Santa Monica Warrants

Santa Monica warrant records are maintained by the Santa Monica Police Department and the Los Angeles County Superior Court in this coastal city of approximately 93,000 residents. The Santa Monica Police Department at 333 Olympic Drive handles all warrant inquiries through their Records Division at (310) 458-8431 during business hours. As part of Los Angeles County, all warrants issued by the Superior Court remain active in the county system until they are resolved through arrest, bail posting, or judicial recall. Bench warrants for missed court dates and arrest warrants for new criminal charges stay in the system indefinitely, and anyone with an outstanding warrant should expect to be arrested during routine law enforcement contact such as traffic stops or other police encounters throughout Santa Monica and the greater LA County area. The Santa Monica Police Department maintains professional standards for warrant service and works closely with the court system to process active warrants.

Check for Warrants

The Santa Monica Police Department Records Division is at 333 Olympic Drive. Call (310) 458-8431 to reach them. They can help you check if you have an active warrant. You may need to visit in person with a photo ID to get detailed information. The Records Division handles all warrant inquiries for Santa Monica cases.

Santa Monica Police do not have an online public warrant search. You must contact the Records Division directly. Phone requests for warrant info may be limited. For the most accurate information, visit the police station in person with your ID. If you have an active warrant, be aware that you may be arrested on the spot depending on the charge and bail amount.

Los Angeles County Superior Court issues all warrants for Santa Monica cases. The Santa Monica courthouse handles criminal cases for the city. When you miss a court date, the judge can issue a bench warrant. When new charges are filed and you are not in custody, the judge may issue an arrest warrant. Both types stay active until you deal with them.

Santa Monica Police Department

The Santa Monica Police Department Records Division maintains all police reports, arrest records, and warrant data for cases handled by SMPD. The division is at 333 Olympic Drive. You can request copies of police reports if you were involved in an incident or arrested by Santa Monica Police. Call (310) 458-8431 for records requests.

If you were arrested by Santa Monica Police, your booking information goes into the LA County jail system. The Los Angeles County Sheriff runs the detention facilities. You can search for current inmates online through the county website. Older arrest records must be requested through the police department or the county.

Santa Monica Police officers check the warrant database during every traffic stop and contact with the public. If you have an active warrant and are stopped by police, you will be arrested unless the warrant is for a very minor issue. Do not ignore a warrant. It will not go away on its own.

The Records Division can help you with questions about getting records or checking for warrants. The staff can tell you what documents you need to bring and what fees apply. Some requests can be processed the same day if the records are recent and readily available. Older records may take longer to retrieve from storage.

LA County Court Warrants

The Los Angeles County Superior Court issues all warrants for Santa Monica cases. The Santa Monica courthouse is part of the LA County court system. When you fail to appear in court, the judge can issue a bench warrant for your arrest. California law allows this under Penal Code Section 978.5 when defendants do not show up as ordered. You can read the statute at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.

Bench warrants in Santa Monica often come from traffic violations and misdemeanor cases. If you got a ticket and did not show up for court, the judge issues a warrant. California Vehicle Code Section 40508 makes it a misdemeanor to willfully fail to appear on a traffic charge. You can read that law at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. The warrant stays active until you go to court and deal with the case.

Arrest warrants are issued when the District Attorney files charges and a judge finds probable cause. Santa Monica Police detectives investigate crimes and present evidence to the DA. If the DA decides to file charges, they ask the court for an arrest warrant. Arrest warrants can be for theft, drug crimes, assault, burglary, and other offenses.

The LA County court system has case info online for many cases. You can search by name or case number. The system may not show all warrant details. For the most accurate info, contact the Santa Monica courthouse. The criminal clerk's office can look up your case and tell you what steps to take.

Clear a Warrant

If you have a warrant in Santa Monica, you need to deal with it. Warrants do not go away. You have a few options depending on the type of warrant and how much bail is set.

Turn yourself in at the Santa Monica courthouse. Go early in the morning and check in at the criminal clerk's office. Bring your photo ID and tell them you have a warrant. If the warrant is minor, you may get a court date without being arrested. If it is serious, you will be booked into jail.

Post bail if your warrant has a bail amount. You can pay cash at the courthouse or use a bail bond company. Most bail bond agents charge 10 percent of the total bail as their fee. Once bail is posted, the warrant is lifted and you must appear in court on the date given.

Hire a lawyer if you have a serious warrant. A lawyer can contact the court for you and may be able to file a motion to recall the warrant or reduce bail. Lawyers who practice in LA County know the local judges and can give you advice.

Legal Resources

If you cannot afford a lawyer, you may qualify for a public defender. The Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office represents people who are charged with crimes and cannot pay for a private attorney. You apply when you first go to court.

Legal aid organizations in Santa Monica and LA County may be able to help. Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles is one option. The California Courts Self-Help website has guides at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov.

Nearby Cities

Santa Monica is in Los Angeles County. It borders Venice, Los Angeles, and other cities. All use the LA County court system for warrants.

Los Angeles LAPD Records is at 100 West 1st Street. Call 213-486-8300.

Torrance Police are at 3300 Civic Center Dr. Call 310-618-5529.