Ventura County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Formed from parts of Santa Barbara County, Ventura County is located in southern California and covers an area of 2,208 square miles. Established in 1872, Ventura County is home to over 842,000 residents. The county seat is in Ventura City. Ventura County courts are structured to handle various legal matters, from civil to criminal to family law and probate lawsuits. The court system is structured to maintain order and uphold justice in the county through its Superior Courts.

The Ventura County Superior Court has three locations: the East County Courthouse located in Simi Valley, the Juvenile Justice Center located in Oxnard, and the Hall of Justice situated in Ventura. The East County Courthouse collects criminal and traffic payments. The Juvenile Justice Centre hears Juvenile and probate matters, while the Superior Court at the Hall of Justice hears civil, criminal, small claims, family law, and traffic cases. The Superior Court is the primary trial court in Ventura County, having general jurisdiction over lawsuits filed in court. The Superior Court is organized into Divisions handling different types of lawsuits. The Criminal Division handles felony and misdemeanor cases. The Civil Division presides over civil disputes such as personal injury and contract disputes. The Family Law Division hears matters such as divorce and child custody matters. The Probate Division deals with estates, wills, and guardianships. The Juvenile Division adjudicates cases involving minors, including dependence matters and delinquency. The Traffic Division addresses traffic violations and infractions.

Ventura County records an average of 7,000 crimes annually, with property crimes accounting for over 85% of crimes committed in the county. Per the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, the Criminal Division of the Superior Court presides over up to 10,000 criminal cases, with misdemeanors and infractions accounting for close to 70% of the criminal cases filed at the courts. Over 11,000 civil cases are filed at the Superior Court annually, with most cases coming from civil limited disputes at over 6,000 lawsuits. Persons seeking public court records from Ventura County may access the document online using Case Access. However, confidential court records, such as juvenile records and grand jury proceedings, are inaccessible to the public.

In conclusion, the Ventura County court system is crucial to maintaining order and justice. Each court division plays a role in meeting the diverse legal needs of the community. In addition, the court structure reflects the county's commitment to justices as it ensures that legal proceedings are carried out fairly. The country's government promotes transparency by granting access to public court records.