Sacramento Warrant Search

Sacramento warrant records can be found through the Sacramento County Sheriff and the Sacramento County Superior Court. As the state capital and county seat, Sacramento handles a large volume of criminal cases and warrants. The city has about 525,000 people. The good news is that Sacramento County offers a free online criminal case search. You do not have to pay to look up cases or download court documents. The court stopped charging fees for online searches in recent years. This makes it one of the easiest counties in California to search for warrant information. You can use the court portal to find case files or you can call the Sheriff records office for warrant checks.

Free Online Criminal Case Search

Sacramento County Superior Court runs a free public case access system. Go to services.saccourt.ca.gov to search for criminal cases by name. The court says they discontinued all fees for online searches and document downloads. This is rare in California. Most counties charge for case access or for downloading documents. Sacramento does not.

When you use the portal, type in a first and last name. The system will show all cases that match. Click on a case to see details. You can view court dates, charges, and case status. If a bench warrant was issued for failing to appear, it should show up in the case record. You can also see bail amounts and next court dates. The portal lets you download documents for free. This includes complaints, motions, and court orders. If you need a certified copy, you still have to pay the court clerk for that. But viewing and downloading regular copies is free.

Not every case will be online. Very old cases or sealed cases may not appear. Juvenile cases are confidential and do not show up in public searches. If you cannot find a case online, call the court clerk and ask them to search. They can check their full system which includes records that are not public.

Note: The online system is updated regularly but there may be a delay between when something happens in court and when it shows up online.

Sacramento County Sheriff Warrant Check

The Sacramento County Sheriff Office is at 4510 Orange Grove Ave in Sacramento. Call them at 916-874-5383 for general information. The main jail is at 651 I Street in downtown Sacramento. That is where people get booked when they are arrested on a warrant. If you want to turn yourself in on a warrant, you can go to the jail and tell the staff you are there to surrender. Bring your ID and any court papers you have.

The Sheriff works with city police and other law enforcement to serve warrants. If you have an active warrant, any cop in the county can arrest you. It does not matter if the warrant is from Sacramento PD or from the Sheriff. Once the warrant is in the system, it is valid county wide. You can be arrested during a traffic stop, at your home, or at work. Do not wait for them to come find you. It is better to deal with it on your own terms.

For warrant payments, Sacramento County uses a system called PaymentExpress. If you have a traffic warrant or a misdemeanor warrant that allows you to pay a fine instead of appearing in court, you may be able to pay online. Check with the court to see if your warrant qualifies. Not all warrants can be cleared by payment. Some require a court appearance no matter what.

Clearing a Bench Warrant in Sacramento

If you have a bench warrant for missing a court date, you need to appear at the courthouse that issued the warrant. Most Sacramento criminal cases are heard at the Gordon D. Schaber Courthouse at 720 9th Street in downtown Sacramento. Some cases may be at the William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse or at courthouses in other parts of the county. Check your case online or call the clerk to find out which courthouse handles your case.

Get to the courthouse early. Many courts have a warrant surrender calendar that starts at 8:30 am. Check in at the criminal clerk window when you arrive. Tell them you are there to turn yourself in on a warrant. They will verify your ID and put you on the calendar. Then you wait in the courtroom for your name to be called. Bring money for bail or fines if you think you may need to pay. Some courtrooms have payment windows. Others send you to a different office to pay.

When the judge calls your case, step up to the podium. The judge will ask why you missed your court date. Be honest. If you forgot or did not get notice, say that. If you had an emergency, explain what happened. The judge may recall the warrant and set a new court date. Or the judge may impose penalties like higher bail or community service. It depends on the case and your record. If this is your first time missing court, judges are usually more lenient. If you have missed multiple times, expect stricter consequences.

California Penal Code section 978.5 allows judges to issue bench warrants when you fail to appear. The law says the warrant stays active until you appear or the judge recalls it. There is no expiration date on a bench warrant. You cannot just wait it out. It will stay on your record until you deal with it.

For traffic warrants, you may be able to clear it by paying the fine. California Vehicle Code section 40508 makes it a misdemeanor to willfully fail to appear on a traffic citation. The court can suspend your driver license until you clear the warrant. Once you pay or appear, the court sends a notice to DMV. Your license hold is lifted after DMV processes the notice. This can take a few days or longer.

Legal Help and Public Defenders

If you cannot afford a lawyer, you may qualify for a public defender. The Sacramento County Public Defender Office represents people who meet financial guidelines. When you appear in court, tell the judge you cannot afford a lawyer. The judge will give you a form to fill out. The form asks about your income, assets, and expenses. If you qualify, a public defender is assigned to your case at no cost to you. Public defenders handle felonies and some misdemeanors. They do not usually handle traffic cases.

For civil legal issues, there are legal aid groups in Sacramento. But they do not take criminal cases. If you need help with a criminal matter and do not qualify for a public defender, you need to hire a private attorney. Look for lawyers who practice criminal defense. Many offer free consultations. You can call and explain your warrant situation. They will tell you what your options are and how much it will cost to hire them.

The State Bar of California has a lawyer referral service. You can search by city and practice area. When you contact an attorney, ask about fees and payment plans. Some attorneys charge a flat fee for warrant recalls. Others bill by the hour. Get the fee agreement in writing before you hire anyone. Ask if the attorney can appear for you or if you must be present. Some warrants allow the attorney to handle it on your behalf. Others require you to show up no matter what.

Other Cities in Sacramento County

Sacramento County includes several cities besides the city of Sacramento. All of them use the same court and Sheriff system for warrants. Here are a few cities you should know about.

Elk Grove is south of Sacramento and has over 175,000 people. Elk Grove Police are at 8400 Laguna Palms Way. Their records line is 916-478-8170. Police reports are free in Elk Grove. Warrants go through Sacramento County just like in the city of Sacramento.

Citrus Heights is northeast of Sacramento with about 88,000 people. It does not meet the threshold for a full page but it is worth mentioning. Citrus Heights Police are at 6315 Fountain Square Drive. Call them at 916-727-5500. Warrants in Citrus Heights are served by local police or the Sheriff.

Folsom is east of Sacramento near Folsom Lake. Folsom has around 80,000 people. Folsom Police are at 46 Natoma Street. Call 916-461-6400 for records. Folsom cases go to the Superior Court in Sacramento County. Warrants are issued by the court and served by Folsom PD or the Sheriff.

Cities like Rancho Cordova, Galt, and Isleton are also in Sacramento County. They all use the county court system. If you have a warrant in any Sacramento County city, you can search for it online using the free court portal or by calling the Sheriff office.