive Ave., Porterville. Which one hears your case depends on where it was filed, and a case from the City of Tulare is assigned to the Porterville location, not Visalia.

This guide is part of our California courthouse and jail directory. If a family member was just arrested in Tulare County, the arraignment and bail sections below explain the first steps.

Which courthouse hears a Tulare County criminal case?

Tulare County Superior Court splits criminal cases between the Visalia Division and the South County Justice Center in Porterville, and where the case was filed decides which one applies.

The court's Judicial Assignments page lists in-custody (last-day) arraignments from both jurisdictions in one department; for that calendar, the Pretrial Facility page says to contact the court.

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

Tulare Superior Court names an online Case Search tool, so confirm a case number or hearing date with the clerk if it does not show what you expect.

The court's website lists Case Search as a separate online tool, and a citation names the court and the date (Penal Code section 853.6(a)(1)). When you go to court, use the same spelling of your name as it appears on the case documents; the court's Criminal Division page says not to use any nickname or alias. If you cannot confirm a hearing online, call the Visalia Division or the South County Justice Center directly, matching the location named on your paperwork.

What happens at your first court appearance?

At your first appearance, called an arraignment, the court tells you the charge and your right to a lawyer; for a person held in custody, it must happen quickly.

For a person held in custody, Penal Code section 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." A person cited and released is not subject to this clock; the notice to appear sets the hearing date instead. If the 48 hours run out while court is not in session, the deadline extends to the end of the next court session on the following court day; someone arrested on a Wednesday after court has closed must be brought before a judge by Friday, if neither day is a court holiday (Penal Code section 825(a)(2)). It is a deadline for reaching a judge, not for charging, and does not promise release.

Tulare's own Criminal Division page walks through what follows an arrest. For a misdemeanor: "An Arrest is Made: Police take the defendant to jail, or defendant is released on a signed citation. ... The defendant posts bail or is released on his own recognizance and is scheduled for arraignment; or The defendant remains in custody ... and is brought to court for arraignment." A felony case has an extra step: "Preliminary Hearing: Witnesses testify and evidence is presented. If the judicial officer finds insufficient evidence, the defendant is released. If the judicial officer finds sufficient evidence, the defendant is held to answer in the criminal trial department," which leads to a second arraignment on the information.

At that first hearing the judge also confirms your right to a lawyer for every later stage (Penal Code section 858(a)), and on a felony hands you a copy of the complaint and gives you reasonable time to arrange counsel (Penal Code section 859). The court then reads the charging document, gives you a copy (for a misdemeanor complaint, on request), and takes your plea (Penal Code section 988).

For a fuller walkthrough of what happens at an arraignment anywhere in California, see What Happens at an Arraignment in California.

How does bail work in a Tulare County criminal case?

Tulare Superior Court publishes its own countywide bail schedule, but a judge can set a different amount, and bail must now generally be reasonably attainable for that person.

The court's current bail schedule is the "Tulare County Superior Court Bail Schedule," dated November 6, 2025, adopted under Penal Code section 1269b. It sets out the "General Principles of Bail and Pretrial Release" the court uses to fix an amount for someone arrested without a warrant.

A bail schedule is a starting point, not a fixed price. Before the first court appearance, bail is the amount on the arrest warrant or, with no warrant, the county schedule; once a judge sets bail at an appearance, the judge's own amount controls (Penal Code section 1269b(b)). Before that first appearance, the defendant, or an attorney, friend, or family member, can also apply directly to the magistrate for bail lower than the schedule, or for own recognizance release, for most charges (Penal Code section 1269c); without a change ordered within eight hours of booking, the scheduled bail applies. Under In re Humphrey, a judge who sets money bail must consider the person's ability to pay and whether nonfinancial conditions could reasonably protect the public and the victim or reasonably assure the person's presence at trial. In April 2026, the California Supreme Court held in In re Kowalczyk that, in a noncapital case, "a trial court has the authority to deny bail only as to offenses specified in section 12, subdivisions (b) and (c)" of the California Constitution, and that money bail "must generally be set in an amount that is reasonably attainable, in order to effectuate the defendant's constitutional right to pretrial release on bail."

For how bail amounts work across California more generally, see How Bail Amounts Are Set in California.

Can you appear remotely in a Tulare County criminal case?

Not on your own if you are out of custody: Tulare Superior Court says out-of-custody criminal defendants are not authorized to appear remotely, though a lawyer can ask for it.

The court's Request Remote Hearings page says: "Persons who are out of custody pending criminal charges are not authorized to appear remotely. Counsel can make request remote appearances on behalf of the clients directly to the Court." A person in custody appears "in person or remotely depending on the scheduled hearing type," and attorneys may appear by Zoom for non-evidentiary hearings.

State law separately decides when you must be present in person (Penal Code section 977). On a misdemeanor, a lawyer can usually appear for you, and with your agreement your first appearance, arraignment, and plea may be conducted remotely, except for a trial; a misdemeanor domestic violence case or a Penal Code section 273.6 order violation still requires you at arraignment and sentencing, and on a misdemeanor DUI the court may order you to be present for arraignment, plea or sentencing. On a felony, you must be physically present at arraignment, plea, the preliminary hearing, trial evidence, and sentencing unless you waive that right, and even then a trial cannot be remote, and a felony sentencing cannot be remote except in postconviction relief proceedings or where other law allows.

What should you bring, and how do you request an interpreter?

Bring identification and your court paperwork; both criminal locations are open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. weekdays, and an interpreter is free in a criminal case.

The court's Criminal Division page lists what to bring: "Identification which could include a valid driver's license, social security card, picture identification, etc. Copy of citation, if applicable. Appearance letter, if applicable. Any receipts regarding the case, such as bond receipts, cash bail receipts, etc. Jail release papers, if applicable."

If you or a family member cannot understand English, the California Constitution guarantees an interpreter throughout a criminal case: "A person unable to understand English who is charged with a crime has a right to an interpreter throughout the proceedings" (Cal. Const., art. I, section 14). The cost is charged to the court, not to you (Evidence Code section 752(b)(1)). Tulare's own Court Interpreters page lists criminal cases among those where interpreters are provided at no cost; its priority list under Evidence Code section 756 covers civil cases only. Ask the clerk or your attorney for an interpreter as early as you can.

Who are Tulare County's district attorney and public defender?

Tulare County's District Attorney keeps a Visalia office at 221 S. Mooney Blvd.; for a public defender, ask the judge at the first appearance to appoint one.

If you cannot afford a lawyer, you can ask the court to appoint one at your first court appearance (Penal Code section 987(a)), and the public defender represents you "without expense to the defendant" (Government Code section 27706(a)). The court's remote-hearing page names the Public Defender, Probation, the District Attorney and Conflict Counsel as the justice partners who join its Zoom hearings.

Does Tulare County have collaborative or treatment courts?

Yes. Tulare Superior Court's judicial assignments list Mental Health Court, Recovery Court, Drug Court, and Military Diversion and Veterans Court calendars among its criminal departments.

The court's Judicial Assignments page, effective November 2, 2026, also lists a Collaborative Court calendar at the South County Justice Center for Drug Court, Recovery Court and Military Diversion. Ask your attorney whether a specific case could qualify for one of these calendars.

For how the firm handles each kind of charge, see our California criminal defense practice overview and our Visalia criminal defense page; for a Tulare-area DUI arrest, see our Tulare DUI defense page.

Talk to a lawyer about your Tulare County case

A judge in a Tulare County criminal case can set bail above or below the printed schedule, so talk to a lawyer before that hearing. 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

Can I go to the Tulare County Pretrial Facility in person?

No. The court lists its Pretrial Facility at 36650 Road 112, Visalia, as closed to the public, with all hearings held remotely; it handles last-day arraignments and in-custody hearings. For the in-custody calendar, the court's page says to contact the court.

What if I can't find my case on the Tulare court's online search?

Tulare Superior Court names an online Case Search tool. If it does not show your case, call the Visalia Division or the South County Justice Center with your case number or citation.

How much is bail in Tulare County?

The court's current bail schedule, dated November 6, 2025, sets an amount under Penal Code section 1269b, but a judge can set a different amount at your first appearance, and money bail must generally be reasonably attainable for you specifically.

Can bail be lowered before arraignment?

You can ask, for most charges. Penal Code section 1269c lets the defendant, an attorney, friend, or family member apply directly to the magistrate for bail lower than the schedule, or for own recognizance release, before arraignment. Without a change ordered within eight hours of booking, the scheduled bail applies.

What happens if I miss my Tulare County court date?

A missed court date can lead to a bench warrant (Penal Code section 978.5(a)). If you were released on a signed citation, willfully breaking that promise is a separate misdemeanor (Penal Code section 853.7). Contact your attorney right away if this happens.

Can my attorney appear for me by Zoom?

On a misdemeanor, usually yes: a lawyer can appear for you (Penal Code section 977), and Tulare's court lets attorneys appear by Zoom for non-evidentiary hearings. A felony defendant must generally be present at arraignment, the preliminary hearing and sentencing; a waiver can allow some proceedings by video, but not a trial, and not a felony sentencing except in postconviction relief proceedings or where other law allows.

Do I need a lawyer at my first court appearance?

You have the right to one. The judge confirms your right to counsel at your Tulare County arraignment and at every stage afterward (Penal Code section 858(a)). If paying for one is not an option, ask the court to appoint a public defender at that same appearance.

Does it cost anything to have a court interpreter in a criminal case?

No. The California Constitution guarantees an interpreter to a person charged with a crime who cannot understand English, and in a criminal case the interpreter's pay is a charge against the court, not the defendant (Evidence Code section 752(b)(1)).