Santa Maria Warrant Search

Santa Maria warrant records are kept by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff and the Santa Barbara County Superior Court. Santa Maria has a population over 107,000 people and sits in the northern part of Santa Barbara County. The city has its own police department that handles local arrests and investigations. All warrants are issued through the county court system. You can check for active warrants by calling the Sheriff warrant check line at 805-681-4330 and choosing the warrants option. The jail can be reached at 805-681-4260. Santa Maria Police Department is at 1111 West Betteravia Road. Call their records office at 805-928-3781, ext. 2590 if you need police reports or local arrest information.

Check for Warrants

All warrants in Santa Maria go through Santa Barbara County. The Sheriff runs a warrant check phone line at 805-681-4330. 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 Maria Police Records

Santa Maria Police Department is at 1111 West Betteravia Road. Their records office is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm. Call them at 805-928-3781, ext. 2590 for records questions. The police handle local arrests and criminal investigations. If they arrest someone, the case goes to the District Attorney and then to Superior Court. If a judge issues a warrant, it goes into the county system.

SMPD can serve warrants but they do not maintain warrant files. That is done by the Sheriff. For warrant checks, call the Sheriff warrant line or visit the jail. The police can tell you if you were arrested but they cannot tell you if you have an active warrant. That information comes from the Sheriff or the court.

If you need a copy of a police report from Santa Maria PD, submit a request to the records office. There may be fees for copies depending on what you need. Police reports are separate from warrant information. For warrant status, go through the Sheriff.

Handling Warrants in Court

Santa Barbara County Superior Court has locations in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc. Most Santa Maria cases are heard at the courthouse in Santa Maria. 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 or they will send you to the right one.

Get to the courthouse early. Many courts have a clear warrant calendar that starts 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 honest and respectful. If you forgot the date or did not get notice, say so. 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 record. If this is your first time missing court, judges are usually more forgiving. If you have missed multiple times, 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 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. This can take several days.

Legal Help

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 charge. 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 Barbara is south of Santa Maria with about 88,000 people. Santa Barbara is the county seat. Santa Barbara Police are at 215 East Figueroa Street. Call them at 805-963-0611. Warrants in Santa Barbara go through the county Sheriff. Call the warrant check line to search for warrants in Santa Barbara.

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 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.