Madera County Background Check Records

Madera County background check records are available through the sheriff and Superior Court. This Central Valley county has about 160,000 residents. The city of Madera is the county seat. The court charges $15 per name for record searches. Part of Yosemite National Park is in Madera County. This guide covers how to access criminal records in Madera County.

Madera County Court Records

Madera Superior Court handles criminal cases for the county. Visit the court criminal page for information about accessing records. Record searches cost $15 per name. The court is located in the city of Madera.

Certified copies cost $40 per document. Regular copies have per page fees. Criminal records are public unless sealed by court order. The court serves Madera, Chowchilla, and all unincorporated areas including the mountain communities.

Contact the clerk for help with specific record requests. Staff can explain what documents are available and the process for obtaining copies.

Madera County Sheriff Services

The Madera County Sheriff provides law enforcement for unincorporated areas. Contact them for Live Scan availability and fees. The sheriff office is in the city of Madera near the courthouse.

On top of any local fees, Live Scan requires $32 to the state DOJ and $17 to the FBI for federal records. Private Live Scan operators also serve Madera County. Use the DOJ locator to find all certified sites.

Madera County includes flatland agricultural areas and mountain communities near Yosemite. Services are concentrated in the city of Madera where most people live.

Live Scan in Madera County

Madera County has two incorporated cities: Madera and Chowchilla. Madera has about 70,000 people and is the county seat. Chowchilla has around 19,000 people. Both have their own police departments.

Contact Madera Police or Chowchilla Police to check Live Scan availability. Private operators serve the Madera area. Residents in mountain communities like Oakhurst may need to travel to Madera for services.

Note: Chowchilla is home to two state women's prisons which affects local services and court caseload.

Madera County Background Check Fees

Fees in Madera County include state charges plus local fees. The DOJ charges $32. The FBI charges $17. Court record searches are $15 per name.

Live Scan rolling fees vary by provider. Court fees follow standard California rates with $40 for certified copies. Contact the sheriff or private operators for current Live Scan pricing.

Nearby California Counties

Madera County stretches from the Central Valley floor to the Sierra Nevada crest. Highway 99 and Highway 41 are major routes.

Neighboring counties include Merced County to the north, Mariposa County to the east, Fresno County to the south, and Mono County to the northeast.

Communities in Madera County

Madera County has two incorporated cities and several unincorporated communities. All criminal cases go through Madera Superior Court.

• Madera (county seat)
• Chowchilla
• Oakhurst (unincorporated, gateway to Yosemite)
• Coarsegold (unincorporated)