The Superior Court has criminal jurisdiction over misdemeanors, preliminary felony hearings and felony trials. Criminal cases range from relatively minor offenses such as traffic infractions to serious ones such as robbery and murder. In all criminal cases, the defendant is presumed to be innocent. The prosecutor must prove each element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.

• Correspondence with the Court
• Criminal Calendar Information
• Fine Payments
• PAY YOUR FINES ONLINE
• Fine Deferment/Installment Plans
• Drop box for after hours payments
• Court Appearances
• Contact Information

Correspondence with the Court regarding your case:
Use your full name as it appears on your citation or complaint. If the spelling is incorrect or you go by a different name, please notify the court so that the record can be corrected. If you have a common name, please include your date of birth. Also, if you know your case number, always include it with any correspondence.

Contact Information:

Criminal Calendar Information:

• Clerks are not permitted to extend arraignment dates on criminal matters. They are, however, able to advance arraignments. All other changes in hearing dates must be approved by and requested through the District Attorney's Office.

• The criminal calendar is prepared a day in advance. Therefore, there are no arrangements available on a "walk-in" basis. You must calendar your case by 11:00 am the day before you want to appear. No exceptions.
  
  Calendars are usually posted in or outside the Clerk's office and online at http://www.sbcourts.org/pubcal/. If you are unable to find your name or locate a calendar, go to the Clerk's office.

• If you fail to appear in court on the date of your hearing, the judge will issue a warrant for your arrest. There are several calendars posted in the courthouse. If your name does not appear on these calendars, please notify the criminal division clerk that your name does not appear.

Fine Payments:
All fines are due by the date the judge specifies in court.  Your paperwork will reflect the amount owed and the due date. An arrest warrant will be issued if you do not pay or set up a payment plan by the due date.

Personal Checks, Bank Cashier's Checks, Drafts or Money Orders, payable to the "Santa Barbara Superior Court" and Credit Cards (MasterCard, Visa or Discover) will be accepted by the Santa Barbara County Superior Court in payment of any fee, service charge, fine or bail deposit. If a check is returned for non-sufficient funds or "account closed", the payor must reimburse the Court with cash, or cashier's check plus a service fee for the actual cost as determined by consultation between the Court Administrator and the County Auditor's Office.

You may access and pay your fine online at https://courtweb.sbcourts.org/sbcriminal/.

Automated Telephone Information:
Note: in order to use this service, you must have your citation number. The system is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in both English and Spanish.

• Fine and bail amounts.
• Bail forfeiture, bail posting, and fine payments by credit card.
• The automated system accepts VISA, MasterCard and Discover card only.

In the event that the Web and phone payment systems are down for maintenance:

• If you are on the monthly payment plan, please send your payment in the envelope provided with your monthly statement. Otherwise, please visit our office during regular business hours to make your payment or use the drop box.

Fine Deferment/Installment Plans:
If your total fine is greater than $200.00, you may apply to make payments. To set up a Court fine deferment, for one future payment of the entire fine, or a financial payment plan for multiple future payments, there is an application and $35.00 administrative fee to set up the account. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Court approval of deferment or installment payment plans will include specified due dates and minimum amounts for payments, as determined by the Court at the time of the application is filed.

Fine Payment Drop Box for After Hours Payments:
Due to the budget crisis, our courts now close at 4:00 p.m. A drop box is provided for traffic/criminal payments between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Payments (no cash please) placed in the drop box will be processed the next day.

Court Appearances:
At your arraignment hearing, you should have all pertinent information with you, such as:

• Proper identification (Driver's License, California ID, or other picture identification, Social Security card etc.)
• a copy of your citation, letter to appear
• booking forms
• cash bail or bail bond papers
• any other paperwork that would be relevant such as fine payment slip, community service contract, any paperwork received while in custody etc.

You should make arrangements to spend several hours at the courthouse to handle all possible matters in your case.

For more information please visit:

• California Courts Online Self-Help Center:
  http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp/other/crimlaw.htm

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