How To Find Out If You Have A Warrant

There are iii primary ways a person in California tin discover out if he/she is subject field to an outstanding warrant. These are by:

searching the sheriff's website or the court'south website for the canton that might have issued the warrant,
searching the Superior Court of California's website, or
running a criminal background check.

California police says that there are 2 types of warrants that requite law enforcement the authority to arrest a person. These are abort warrants and demote warrants.

Arrest warrants are typically issued when constabulary officers or a district attorney suspects that the person named in the warrant has committed a criminal offence.

Demote warrants are issued if a person is in "contempt of courtroom." This might occur if the person named in the warrant:

failed to appear for a court engagement or courtroom proceeding,
failed to pay a fine, and/or
failed to obey any other court order.

If a person learns that he/she is the subject of a warrant, information technology is critical that the person contact a California criminal defense attorney.

woman on laptop browsing as an example of a California warrant search

People tin can use the California Arrests website, which will indicate if a warrant was issued past a given county.

How can I find out if I have an active warrant in California?

At that place are three master ways in which a person can search to find out if he/she is field of study to a warrant. The beginning applies when the person knows what California county may have issued the warrant. In this case, the person can visit that county sheriff's office website or the superior court's website for that canton and run a warrant search.

For instance, in Orange Canton, a person tin search the Orange County Sheriff's Section website.

People can also use the California Arrests website, which will indicate if a warrant was issued by a given canton.

For example:

if a person suspects a warrant is active in Los Angeles County, he/she can search here, and
if a person suspects a warrant is active in San Diego County, he/she can search here.

The second way to notice out information well-nigh a warrant is to search the appropriate Superior Court of California'due south website and run a warrant search. Hither, a person will most likely have to enter the following data:

his/her full proper noun,
a date of birth,
a commuter'south license number, and
a court case number.

Finally, people can always run a criminal background bank check on themselves to determine if they are the subject area of a warrant. A person can do this online by searching:

public records,
criminal records, and
government agency records.

A person tin can also pay a local service or a tertiary party to perform a background check.

No matter which path the person takes, the background check will prove if a particular person:

is subject to a warrant,
is suspected of criminal action,
is exposed to potential criminal liability,
is wanted past law enforcement agencies or police enforcement officers, or
has violated a certain California Penal Lawmaking department (e.m., Penal Code 240 PC, the State'south constabulary on assail).

Notation that once a judge problems a warrant, a clerk of the court enters it into the applicable court or constabulary enforcement website. These are accessible via the United States Department of Justice, DOJ's website. This means whatever law officer in the nation can access this information and determine if in that location is an active warrant out on someone.

judge issuing a warrant

Trial courtroom judges consequence arrest warrants and bench warrants for unlike reasons…

What is the deviation betwixt an arrest warrant and a bench warrant?

At that place are ii types of warrants in the State of California that give police departments the authorization to arrest someone. These are:

arrest warrants, and
bench warrants.

A California arrest warrant authorizes law enforcement officers to arrest and detain a person that they suspect committed a criminal offense exterior of an officer's presence.^one

Judges upshot abort warrants by guild of the court based on:

evidence presented to them by a peace officeholder and/or a District Attorney, or
following a grand jury indictment.²

In guild to be valid in a California court, an abort warrant must include:

the name of the accused,
the criminal charges which he/she is defendant of committing based on probable cause,
the time of issuance,
the metropolis or county of issuance,
the signature and title of the judge, and
the name of the courtroom.ⁱⁱⁱ

Unlike an abort warrant, a demote warrant is not issued based on suspected criminal activity. A bench warrant is most typically issued if a person:

failed to appear for court,
failed to pay a fine, and/or
failed to obey whatsoever other court club.^four

Notation that deadly weapons should not exist used upon arrestees unless necessary.

Also note a demote warrant generally does non elapse. It will remain in result until:

recalled by the judge, or
the person named in the warrant appears in court.

A search warrant is a third blazon of warrant in California. It does not requite the police authority to arrest a person. Rather, the warrant allows the police to search:

a person,
a residence,
a vehicle,
a place of business concern, or
any other specified area suspected of containing evidence of illegal activity.

Warrants have to outline the locations and personal property to be searched with reasonable particularity, and they must spell out the factual basis for the search. Search warrants accept to be done within a express time frame, normally a 10 solar day menstruation. A search warrant may only exist executed between 7AM and 10PM unless the court finds adept crusade to do information technology at any time of the day.^five

What should I do if I have an active warrant?

If a person discovers that he/she is named in a warrant, information technology is disquisitional for the party to immediately contact an experienced criminal defense attorney.

Equally to an arrest warrant, a defense lawyer can advise the person:

whether he/she is truly named in a warrant,
what the warrant is for, and
the amount of bail.

Sometimes an attorney tin even take the party directly to court and become the arrest warrant cleared without the person having to spend time in jail.

With regards to a bench warrant, it typically remains in effect until a person recalls it or quashes information technology. This is unremarkably done when the person named in the warrant appears in court.

A person can have his chaser appear in courtroom on the person's behalf, provided that:

the party failed to appear for a court advent, or
the party failed to brand a payment in connection with a misdemeanor offense.

Delight note that if a person appears in court in an attempt to clear a warrant, the judge does have the option to place the party in custody. Thus, a lawyer is important to help ensure that this does not happen.

law firm receptionist behind laptop speaking on phone

We serve clients throughout California, such every bit Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Diego, Orange Canton, and more than. Contact us at our telephone number or the contact form on this page.

See our related article on protective orders (a.k.a. restraining orders).