Kings County Public Records /Kings County Criminal Records

Kings County Criminal Records

What Is Kings County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Kings County, California, are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system. These records are generated and maintained by multiple agencies throughout the arrest, prosecution, adjudication, and supervision process.

Key distinctions among criminal record types include:

Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody, while a conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court. An arrest does not constitute a conviction under California law.
Felony vs. misdemeanor: Felonies are serious offenses punishable by state prison sentences, whereas misdemeanors carry penalties of up to one year in county jail. Both categories appear in criminal history files.
Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are generally accessible to the public. Juvenile records are typically sealed pursuant to California Welfare and Institutions Code § 827, which restricts access to authorized parties only.
Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants reflect current judicial orders for arrest, while historical records document past proceedings and dispositions.

Principal agencies that maintain Kings County criminal records include:

Kings County Sheriff's Office – maintains arrest records, booking logs, and jail records
Kings County Superior Court – maintains case filings, arraignment records, pleas, trial proceedings, sentencing orders, and dispositions
California Department of Justice (DOJ) – maintains statewide criminal history through the Automated Criminal History System (ACHS)
Local police departments (e.g., Hanford Police Department, Corcoran Police Department) – maintain incident and arrest reports at the municipal level

Records maintained across these agencies include charges filed, arraignment dates, entered pleas, trial outcomes, sentencing details, probation terms, and parole conditions.

Kings County Superior Court 1426 South Drive Hanford, CA 93230 (559) 582-1010 Kings County Superior Court

Kings County Sheriff's Office 1444 West Lacey Boulevard Hanford, CA 93230 (559) 852-2700 Kings County Sheriff's Office

Are Criminal Records Public In Kings County

Adult criminal records in Kings County are generally accessible to members of the public under California's open records framework. The California Public Records Act (Government Code § 6250 et seq.) establishes the public's right to inspect and obtain copies of records maintained by state and local agencies, including law enforcement and court records.

Records that are currently open to public inspection include:

Adult conviction records and court case dispositions
Arrest logs and booking records maintained by the Sheriff's Office
Court proceedings, case filings, and sentencing orders on file with the Superior Court
Sex offender registration information available through the Megan's Law database

Records that are restricted or exempt from public disclosure include:

Ongoing criminal investigations, where disclosure would compromise law enforcement operations
Sealed court records, including those sealed by judicial order or by operation of law
Juvenile records, which are protected under state statute
Arrest records that did not result in conviction, which may be subject to sealing under Penal Code § 851.87
Records pertaining to victims of certain crimes, including sexual assault and domestic violence, where identifying information is withheld

How To Look Up Criminal Records In Kings County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Kings County criminal records through several official channels. The following steps outline the process for accessing records through the primary maintaining agencies.

Through the Kings County Superior Court:

Visit the court clerk's office in person at 1426 South Drive, Hanford, CA 93230, during public counter hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).
Submit a written request identifying the subject by full legal name and date of birth, and specifying the case number if known.
Pay applicable copy fees as established by the court's fee schedule.
Alternatively, use the court's online case search portal to locate publicly available case information.

Through the Kings County Sheriff's Office:

Submit a Public Records Act request in writing to the Sheriff's Office Records Division at 1444 West Lacey Boulevard, Hanford, CA 93230.
Include the subject's full name, date of birth, and the specific records sought.
The agency is required to respond within ten calendar days under the California Public Records Act.

Through the California Department of Justice:

Individuals seeking their own criminal history record may submit a request through the California DOJ Request for Live Scan Service using fingerprint-based identification.
Authorized employers and agencies may request criminal background checks through the DOJ's established channels.

Kings County Sheriff's Office Records Division 1444 West Lacey Boulevard Hanford, CA 93230 (559) 852-2700 Kings County Sheriff's Office

How To Find Criminal Records in Kings County Online?

Several online portals currently provide access to Kings County criminal records and related information without requiring an in-person visit.

Kings County Superior Court Case Search: The Kings County Superior Court provides an online case search tool that allows members of the public to search for civil and criminal case information by party name or case number. This portal contains case filing dates, hearing schedules, charges, and disposition information for cases on file with the court.

California Courts Case Search (eCourt): The California Courts statewide portal at courts.ca.gov provides access to case information across participating California superior courts, including Kings County.

Kings County Jail Inmate Roster: The Kings County Sheriff's Office maintains a current inmate roster that lists individuals currently held in the county jail. This roster is accessible through the Sheriff's Office website and includes booking information, charges, and bail amounts.

California Megan's Law Database: The California Megan's Law website maintained by the California DOJ provides public access to registered sex offender information, including individuals registered in Kings County.

California DOJ Supervised Population Automated Network (SPAN): The SPAN database maintained by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) allows the public to search for individuals currently on parole in California.

Most online portals do not require user registration for basic case searches. However, certain detailed records or certified copies are available only through in-person requests or formal written submissions.

Can You Search Kings County Criminal Records for Free?

Under California law, members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. Government Code § 6253 provides that public records shall be open to inspection at all times during the office hours of the agency, and that no fee may be charged for inspection. Fees may be assessed only for the direct cost of duplication when copies are requested.

Free access to Kings County criminal records is currently available through the following resources:

Kings County Superior Court public terminals – Members of the public may inspect case records at no cost using public access terminals located in the court clerk's office during business hours.
Kings County Superior Court online case search – Basic case information is available at no charge through the court's online portal.
Kings County Sheriff's Office jail roster – The current inmate roster is publicly accessible online at no cost.
California Megan's Law database – Sex offender registration information is available free of charge through the state's online portal.
CDCR SPAN database – Parole status information is available to the public at no cost.

Fees are assessed for certified copies of court documents, background check reports processed through the California DOJ, and certain specialized record requests.

What's Included in a Kings County Criminal Record?

A comprehensive Kings County criminal record may contain information across several categories, depending on the maintaining agency and the nature of the subject's criminal history.

Identifying Information:

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth
Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
Mugshot photograph
Last known address
State Identification (SID) number
FBI number (where applicable)

Arrest Information:

Date, time, and location of arrest
Arresting agency (Sheriff's Office, local police department)
Booking number and facility
Charges filed at the time of arrest
Bail or bond amount set
Jail facility where the individual was held

Court Case Information:

Case number and court jurisdiction (Kings County Superior Court)
Filing date and assigned judicial officer
Charges and applicable statutes, including felony or misdemeanor classification
Entered plea (guilty, not guilty, no contest)
Attorney of record and representation status

Disposition Information:

Verdict (guilty, not guilty, dismissed)
Conviction date
Sentencing details, including type and length of sentence, fines, restitution orders, and probation or parole conditions
Appeals filed and outcomes
Probation or parole supervision status

Additional Record Elements:

Active or recalled warrants
Protective or restraining orders
Sex offender registration status
DUI/DWI convictions and related administrative actions
Traffic violations adjudicated in criminal court
Pending charges and scheduled hearing dates

How Long Does Kings County Keep Criminal Records?

Retention periods for criminal records in Kings County are governed by California state law and the California Rules of Court, which establish minimum retention schedules for court and law enforcement records.

Current retention periods for principal record categories include:

Felony case records: Retained permanently by the Kings County Superior Court pursuant to California Rules of Court, Rule 10.1030.
Misdemeanor and infraction case records: Retained for a minimum of ten years from the date of final disposition.
Arrest records without conviction: Retained by law enforcement agencies; individuals may petition for sealing under applicable statute.
Juvenile records: Subject to destruction upon the subject reaching a specified age or upon court order, pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code § 827 and related provisions.
Sheriff's Office booking records: Retained in accordance with the California Secretary of State's General Records Retention Schedule for local government agencies.

The California Secretary of State's Local Government Records Management Guidelines provide the authoritative retention schedules applicable to county agencies. State law mandates that agencies adhere to these schedules and that records not be destroyed prior to the expiration of the applicable retention period.

Kings County Superior Court – Records Division 1426 South Drive Hanford, CA 93230 (559) 582-1010 Kings County Superior Court

California Secretary of State – Archives Division 1020 O Street Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 653-7715 California Secretary of State