Criminal records of Nevada County, California, are available through several channels. NevadaCourt.us allows you to quickly find publicly available information about criminal cases. Additionally, records can be obtained through the official portal of the Superior Court of California, the Nevada County Sheriff's Office, and through the Clerk-Recorder of the county — in person, by mail, or online.
How to Search Criminal Records in Nevada
Start your search with NevadaCourt.us — enter the full name of the person, and the system will show publicly available information about court cases in the county. This is the fastest way to check basic information.
Online Search through Official Systems
- Superior Court Web Portal: The online portal of Nevada County Court allows you to search cases, view hearing calendars, and electronic case materials. You need to create an account to search.
- Inmate Search: The Sheriff's Office offers a tool for searching for persons in custody at Wayne Brown Correctional Facility or Truckee Substation Jail.
- Active Warrants: A list of active warrants is available on the Sheriff's Office Find page.
In-Person Visit
Court case documents are public records under the California Public Records Act. You can view them at the courthouse in Nevada City during business hours. The court clerk will help find a case by number or name.
Request by Mail
Send a written request to the court office or use the county's Public Records Request form. Include:
- Full legal name of the person
- Date of birth (if known)
- Case number, if available
- Type of document requested
State-Level Criminal History Check
To obtain an official criminal history record check, you need to undergo a Live Scan fingerprinting procedure. The California Department of Justice processes such requests at the state and FBI levels. A list of Live Scan locations is available on the Attorney General's website.
Search Nevada Criminal Cases by Case Number
Case numbers in California courts typically follow this format:
- Letter Prefix — indicates the type of case (e.g., CR or CRF for criminal cases, CM for misdemeanors)
- Year — two digits of the year the case was filed
- Sequential Number — unique number within the year
For example, the format might look like CRF22-12345, where CRF indicates a criminal felony, 22 is the year, and 12345 is the sequential number. The exact format may vary depending on the case category. If you know the number, searching through the court web portal will give the most accurate result — the specific case card with all details will open immediately.
Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in Nevada
Charges
| Element | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Statute Code | Reference to a section of the California Penal Code or another code (e.g., PC 459 — burglary) |
| Severity | Felony, Misdemeanor, Infraction |
| Amended Charges | The prosecutor may change or add charges during the case review |
Case Status
- Pending — the case is open, awaiting review
- Active — the case is in active proceedings
- Disposed — a decision has been made, the case is completed
- Closed — all procedural actions are completed, the case is archived
Types of Hearings
A criminal case goes through several stages:
- Arraignment — first presentation of charges, the defendant pleads guilty or not guilty
- Preliminary Hearing — the judge determines if there is enough evidence to proceed with the case (for felonies)
- Pre-Trial — parties discuss agreements, file motions
- Sentencing — sentencing after a guilty plea
- Review — checking compliance with probation or other obligations
Court Results
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Guilty | Found guilty |
| Not Guilty | Found not guilty |
| Dismissed | Case closed without a verdict |
| Acquitted | Acquitted by court or jury decision |
| Nolo Contendere | The defendant does not contest the charges but does not formally admit guilt |
How to Request Certified Criminal Records in Nevada
Certified copies of court documents are issued by the office of the Superior Court of California, County of Nevada. The Case Records & Requests page contains detailed information about the procedure.
Ways to Submit a Request
- In Person — at the courthouse in Nevada City
- By Mail — send a completed request form along with payment
- Online — through the court web portal (for case parties, electronic document viewing is available)
What You Need for the Request
- Case number or full name of the defendant
- Valid photo ID (for in-person retrieval)
- Payment of established fees
To obtain copies of police reports, contact the Sheriff's Office through the report request page.
Court Contact Information
Sheriff's Office
Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in Nevada
Fees are established according to the California Government Code and the court's fee schedule. Specific amounts may vary — check the current schedule with the court office.
| Service | Approximate Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Copy of court document (per page) | $0.50 | Uncertified copy; the first page may cost more |
| Document certification | $25–$40 | Per document; depends on the type |
| Live Scan — criminal history check (DOJ) | $32 | State fee; operator fee is additional |
| Live Scan — FBI check | $17 | Federal fee, added to DOJ fee |
| Copy of police report | Depends on volume | Contact the Sheriff's Office for details |
Processing Times
- Online search through court portal — results appear instantly
- Request for certified copy (in person) — usually within the same day or a few business days
- Request by mail — from 5 to 15 business days, depending on the office's workload
- Live Scan (DOJ/FBI) — results are sent within 3–15 business days to the requester or employer
Public records of the county are available for review during business hours without prior payment. Fees are charged only for copies and certification. The current fee schedule can be downloaded from the Clerk-Recorder's Search or Request Recorded Documents page.