Chico Background Check Records

Background check services in Chico are managed through the Chico Police Department and Butte County court system. This Northern California city is the largest in Butte County with its own police force.

Butte County Handles Chico Court Records

Chico is the largest city in Butte County. All criminal court cases for Chico residents go through the Butte County Superior Court. The main courthouse is in Oroville, the county seat. Some court functions may be available in Chico too. Check with the court for which location handles your case type.

Butte County Superior Court has online services for case lookups. You can search by defendant name or case number to find basic case info. For copies of documents, contact the clerk. Standard copy fees apply. Certified copies cost $40 per document.

The Butte County Sheriff provides Live Scan services with a rolling fee of $37. Call 530-552-5200 for current hours and availability. This is one option if the Chico Police do not offer public fingerprinting or if their hours do not work for you.

Live Scan Fingerprinting in Chico

The Chico Police Department may offer Live Scan services to the public. Contact them directly to confirm availability, hours, and fees. Services can vary and hours may change. It is best to call ahead before visiting any government office for fingerprinting.

The Butte County Sheriff is another option. Their rolling fee is $37. This is on top of the state DOJ fee of $32 and FBI fee of $17 if needed. A full check at the sheriff runs around $86 total. Call 530-552-5200 for info.

Private Live Scan operators are also available in Chico. Use the DOJ locator at oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations to find certified sites. Enter your zip code and see all options in the area. Private sites may have more flexible hours and different prices.

Getting Your Background Check Records

California residents can get their own criminal record through a DOJ Record Review. The state fee is $25 plus the rolling fee at your Live Scan site. Fill out form BCIA 8016RR from the DOJ website. Take it to any certified operator in Chico or Butte County.

For court records from Butte County cases, contact the Superior Court clerk. Search online first if possible to find your case number. Then request copies from the clerk office. You can mail your request or go to the courthouse in Oroville. Standard fees apply.

Police reports from Chico PD come from their records division. Incident reports, arrest reports, and accident reports each have their own process. Contact Chico Police records to learn what is available and how to request it. Some reports are public. Others have restrictions.

Background Check Processing Times

Live Scan checks from Chico get sent electronically to the state DOJ. Processing takes 48 to 72 hours when there is no record match. The system handles clear checks automatically. No human review is needed so turnaround is quick.

When prints match existing records, a DOJ technician must review the file by hand. This manual step can add days or weeks to processing. How long depends on workload and complexity of your record. Most checks still finish within two weeks.

Track your status at applicantstatus.doj.ca.gov using your ATI number. This number comes from your Live Scan receipt. The status portal shows if your request is pending or complete. Call (916) 210-2300 if you need help from DOJ support.

Chico Background Check Fees

State fees for background checks are fixed across California. The DOJ charges $32 for a state criminal history check. The FBI charges $17 for a federal check. You pay these at your Live Scan site along with the rolling fee.

Rolling fees in Butte County vary by operator. The sheriff charges $37. Private sites set their own prices. Some may be lower. Some may be higher. Always ask for the total cost before booking your appointment. Bring cash since not all sites take cards.

Butte County Superior Court charges standard California fees. Basic copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $40 per document. Research fees may apply if you need a clerk to search for records. Ask for an estimate first.

Legal Resources in Chico

The Butte County Bar Association can help connect Chico residents with attorneys. If you need help with criminal record expungement or sealing, they can refer you to lawyers who handle that work. First consultations often have a set fee.

Legal Services of Northern California may help low income residents with legal matters. They serve Butte County among other areas. Call to see if you qualify for free assistance with record relief. Income guidelines apply.

The California Courts self-help website has free forms and guides. Visit selfhelp.courts.ca.gov to learn about expungement and record sealing options. Some people can file petitions on their own without hiring a lawyer.

Nearby Cities

These Northern California cities over 100,000 are in the region.