How to Search Solano County Criminal Records
The court keeps criminal case files at its Fairfield and Vallejo branches. Most users start with the public portal. The Criminal Records, Fees and Forms page from the Superior Court is the best starting point for finding the right form, the case prefix you need, and the in-person record review hours.
The official Criminal Records, Fees and Forms page shows the full process. Use the Solano Superior Court public portal for case lookups and the Criminal Court page for branch contacts.
An image of the Solano criminal records page from the court website is shown below.
The page lists case prefixes, the bench warrant lookup note, and record review hours of 8 AM to 3 PM, Monday through Friday.
- Open the Solano Superior Court public portal and click Register if you do not yet have a free account.
- Enter an email, password, name, and phone number, then agree to the terms of use.
- Click Case Search after the home page loads.
- Search by exact case number, or by last name and first name with at least two letters in each field.
- Use a filing date range if the name is common.
- Open the case to view docket entries, hearings, and case status.
- For a certified copy, go in person to the holding branch or mail Local Form 4021 with the fee.
Confidential cases and sealed documents will not show in the portal. The court warns that an electronic record is not the official record unless it is electronically certified, under California Rule of Court 2.504.
Solano County Case Number Prefixes
Criminal case numbers in Solano County start with a letter or two that tells you which branch took the case. The court spells this out on the criminal records page. Cases filed out of Fairfield, Suisun City, Vacaville, Dixon, and Rio Vista use one set of prefixes. Cases out of Vallejo and Benicia use another. Knowing the prefix helps you pick the right branch when you ask for files in person.
| Branch / Cities | Case Prefix | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Fairfield, Suisun City, Vacaville, Dixon, Rio Vista | F, FC, FCR, M | Felony and misdemeanor cases filed in the Fairfield criminal departments. |
| Vallejo, Benicia | V, VC, VCR, F, M | Criminal cases filed at the Vallejo branch on Tuolumne Street. |
| All branches | FL | Family law, not criminal, listed here so users do not confuse the F. |
| All branches | CL, CU | Civil cases, not criminal, but often turn up next to criminal hits. |
Some older case numbers still use just a single letter. If a search returns no results, drop one letter or try the next branch.
Sheriff Booking Logs and In-Custody Search
The Solano County Sheriff runs two public tools. The jail booking log shows people booked into county jail within the last seven days. The in-custody roster shows people held right now. Both tools sit on the Sheriff's Public Information page.
You can reach the jail booking logs page and the in-custody inmate search from the sheriff site. The booking log refreshes at midnight and is compiled in 24-hour periods.
A view of the sheriff booking logs page is shown below.
The county releases this data under Government Code 7923.610. That state law covers the release of contemporaneous arrest and booking facts to the public.
For the in-custody roster, type at least the first three letters of the first or last name. The roster carries a strong disclaimer. The data is not an official record. Some inmates may not appear. Names, ages, and booking dates may have errors. For a deeper look at the in-custody data, see the Solano County inmate records page. To check active warrants tied to a name, see Solano County warrant records.
The full Sheriff Public Information page also links to Megan's Law, the most wanted list, press releases, and VINE.
What Solano County Criminal Records Show
A Solano criminal court file holds a long list of fields. Some are visible in the portal. Some are only visible at the branch. The table below shows the main fields you can expect on a felony or misdemeanor case.
| Field | What It Holds |
|---|---|
| Case Number | Branch prefix plus year and sequence, such as F24-01630 or V25-00412. |
| Filing Date | The date the District Attorney filed the complaint or information. |
| Charges | One or more counts citing the Penal Code, Health and Safety Code, or Vehicle Code. |
| Bail | Bail amount set under the local schedule, plus any holds or no-bail status. |
| Plea | Guilty, not guilty, or no contest. May change at later hearings. |
| Disposition | Dismissed, convicted, acquitted, diverted, or transferred. Logged on minute orders. |
| Sentence | Jail time, prison time, probation, fines, restitution, or community service. |
| Hearing Log | Arraignment, prelim, motions, trial, and any bench warrants issued. |
Some fields stay sealed. Probation reports, juvenile case files, and victim addresses are common examples. The portal masks these even if the case is open.
Charges vs Convictions
Being charged is not the same as being convicted. A charge is just a formal claim by a prosecutor. A conviction means a court has found guilt or accepted a guilty plea. People often confuse the two when they read a portal entry. The table makes the line clear.
| Charge | Conviction | |
|---|---|---|
| Stage | Filed at the start of a case. | Entered at plea, verdict, or sentencing. |
| Burden | Probable cause. | Beyond a reasonable doubt. |
| Who Decides | District Attorney. | Judge or jury, or a guilty/no contest plea. |
| Effect | Triggers arraignment, bail, and hearings. | Triggers sentence, fines, and a criminal history entry. |
| Public | Yes, in most cases. | Yes, unless sealed or dismissed. |
| Can Be Dropped | Yes, by the DA or court. | Only by appeal, dismissal under PC 1203.4, or pardon. |
A case that ends in a dismissal still shows up in the portal as a case. The record just notes the dismissal as the disposition.
Sealed vs Expunged Records
People say "expunge" a lot, but California does not have a true expungement law in the strict sense. The state has two main relief paths. One dismisses a conviction. The other seals the arrest record. Both come from the Penal Code, and they work in different ways.
| Sealed (PC 851.91) | Dismissed (PC 1203.4) | |
|---|---|---|
| Statute | Penal Code 851.91 | Penal Code 1203.4 |
| Applies To | Arrests that did not lead to a conviction. | Eligible convictions after probation is done. |
| Effect | Arrest record is sealed from public view. | Plea or verdict is set aside; case is dismissed. |
| Erases File | No, but blocks most public access. | No, the case stays on record with a dismissed flag. |
| Law Enforcement | Still has access for set uses. | Still has access; firearm bans may stay. |
| Filed Where | Court of the arrest. | Court of conviction. |
Juvenile records use a third path under Welfare and Institutions Code 781. That path is stronger and can seal a full juvenile case file when the court grants the petition.
Background Checks and CA DOJ
A name search in the Solano portal is not a full background check. State law gives a record subject the right to ask the California Department of Justice for a copy of his or her own state criminal history. The path is Live Scan fingerprinting. Penal Code 11105 sets the rule on who may receive a state record.
To get your own state record, you fill out the BCIA 8016RR form, get fingerprinted at a Live Scan site, and pay the DOJ fee plus the rolling fee. The DOJ then mails a response by certified mail. Most rolling sites in Solano are at the Sheriff records office at 530 Union Avenue, or at private Live Scan vendors in Fairfield, Vacaville, and Vallejo.
Employers and landlords cannot use this site as a screening tool. We are not a consumer reporting agency. The Fair Credit Reporting Act covers screening firms. For an FCRA-grade background check, hire a licensed CRA. For a quick public lookup, the court portal and the sheriff roster work.
Important: This site is not a consumer reporting agency under the FCRA. Data here may not be used for credit, hire, tenant, or any other FCRA-regulated purpose.
Bail Schedules
Bail in a Solano case is set under the county bail schedule. State law backs this up. Penal Code 1269b lets each county set a uniform schedule. Penal Code 1275 lists the factors a judge must weigh, such as public safety, the seriousness of the offense, the record of the defendant, and the chance of return to court.
The official Solano bail information page gives sample felony and misdemeanor bail amounts. You can read the statutes at PC 1269b and PC 1275.
A view of the Solano bail information page is shown below.
If a person was arrested but not yet charged, the booking sergeant can use the schedule to set bail. After arraignment, the judge can raise it, lower it, or release on own recognizance.
Juvenile Criminal Records Are Confidential
Juvenile delinquency cases are filed under Welfare and Institutions Code 602. The case file is confidential under WIC 827. Only the minor, the parents, the attorneys, probation, child welfare, law enforcement, and a small list of others get access. The general public does not.
A juvenile may petition to seal the file under WIC 781 when eligible. Sealing under WIC 781 is broader than the adult relief. It can result in a complete public bar to the file.
The Solano juvenile court runs out of Department 16 at the Hall of Justice, 600 Union Avenue, Fairfield. The juvenile clerk handles all confidentiality requests. The public portal will not display juvenile case data even if the minor's name is searched.
Specialty Courts and Diversion Programs
Not every case ends in jail or a trial. Solano runs several diversion tracks that can lead to a dismissal once the person finishes treatment or training. The local rules cover mental health diversion procedures in the criminal rules section. The court calendar shows diversion hearings in Department 11 and other criminal departments.
Common tracks in Solano include:
- Mental health diversion under Penal Code 1001.36, used for qualifying mental disorder cases.
- Military diversion for active or veteran defendants with eligible offenses.
- Drug-related deferred entry of judgment, run through the criminal departments.
- Truancy court for school-related juvenile matters.
A diversion case stays on the portal until it ends. If the defendant finishes the program, the case is dismissed and the record may be eligible for sealing under PC 851.91.
District Attorney and Public Defender
The Solano County District Attorney prosecutes felonies and most misdemeanors. The current DA is Krishna A. Abrams. The mission of the office is "To Seek and Do Justice." The DA office runs prosecution units, a Bureau of Investigations with sworn peace officers, and a forensic services lab.
Main DA contacts:
- Fairfield office: 675 Texas Street, Suite 4500, Fairfield, CA 94533, phone (707) 784-6800.
- Vallejo office: 355 Tuolumne Street, Suite 3200, Vallejo, CA 94590, phone (707) 553-5321.
- Victim Witness Unit, Fairfield: (707) 784-6844.
- Consumer and Environmental Crimes Unit: (707) 784-6859.
- Real Estate Fraud hotline: (866) 463-6380.
See the DA homepage, the prosecution units page, the Victim Witness Services page, and the complaint and fraud reporting page.
The Superior Court runs a Court Appointed Counsel page in its criminal navigation. Indigent defendants apply through the court for appointed counsel. A public defender, an alternate defender, or a conflict-panel attorney may end up on the case.
Public Access Laws for Criminal Records
Two systems govern public access in California. Agency records sit under the California Public Records Act, now recodified at Government Code 7920.000 and following. Court case files sit under California Rules of Court and judicial access principles. The two systems do not work the same way.
Key access rules for criminal data:
- Government Code 7923.610 covers contemporaneous arrest and booking information. The sheriff cites this when posting the booking log.
- California Rule of Court 2.503 sets the rules on what court files may be viewed online versus only at a courthouse terminal.
- California Rule of Court 2.504 says an electronic record is not the official record unless it is electronically certified.
- Sealing of court records goes through CRC 2.550 and CRC 2.551.
Some criminal data must be viewed at the courthouse, not online. That is why the court runs in-person record review hours from 8 AM to 3 PM, Monday through Friday.
Requesting Certified Copies
For court use, hire, immigration, or licensing, you usually need a certified copy. The Clerk of the Superior Court is the source. The court uses Local Form 4021, Request for Record Search and Copies. The form needs the requester name and mailing address, phone, case number if known, name to be searched, date of birth if known, and the approximate filing period.
How it works:
- Fill out Local Form 4021.
- Submit a separate form for each division (criminal, civil, family, probate).
- Pay assessed fees in advance.
- Drop the form at the holding branch or mail it with a check.
- Wait for the clerk to process the search and pull copies.
Criminal record review hours are 8 AM to 3 PM, Monday through Friday, except court holidays. Walk-in service may be limited; the court asks users to call ahead. For court forms, fees, and contact, see the Criminal Records, Fees and Forms page. For traffic citations and infraction copies, see Solano traffic court records. For the full clerk service list, see the Clerk of the Superior Court page. For court-wide info, see the Solano Superior Court page, and for a broader case lookup, see court records.