Compton Warrant Records

Compton warrant records are handled by Los Angeles County Superior Court and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The city contracts with the county sheriff for police services. All active warrants for Compton come from the county court system. These include arrest warrants from criminal cases and bench warrants for missed court dates or unpaid fines. To check if you have a warrant in Compton, you must contact the sheriff station that serves the area or visit the Los Angeles County Sheriff Records Bureau in Norwalk. There is no online warrant search for Los Angeles County, so you need to check in person or call the court. Bring valid ID if you plan to visit in person to check for warrants.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Serves Compton

Compton is in Los Angeles County and contracts with the county sheriff for law enforcement services. The city does not have its own police department. Instead, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department provides all police services to Compton residents. This includes serving warrants, making arrests, and keeping records.

All warrants for Compton come from Los Angeles County Superior Court. When a judge issues a warrant, it goes to the county sheriff. The sheriff maintains warrant files for all cities that use sheriff services. This includes Compton, along with many other cities in the county. The sheriff can access warrant info during traffic stops or other police contacts.

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

The main sheriff records office is in Norwalk at 12440 East Imperial Highway, Suite 400 West. Phone is (562) 345-4441. You can visit this office to check for warrants or request arrest records. Bring valid ID when you go.

Compton Sheriff Station

Compton is served by the Compton Sheriff Station. This station provides law enforcement services to the city. To find out the station address and phone, call the sheriff main line or look up the station on the sheriff website. Most sheriff stations can check for warrants and handle warrant surrenders.

When you visit the sheriff station to check for a warrant, bring a valid photo ID. Ask the deputy at the front desk for a warrant check. They will search the county database and tell you if any warrants come up in your name. 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 charge. For minor bench warrants, they might tell you to go to court on your own.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff FAQ at lasd.org/records-faq says to go to your local police or sheriff station to find out if you have a warrant. The FAQ also explains that you can visit the Records and Identification Bureau in Norwalk for warrant checks and criminal history info.

How to Check for Compton Warrants

There are a few ways to check if you have a warrant in Compton. The most common methods are to visit the sheriff station in person, call the court, or go to the sheriff records bureau in Norwalk.

In person at the sheriff station, 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 charges, you might be told to go to court without being arrested.

Calling the court is safer if you think you have a bench warrant. The clerk can look up your case by name or case number 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.

The sheriff records bureau in Norwalk can also check warrant files for the whole county. You can visit in person at 12440 East Imperial Highway, Suite 400 West, or call (562) 345-4441. This office handles records requests for all sheriff patrol areas, including Compton.

Note: Warrants stay active until you deal with them in court, even if many years have passed.

Warrant Types in Compton

Warrants in Compton 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. The sheriff or other 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 Compton

To clear a warrant in Compton, you need to deal with Los Angeles 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 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.

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 Compton

If you cannot afford a lawyer, you may qualify for a public defender. Los Angeles 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.

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles serves low-income residents. They focus on civil cases like housing and family law. If your warrant is tied to a civil matter, they might help. Call (800) 399-4529 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 Los Angeles County Cities

Other cities near Compton in Los Angeles County use the same court and sheriff system.

• Long Beach - Southeast of Compton with its own police department
• Carson - South of Compton, also served by county sheriff
• Lynwood - East of Compton, sheriff contract city
• Inglewood - West of Compton with local police

All these cities file warrants through Los Angeles County Superior Court. The sheriff serves many of these cities. Warrant checks work the same way in each city.