Santa Clara DUI Case Search
Santa Clara County DUI records are accessible through the Superior Court online portal and sheriff inmate search system. The court portal includes civil, criminal, traffic, probate, and family cases all in one searchable database. Documents are generally not available online and must be requested at the courthouse. Search fees apply for name searches that take more than ten minutes of staff time. The cost is $15 per search. Copies cost 50 cents per page and certified copies cost $40. The sheriff operates a separate portal for finding inmates in county jail facilities. Silicon Valley generates substantial DUI enforcement from multiple police agencies and the California Highway Patrol. All cases get filed at Santa Clara County Superior Court.
Santa Clara County Overview
Superior Court Online Portal
The Santa Clara County Superior Court operates an online portal at portal.scscourt.org/search. This system covers all case types including criminal cases. Search by name or case number to find DUI records. The portal shows basic case information but does not provide full documents online in most situations.
Enter the defendant's name to search for criminal cases. The system returns matching results showing case numbers, filing dates, and case types. Click on a case to see charges, hearing dates, and disposition. DUI cases appear with Vehicle Code Section 23152 charges. The portal displays information but not the actual filed documents.
Search fees apply if the search takes more than ten minutes of court staff time. The fee is $15 per search. Quick searches under ten minutes may not trigger fees. The court determines whether a fee applies based on the complexity and time required. Case number searches are generally free since they take minimal time.
To get copies of court documents, visit the courthouse or submit a formal records request. Standard photocopies cost 50 cents per page. Certified copies of court orders or judgments cost $40 plus the per page fee. Certification adds an official seal and signature from the clerk. You need certified copies for certain legal purposes, but standard copies work for general reference.
The main courthouse is in San Jose. Other courthouses serve different parts of the county. Contact the clerk's office for the courthouse handling your specific case. Staff can explain the records request process and current fees.
Sheriff Inmate Locator
The Santa Clara County Sheriff operates county jail facilities and maintains an online inmate locator at eservices.sccgov.org. This portal shows current inmates in custody. Search by name to find out if someone is in jail. The system displays booking date, charges, bail amount, and facility location.
Most DUI arrestees post bail quickly. If someone remains in custody, the inmate locator shows their current status and next court appearance. The Main Jail in San Jose houses many inmates. Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas serves as another major detention center. The locator shows which facility is holding each inmate.
Santa Clara County includes many cities with their own police departments. San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Mountain View, Palo Alto, and others have city police. If a city police department made the arrest, contact that agency for arrest reports. All criminal cases still get filed at Santa Clara County Superior Court regardless of which agency arrested the person.
Searching Santa Clara County
Use the court portal to search by name. Enter the defendant's full name or just their last name for broader results. The system shows all matching cases. Look for criminal cases with dates that align with when the arrest likely occurred. DUI charges typically get filed within weeks of the arrest.
If you have a case number from a court document or citation, enter it in the case number search. This pulls up the case instantly with no name search needed. Case number searches avoid potential fees and give you direct access to case details.
The portal shows case information but not full documents. You need to visit the courthouse or mail a records request to get copies of police reports, court filings, or other case documents. Call ahead to confirm which documents are available for your specific case. Some documents may be sealed or restricted by court order.
For very old cases, the online portal may have limited information. Contact the clerk's office directly for historical records. Staff can search older files that may not be fully digitized in the online system.
Court and Sheriff Fees
Name searches cost $15 if they take more than ten minutes of staff time. Quick searches under ten minutes may not incur fees. The court decides whether to charge based on the complexity of your search. Case number searches are generally free and fast.
Document copies cost 50 cents per page. Certified copies cost $40 plus the per page fee. If you need 20 pages certified, the total is $40 for certification plus $10 for copies, totaling $50. Standard copies work for most purposes and cost much less than certified copies.
Sheriff inmate searches are free online. The portal requires no payment or registration. If you need copies of booking documents or arrest reports, the sheriff charges separate fees. Contact the Records Division for current pricing.
DMV driving records cost $2 online or $5 by mail. DOJ criminal record checks cost $25 plus Live Scan fingerprinting fees. City police departments set their own fees. San Jose PD charges 22 cents per page with a $16 maximum for police reports.
Santa Clara County Contacts
The Santa Clara County Superior Court main courthouse is in San Jose. Contact the court for questions about specific cases or how to request records. The court website provides phone numbers and addresses for all courthouse locations. Staff can answer procedural questions but cannot give legal advice.
The Sheriff's Office operates the inmate locator and jail facilities. Visit the main website at scsheriff.org for contact information and links to online services. The Main Jail and Elmwood Correctional Facility are the primary detention centers. Phone numbers for each facility are listed on the website.
For DMV license suspension questions, call the Driver Safety Branch at 833-543-7703. This statewide number handles Admin Per Se hearings. Request a hearing within ten days of your DUI arrest to challenge the automatic suspension. Missing this deadline means you lose the right to a hearing.
Cities in Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County includes Silicon Valley and many cities with large populations. Most cities have their own police departments. All DUI cases get filed at Santa Clara County Superior Court.
- San Jose
- Sunnyvale
- Santa Clara
- Mountain View
- Palo Alto
- Milpitas
Neighboring Counties
Santa Clara County borders Alameda County to the north, San Mateo County to the west, and several counties to the south and east. Check neighboring counties if you cannot find a DUI case in Santa Clara.