Search Berkeley Warrants

Berkeley warrant records show active arrest warrants and bench warrants issued by Alameda County Superior Court for cases in Berkeley. The Berkeley Police Department Records Bureau handles warrant information and arrest records for the city. Berkeley is in Alameda County, so all court warrants go through the county system. The police can check if you have a warrant by searching the county database. To find out if you have a warrant in Berkeley, you can visit the police records bureau at 2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. Bring valid ID when you go. The records bureau is the main place for all official incident reports and warrants for the city.

Alameda County Superior Court System

Berkeley is in Alameda County. All warrants for Berkeley come from Alameda County Superior Court. When a judge issues a warrant, it goes into the county system. The court has a location in Oakland that handles most criminal cases for the area. Berkeley cases may be heard at the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse or the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland.

The Alameda County court uses the Odyssey Portal for public access to case info. You can search for criminal cases online. The portal shows case info for cases with activity since 2005. Visit the court website to access the portal. This is a good way to look up your case number if you have a warrant and need to contact the court.

For more details on how Alameda County handles warrants, visit the Alameda County warrant records page. That page covers the county sheriff, court locations, and how to clear warrants.

Berkeley Police Records Bureau

The Berkeley Police Department Records Bureau is at 2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. Phone is (510) 981-5750. The records bureau is the main office for all police reports, arrest records, and warrant checks in Berkeley. According to the department, the Records Bureau is the repository, retrieval, and records management center for all official incident reports and warrants for the city.

To check if you have a warrant in Berkeley, visit the records bureau in person. Bring a valid photo ID like a driver's license or state ID card. Ask the staff for a warrant check. They will search the Alameda County database and tell you if any warrants come up. If you have an active warrant, they may arrest you on the spot. Whether they do depends on the bail amount and the type of offense. For minor bench warrants, they might tell you to go to court on your own.

Clearance letters cost $10 from the Berkeley Police. A clearance letter shows that you have no local arrest record or that your case was cleared. This is useful for job applications or background checks. Ask at the records bureau how long it takes to get a clearance letter and what documents you need to bring.

For police reports or arrest records from Berkeley, you request them at the records bureau. There may be fees for copies depending on what you need and how many pages. Some info may be restricted if the case is still open or if privacy laws apply. Ask the staff what they can release based on your situation.

Checking for Warrants in Berkeley

There are a few ways to check if you have a warrant in Berkeley. The most direct way is to visit the police records bureau in person. You can also call the Alameda County court if you know which branch has your case. Another option is to contact the Alameda County Sheriff, which keeps warrant files for the whole county.

In person at Berkeley Police, you walk in with your ID and ask for a warrant check. This is fast but risky. If you have a serious warrant, you could be arrested right there. For bench warrants on minor cases, you might be told to go to court without being arrested. Ask what will happen before you give your name if you are worried about being arrested.

Calling the court is safer if you think you have a bench warrant. The clerk can look up your case and tell you if a warrant was issued. They will not arrest you over the phone. Write down what the clerk tells you about how to clear the warrant. Most courts want you to come in and post bail or set a new court date.

The Alameda County Sheriff has an office in San Leandro at 2000 150th Avenue. Phone is (510) 667-3685. The sheriff can search warrant files for the county, which includes Berkeley warrants. You can visit in person or call to ask about warrant info.

Note: Warrants do not expire and will stay active until you deal with them in court.

Warrant Types in Berkeley

Warrants in Berkeley fall into two main types. Bench warrants and arrest warrants. Each has a different cause and legal process. Both can lead to arrest.

Bench warrants are issued when you miss a court date or fail to follow a court order. Traffic tickets are a common source of bench warrants. If you get a ticket and do not show up in court, the judge issues a bench warrant. California Vehicle Code section 40508 makes it a misdemeanor to willfully fail to appear on a traffic citation. The warrant goes out within days of the missed date. Once it is active, you can be arrested at any traffic stop or police contact.

Arrest warrants come from criminal investigations. Police ask a judge to sign a warrant when they have proof you committed a crime. The judge reviews the facts and signs if there is probable cause. California Penal Code sections 813 through 829 set the rules for arrest warrants. The warrant must list the crime, your name, and the bail amount. Police can serve the warrant at your home, at work, or anywhere they find you.

Some warrants are for felonies, others for misdemeanors. Felony warrants have higher bail and more serious consequences. You will be booked into jail and must see a judge before you can post bail. Misdemeanor warrants may let you post bail right away or turn yourself in at a set time without jail first.

Clearing a Warrant in Berkeley

To clear a warrant in Berkeley, you need to deal with Alameda County Superior Court. The court has options depending on the warrant type and charge. For bench warrants, you may be able to schedule a court date without arrest. For arrest warrants, you might need to turn yourself in and post bail.

For bench warrants on traffic or misdemeanor cases, call the court clerk. Ask about the warrant surrender calendar. Many courts let you come in early in the morning to be seen the same day. You check in with the clerk before the calendar starts. The judge calls your case and decides if you can be released or if you need to post bail. Bring money for bail if the clerk says it is required.

For arrest warrants with high bail, you may need to turn yourself in at the Alameda County jail. Call the sheriff or court to find out which jail to go to. Bring your ID and be ready to be booked. You will be fingerprinted and photographed. Then you can post bail if the amount is not too high. Bail can be paid with cash, credit card, or a bail bond. If you use a bond, you pay about ten percent to a bondsman.

Some warrants say "no bail." This means you stay in custody until you see a judge. The jail will set a court date, usually within a few days. At that hearing, the judge decides if you can be released or if bail will be set. Talk to a lawyer before you turn yourself in if you have a no bail warrant.

Legal Help in Berkeley

If you cannot afford a lawyer, you may qualify for a public defender. Alameda County Public Defender has offices at the courthouses. When you first appear in court on a warrant, tell the judge you need a public defender. You will fill out a form about your income. If you qualify, the judge assigns a public defender to your case. This lawyer represents you for free in criminal cases.

Legal aid groups in Alameda County focus on civil cases like housing and family law. They do not handle criminal defense. If your warrant is tied to a civil matter, they might help. Look up local legal aid organizations to ask if your case fits their programs.

The California Courts Self-Help website at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov has guides for looking up cases and understanding court procedures. The site explains how to find case info and what to do if you have a warrant.

Nearby Alameda County Cities

Other cities near Berkeley in Alameda County use the same court and sheriff system.

• Oakland - South of Berkeley, county seat with main courthouses
• Alameda - Southwest of Berkeley, island city in the bay
• San Leandro - South of Oakland with sheriff headquarters
• Fremont - Southern Alameda County city

All these cities file warrants through Alameda County Superior Court. Warrant checks work the same way in each city.