Santa Cruz County, CA Courts and Public Records
- Arrest Records
- Judgments
- Bankruptcies
- DUIs & DWIs
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- Jail Records
- Lien Records
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- Misdemeanors
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- Federal Dockets
The Superior Court of California, County of Santa Cruz is the county's single trial court, handling criminal, traffic, civil, small claims, family, probate, and juvenile cases.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Court Name | Superior Court of California, County of Santa Cruz |
| Main Address | Santa Cruz Courthouse, 701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 |
| Main Phone | (831) 420-2200 |
| Website | www.santacruz.courts.ca.gov |
| Presiding Judge | Hon. Jerry Bustos Vinluan (term start not listed on the court website) |
| Judicial Officers | 12 authorized judges and 1.5 subordinate judicial officers (13.5 total authorized judicial positions) as of June 30, 2025 (Judicial Council, FY 2024-25) |
| Courthouse Locations | 2 listed on the court website (Santa Cruz and Watsonville) |
| Does NOT Handle | Federal cases (U.S. District Court) and parking tickets (issuing agency) |
| Online Case Search | Case Search |
How to Search Santa Cruz County Court Records
Have the full name, the case number if you know it, and the approximate dates ready before you search. Santa Cruz County court records are requested through the courthouse or the Records Division.
Online
Go to Case Search to find cases by name or case number.
Use the case lookup guidance on the court website before you search.
Confirm details with the clerk before relying on them.
Best for: Checking case status and dockets
In Person
Go to the Santa Cruz Courthouse, 701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
Use the court-provided computer to look up records.
Submit a Research and Copy Request Form for a party's personal information.
Best for: Records not available online
By Email or Mail
Email courtrecords@santacruzcourt.org with the case details you need.
Mail requests to the Records Division, 701 Ocean Street, Room 110, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
Include the case number and party names if you have them.
Best for: Requests without a visit
Search by Name on CaliforniaCourtAccess.org
Go to CaliforniaCourtAccess.org and enter a full name.
Search across record types at once, without a case number.
Confirm details with the court, since these are not official court records.
Best for: Finding leads without a case number
Santa Cruz County Court Statistics (FY 2024-25)
Santa Cruz County's Superior Court received 35,329 new filings in fiscal year 2024-25 and reported 29,445 dispositions. Its filings per authorized judicial position rank 34 of 58 counties.
35,329
Total filings in FY 2024-25 (FY 2023-24: 30,323)
29,445
Total dispositions in FY 2024-25 (FY 2023-24: 28,375)
2,617
Filings per judicial position (rank 34 of 58 counties; 1 = most)
+16.5%
Change in total filings vs FY 2023-24 (30,323)
| Metric | FY 2024-25 | FY 2023-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Filings | 35,329 | 30,323 | +16.5% |
| Total Dispositions | 29,445 | 28,375 | +3.8% |
| Criminal Filings (includes traffic) | 29,140 | 24,627 | +18.3% |
| Civil Filings (includes small claims) | 3,898 | 3,326 | +17.2% |
| Family Law Filings | 1,429 | 1,362 | +4.9% |
| Probate Filings | 335 | 386 | -13.2% |
| Mental Health Filings | 244 | 280 | -12.9% |
| Juvenile Filings (delinquency and dependency) | 231 | 304 | -24.0% |
| Authorized Judicial Positions | 13.5 | 13.5 | No change |
The largest driver of the change was criminal (+4,513 filings), followed by civil (+572).
How Have Court Filings Changed in Santa Cruz County?
Total filings in Santa Cruz County moved up over the five fiscal years shown; dispositions are shown beside filings.
| Fiscal Year | Total Filings | Total Dispositions | YoY Filing Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2024-25 | 35,329 | 29,445 | +16.5% |
| FY 2023-24 | 30,323 | 28,375 | -4.3% |
| FY 2022-23 | 31,670 | 28,317 | +8.4% |
| FY 2021-22 | 29,207 | 27,375 | -1.7% |
| FY 2020-21 | 29,717 | 29,343 | -21.1% |
Total filings changed +18.9% between FY 2020-21 and FY 2024-25, from 29,717 to 35,329. The largest annual change was +16.5% in FY 2024-25. The latest change, FY 2024-25, was +16.5%, led by criminal filings (+4,513).
What Types of Cases Are Filed in Santa Cruz County?
Criminal cases make up the largest share of Santa Cruz County filings at 82.5% of the 35,329 filed in FY 2024-25.
| Case Type | Filings FY 2024-25 | Share of Total | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal | 29,140 | 82.5% | +18.3% |
| Traffic infractions | 21,297 | 60.3% | +21.7% |
| Traffic misdemeanors | 1,614 | 4.6% | +2.3% |
| Felonies | 1,644 | 4.7% | +6.9% |
| Nontraffic misdemeanors and infractions | 4,585 | 13.0% | +14.3% |
| Civil | 3,898 | 11.0% | +17.2% |
| Unlimited civil | 1,366 | 3.9% | +3.4% |
| Limited civil (includes unlawful detainer) | 2,094 | 5.9% | +27.7% |
| Small claims | 438 | 1.2% | +20.0% |
| Family law | 1,429 | 4.0% | +4.9% |
| Mental health | 244 | 0.7% | -12.9% |
| Probate | 335 | 0.9% | -13.2% |
| Juvenile delinquency | 159 | 0.5% | -30.3% |
| Juvenile dependency | 72 | 0.2% | -5.3% |
| Appeals and habeas corpus | 52 | 0.1% | +36.8% |
Limited civil cases were the fastest-growing category at +27.7%, while juvenile delinquency cases fell fastest at -30.3%.
How Does Santa Cruz County Compare With California Overall?
Santa Cruz County accounted for 0.67% of the 5,306,078 cases filed statewide in California superior courts in FY 2024-25, and its filings grew 16.5% while statewide filings grew 8.5%.
| Metric | Santa Cruz County | California | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total filings | 35,329 | 5,306,078 | 0.67% of statewide filings |
| YoY change in filings | +16.5% | +8.5% | +8.0 points vs state |
| Filings per judicial position | 2,617 | 2,636 | -0.7% vs state |
| Dispositions per judicial position equivalent | 2,051 | 1,741 | +17.8% vs state |
| Criminal share of filings (includes traffic) | 82.5% | 70.1% | +12.4 points vs state |
| Civil share of filings (includes small claims) | 11.0% | 19.5% | -8.5 points vs state |
| Family law share of filings | 4.0% | 5.9% | -1.8 points vs state |
Santa Cruz County's criminal share is higher than the statewide share and its civil share is lower. Its filings per judicial position are below the statewide figure.
Santa Cruz County Crime Statistics (2024)
These figures cover offenses reported by all 9 law enforcement agencies in Santa Cruz County, as published by the California Department of Justice (OpenJustice). Total reported violent and property offenses changed +0.2% from 4,956 in 2023 to 4,966 in 2024.
939
Violent crimes in 2024
4,027
Property crimes in 2024
~357.8
Violent crime rate per 100K residents
+0.2%
Change in total reported crimes vs 2023
| Offense | 2024 | Rate per 100K | 2023 | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 6 | ~2.3 | 9 | -33.3% |
| Rape | 96 | ~36.6 | 76 | +26.3% |
| Robbery | 134 | ~51.1 | 215 | -37.7% |
| Aggravated assault | 703 | ~267.9 | 770 | -8.7% |
| Violent crimes total | 939 | ~357.8 | 1,070 | -12.2% |
| Burglary | 418 | ~159.3 | 459 | -8.9% |
| Larceny-theft | 3,202 | ~1220.2 | 3,030 | +5.7% |
| Motor vehicle theft | 407 | ~155.1 | 397 | +2.5% |
| Property crimes total | 4,027 | ~1534.6 | 3,886 | +3.6% |
Violent crimes run at ~357.8 per 100K residents compared with ~477.1 statewide, and property crimes at ~1534.6 compared with ~2069.1 statewide.
Santa Cruz County Courthouse Locations
The Santa Cruz County Superior Court lists 2 open locations across Santa Cruz and Watsonville. Check your notice or case paperwork for the courthouse and courtroom before you go, because not every location handles every case type.
| Courthouse | Address | Phone | Verified Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz Courthouse (Santa Cruz) | 701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 | (831) 420-2200 | See location page |
| Watsonville Courthouse (Watsonville) | 1 Second Street, Watsonville, CA 95076 | (831) 786-7200 | See location page |
Which Court Handles Your Case in Santa Cruz County?
The Superior Court of California, County of Santa Cruz hears every case type in the county, and matters are assigned to its locations and divisions. Parking tickets and federal cases are handled outside this court.
| Your Situation | Go To | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic ticket | Superior Court, Traffic | Pay or request an extension through the court's listed payment options. |
| Parking ticket | The agency that issued the ticket | The Superior Court does not handle parking tickets. |
| Misdemeanor | Superior Court, criminal division | Misdemeanor cases are heard by the criminal division. |
| Felony | Superior Court, criminal division | Felony cases are heard by the criminal division. |
| DUI | Superior Court, criminal division | DUI cases are criminal matters heard by the court. |
| Domestic violence | Superior Court, family law | Restraining order requests are handled by the family law division. |
| Civil lawsuit | Superior Court, civil division | Civil lawsuits are filed with the court's civil division. |
| Small claims | Superior Court, small claims | Small claims cases are heard by the court's small claims division. |
| Eviction | Superior Court, civil division | Eviction cases are unlawful detainer actions filed with the civil division. |
| Divorce | Superior Court, family law | Divorce cases are filed with the family law division. |
| Child custody or support | Superior Court, family law | Custody and support orders are handled by the family law division. |
| Probate or estate | Superior Court, probate | Probate and conservatorship cases are handled by the probate division. |
| Juvenile case | Superior Court, juvenile division | Juvenile delinquency and dependency cases are handled by the juvenile division. |
| Appeal | Court of Appeal or appellate division | Appeals from superior court decisions go to the higher court, not the trial court. |
Are Santa Cruz County Court Records Public?
Yes, most Santa Cruz County Superior Court records are public, with exceptions set by California Rules of Court, rules 2.500 to 2.507 on public access to electronic trial court records.
Public records
Most civil, criminal, traffic, and family case information is open to the public, subject to California Rules of Court, rules 2.500 to 2.507, and any court order.
Restricted or confidential records
Sealed records, juvenile case files, and records the law makes confidential are not available without a court order.
Online access
Use Case Search to look up case information. It does not replace the official court record.
In-person access
Look up records on a court-provided computer at the Santa Cruz Courthouse, 701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
Fees
The court does not state fees on the page reviewed. See the Records Information page for current requests.
How to Search Santa Cruz County Court Records Online
Use the court's official online portal to search Santa Cruz County cases, and request documents that are not available online through the court.
- Identify the case type, such as criminal, traffic, civil, small claims, family law, probate, or juvenile.
- Open Case Search for the court's public case information.
- Search by party name or case number and note the case number from the results.
- Review the case details for status, parties, and scheduled dates.
- Email courtrecords@santacruzcourt.org or contact the Records Division to request documents that are not online.
| Case Type | Where to Search | What You'll Find | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal | Case Search | Case status and parties | Documents may need a records request |
| Traffic | Pay Citation or Criminal Fine | Citation and payment information | Payment methods beyond online are not listed |
| Civil | Case Search | Case status and parties | Documents may need a records request |
| Small claims | Case Search | Case status and parties | Documents may need a records request |
| Family law | Case Search | Case status and parties | Some family files are restricted by law |
| Probate | Case Search | Case status and parties | Some probate files are restricted by law |
| Juvenile | Clerk's office in person | Court contact in person | Juvenile case files are confidential by law |
How to Pay Fines & Citations in Santa Cruz County
The Superior Court of California, County of Santa Cruz lists online payment for citations and criminal fines through its Pay Citation or Criminal Fine portal.
- Online: pay a citation or criminal fine through the court's portal at portal-casantacruz.tylertech.cloud, listed as Pay Citation or Criminal Fine.
Parking tickets are paid to the agency that issued the ticket, not to the Superior Court.
Santa Cruz County Court Records FAQ
How do I search Santa Cruz County court records?
Use Case Search to search by name or case number, or visit the Santa Cruz Courthouse at 701 Ocean Street.
Are Santa Cruz County court records public?
Most are, under California Rules of Court, rules 2.500 to 2.507, but sealed and juvenile records are restricted.
How do I find a criminal case?
Search by name in Case Search, or email courtrecords@santacruzcourt.org for records not shown online.
How do I find a court date?
Check your ticket or notice, or look up the case in the court's Case Search portal.
How do I pay a traffic ticket?
Pay online at the court portal under Pay Citation or Criminal Fine.
How many cases are filed per year?
The court received 30,323 new filings in FY 2023-24, up from 31,670 in FY 2022-23 (-4.3%).
What is the most common case type?
Criminal cases, including traffic infractions, are the most common at 24,627 filings, or 81.2% of the total, in FY 2023-24.
What was the crime trend in 2024?
Total reported violent and property offenses went from 4,956 in 2023 to 4,966 in 2024 (+0.2%).
Courts in the County
Santa Cruz County Superior CourtMore Info
| Address: | 701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060 |
| Phone Number: | 831-420-2200 |
| Website: | https://www.santacruzcourt.org/ |
Useful Links
- Superior Court of California, County of Santa Cruz - Official website providing comprehensive information on court services, case searches, and various legal resources.
- Santa Cruz County Clerk's Office - Access vital records, election information, and official documents relevant to the residents of Santa Cruz County.
- Santa Cruz Superior Court, Small Claims Division - Information on handling small claims cases, including filing procedures and court dates in Santa Cruz County.
- Superior Court of California, Santa Cruz - Family Division - Offers details on family law cases including divorces, child custody, and other family-related legal matters.
- Santa Cruz Superior Court - Traffic Division - Find traffic court information including ticket payments, court appearances, and resolution of violations.
- LawHelpCA - Legal help and resources in California - A centralized portal offering legal aid and resources for those seeking help with legal issues in California.
- California Public Law Resources - Free access to California's laws and other legal resources to help understand legal rights and responsibilities.
- Santa Cruz County Bar Association - Provides resources including lawyer directories, legal seminars, and various services for legal professionals.
- Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office - Access information on law enforcement services, community programs, and public safety resources in Santa Cruz.
- Santa Cruz County Vital Records Ordering System - Allows for ordering birth, death, and marriage certificates online for Santa Cruz County.
- FindLaw - California Law & Resources - Provides a wealth of legal articles, guides, and resources specific to California laws and court systems.
- Santa Cruz County Probation Department - Information on probation services, rehabilitation programs, and community safety initiatives in Santa Cruz County.
- Senior Citizens Legal Services (Santa Cruz, CA) - Offers free legal assistance and resources to seniors residing in Santa Cruz County.
- Santa Cruz Criminal Lawyers - Defense Attorneys - Provides legal representation and defense attorney services for criminal cases in Santa Cruz County.
- Superior Court of California, Santa Cruz - Jury Division - Offers information on jury duty responsibilities, schedules, and juror support for citizens of Santa Cruz.
- Santa Cruz Superior Court - Civil Division - Details on civil cases, filings, and proceedings in Santa Cruz County Superior Court.
- The State Bar of California - Offers lawyer directories, legal resources, and guidance on professional conduct for California attorneys.
- California Courts - Self-Help Center - Provides self-represented individuals in California with resources, tools, and guidance on handling legal matters.
- Women's Law - Legal Information and Support - Aims to provide legal information and resources to women, especially victims of abuse and domestic violence.
- California Appellate Courts - Published Opinions - Access a repository of published opinions from California's appellate courts to understand precedent and case law.
Table of Contents
- Santa Cruz County, Courts and Public Records
- How to Search Santa Cruz County Court Records
- Santa Cruz County Court Statistics (FY 2024-25)
- How Have Court Filings Changed in Santa Cruz County?
- What Types of Cases Are Filed in Santa Cruz County?
- How Does Santa Cruz County Compare With California Overall?
- Santa Cruz County Crime Statistics (2024)
- Santa Cruz County Courthouse Locations
- Which Court Handles Your Case in Santa Cruz County?
- Are Santa Cruz County Court Records Public?
- How to Search Santa Cruz County Court Records Online
- How to Pay Fines & Citations in Santa Cruz County
- Santa Cruz County Court Records FAQ
- Courts in the County
- Useful Links