Chico Warrant Records

Chico warrant records include active arrest warrants and bench warrants issued by Butte County Superior Court for cases in Chico. The Chico Police Department serves warrants within city limits and maintains records on local arrests. Chico is in Butte County, so all court warrants go through the county system. The police records division can check if you have a warrant by searching the county database. To find out if you have a warrant in Chico, you can call the police records line at (530) 897-4910 or visit in person. The records office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Bring valid ID when you go. Butte County Superior Court also has an online portal where you can search for case info.

Butte County Superior Court System

Chico is the largest city in Butte County. All warrants for Chico come from Butte County Superior Court. When a judge issues a warrant, it goes into the county system. The court is in Oroville, the county seat. The address is One Court Street, Oroville, CA 95965. Phone is (530) 532-7001.

The Butte County court uses the Tyler Technologies Portal for public access to case info. Visit portal-cabutte.tylertech.cloud/Portal to search for criminal cases online. The portal shows case info for many cases. This is a good way to look up your case number if you have a warrant and need to contact the court. The court FAQ says that date of birth information is not available online under California Rule of Court 2.507.

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

Chico Police Records Division

The Chico Police Department Records Division handles warrant checks, police reports, and arrest records for the city. Phone is (530) 897-4910. The office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The office is closed on Fridays.

To check if you have a warrant in Chico, call the records division or visit in person. Bring a valid photo ID. Ask the staff for a warrant check. They will search the Butte 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.

For police reports or accident reports from Chico, you request them through the records division. Accident reports cost $6.00. Other reports may have different fees. Call ahead to ask what you need to bring and what the fee will be.

Checking for Warrants in Chico

There are a few ways to check if you have a warrant in Chico. The most direct way is to call the Chico Police Records Division. You can also contact the Butte County Sheriff or call the court if you know your case number.

Calling Chico Police at (530) 897-4910 is a good first step. Tell them you want to check if you have a warrant. They can search the county database over the phone. If you have a warrant, they will tell you what it is for and what the bail amount is. Depending on the charge, they may ask you to turn yourself in or go to court.

Calling the court is safe 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 Butte County Sheriff's Office is in Oroville at 5 Gillick Way. Phone is (530) 538-7321. The Records Division can be reached at (530) 538-7391. They can check warrant files for the county, which includes Chico warrants. You can visit in person or call.

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

Warrant Types in Chico

Warrants in Chico fall into two main types. Bench warrants and arrest warrants. Each has a different cause and legal process.

Bench warrants are issued when you miss a court date or fail to follow a court order. Traffic tickets are a common source. 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.

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.

Clearing a Warrant in Chico

To clear a warrant in Chico, you need to deal with Butte 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.

For arrest warrants with high bail, you may need to turn yourself in at the Butte County Jail. Call the sheriff or court to find out where to go. 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.

Paying bail does not make the case go away. It just gets you out of jail while the case is pending. You still have to go to court on the dates they give you.

Legal Help in Chico

If you cannot afford a lawyer, you may qualify for a public defender. Butte County Public Defender has an office at the courthouse. 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.

Legal aid groups in Butte County focus on civil cases like housing and family law. 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.

Nearby Butte County Areas

Other cities and areas in Butte County use the same Superior Court and sheriff system.

• Oroville - County seat with the main courthouse and sheriff office
• Paradise - Small city east of Chico
• Gridley - Small city south of Chico
• Biggs - Small city in southern Butte County

All these cities file warrants through Butte County Superior Court. Warrant checks work the same way no matter which Butte County city you are in.