Santa Barbara Warrant Search

Santa Barbara warrant records are managed by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff and the Santa Barbara County Superior Court. The city of Santa Barbara has a population around 88,000 and sits on the central coast of California. Santa Barbara Police Department handles local arrests but all warrants are issued by the county court. You can check for warrants by calling the Sheriff warrant check phone line at 805-681-4330 and choosing the warrants option. The jail can be reached at 805-681-4260. The police department also helps people with outstanding warrants turn themselves in. If you have a warrant, they will allow you to turn yourself in at a specific time. Your cooperation will be noted and recorded in your case file.

Check for Warrants by Phone

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff runs a warrant check phone line. Call 805-681-4330 and choose the warrants option from the menu. They can tell you if there is an active warrant on file. You need to provide a full name and date of birth. If you are checking on yourself, they may ask you to verify your identity with additional information. This service is free. You do not pay to check for a warrant.

The jail is at a different number. Call 805-681-4260 if you need to reach the jail directly. The jail handles bookings and inmate information. If you are arrested on a warrant, you get booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail. Depending on the charge and bail amount, you may be released on your own recognizance or you may have to post bail. High bail warrants or violent offenses usually mean you stay in jail until a court appearance.

Note: The warrant check line is for information only. If you have a warrant, you still need to deal with it through the court.

Santa Barbara Police Warrants

Santa Barbara Police Department is at 215 East Figueroa Street. Call them at 805-963-0611 for general questions. The police have a page on their website about warrants. It says that if there is an outstanding warrant for your arrest, they will allow you to turn yourself in at a specific time. Your cooperation will be duly noted and properly recorded. This means if you call ahead and arrange to turn yourself in, it looks better than getting arrested at home or work.

The police website explains how the process works for people with warrants who want to turn themselves in voluntarily.

For a criminal history search through the police, the fee is $10. If they find records, the cost goes up to $25. These fees are for getting a copy of your arrest history from the police department. Warrant checks are free through the Sheriff phone line. Do not confuse a warrant check with a criminal history search. They are different services.

If you were arrested by Santa Barbara Police, your case goes to the District Attorney and then to Superior Court. If you miss a court date, the judge issues a bench warrant. That warrant goes into the county system. The Sheriff serves the warrant or local police can arrest you if they come across you.

Handling Warrants in Court

Santa Barbara County Superior Court has locations in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc. Most Santa Barbara city cases are heard at the courthouse in Santa Barbara. If you have a bench warrant, check your paperwork to see which courthouse issued it. You must appear at that courthouse to clear the warrant. Do not go to the wrong location.

Get to the courthouse early. Many courts have a clear warrant calendar at 8:30 am or 9 am. Check in at the criminal clerk window when you arrive. Tell them you are there to surrender on a warrant. Bring your ID and any court documents you have. The clerk will verify your information and put you on the calendar. You wait in the courtroom until your name is called. This can take an hour or more depending on how many cases are ahead of you.

When the judge calls you, explain why you missed court. Be respectful and honest. If you forgot the date or did not get notice, say that. The judge may recall the warrant and set a new court date. Or the judge may increase your bail or add conditions. It depends on the case and your history. If this is your first time missing court, judges are usually more forgiving. If you have a pattern of not showing up, expect stricter penalties.

California Penal Code section 978.5 gives judges the authority to issue bench warrants when you fail to appear. The warrant stays active until you appear or the judge recalls it. There is no time limit. A warrant from ten years ago is still valid. You have to deal with it to clear it. Ignoring it does not help.

For traffic warrants, you may be able to pay the fine and clear the warrant without a court appearance. Call the traffic division and ask. California Vehicle Code section 40508 makes it a misdemeanor to 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 notice to DMV. Your license is reinstated after DMV processes the notice.

Legal Resources

If you cannot afford a lawyer, you may qualify for a public defender. The Santa Barbara County Public Defender represents people who meet financial guidelines. When you appear in court, ask for a public defender application. Fill it out completely. The court reviews your income and assets. If you qualify, a public defender is assigned to your case at no cost. Public defenders handle felonies and serious misdemeanors. They do not take traffic cases or very minor offenses.

Legal aid groups in the area focus on civil issues like housing and family law. They do not handle criminal cases. For criminal matters, you need a public defender or a private attorney. If you do not qualify for a public defender, look for a private criminal defense lawyer. Many offer free consultations. Call and explain your warrant. They will tell you what your options are. Ask about fees. Some lawyers charge a flat fee for warrant recalls. Others bill hourly. Get the fee agreement in writing before you hire anyone.

The State Bar of California runs a referral service. Search for attorneys by city and practice area. When you contact a lawyer, ask if they can file a motion to recall the warrant without you being present. Some warrants allow this. Others require you to appear no matter what. The lawyer can review your case and tell you which type you have.

Other Cities in Santa Barbara County

Santa Barbara County covers a large area along the central coast. Several cities are in the county. All of them use the same Sheriff and court system for warrants. Here are some nearby cities.

Santa Maria is north of Santa Barbara with over 107,000 people. Santa Maria Police are at 1111 West Betteravia Road. Call their records line at 805-928-3781, ext. 2590. Hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm. Warrants in Santa Maria go through the county court. There is a courthouse in Santa Maria for cases filed in that region.

Lompoc is west of Santa Maria with about 44,000 people. Lompoc is not big enough for its own page but it is worth mentioning. Lompoc cases go to the courthouse in Lompoc or Santa Maria depending on the type of case. Warrants are served by the Sheriff or local police.

Goleta is right next to Santa Barbara with around 32,000 people. Goleta contracts with the Sheriff for law enforcement. There is no separate Goleta police department. The Sheriff handles all law enforcement in Goleta. Warrants are issued by the county court and served by the Sheriff.

All Santa Barbara County warrants can be checked by calling the Sheriff warrant line at 805-681-4330. It does not matter which city the warrant came from. They are all in the same county system.