Find Torrance Warrant Records

Torrance warrant records include arrest warrants and bench warrants issued by Los Angeles County Superior Court. The Torrance Police Department maintains warrant files for the city and serves warrants within city limits. All criminal cases from Torrance are heard at the Torrance courthouse, part of the Los Angeles County court system. If you need to check for a warrant in Torrance, you can contact the police department Records Bureau or the Superior Court clerk. The city has its own police force, so local warrant info goes through Torrance PD, not the county sheriff. However, the court system is run by the county, which means warrant records from Torrance cases are also on file with Los Angeles County.

Torrance Police Department Warrant Records

Torrance Police Department is at 3300 Civic Center Dr. The Records Bureau is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. This is one of the few police departments in Los Angeles County with Saturday hours. You can call 310-618-5529 for general records questions.

If you want to know if you have a warrant in Torrance, you must go in person with ID. The department does not give out warrant info over the phone. Bring a driver license or state ID card. Tell the clerk you want a warrant check. They will look you up in the city database and also check the county system. This covers both Torrance warrants and any other Los Angeles County warrants you may have.

Torrance PD also checks the statewide system when you come in. This means they can see if you have warrants in other California counties. If a warrant shows up from another county, the Torrance officer may hold you and call that county to see if they want to come get you. This is called extradition. For minor warrants from far away counties, they may just tell you to handle it yourself.

Los Angeles County Court Handles Torrance Cases

Torrance is in Los Angeles County. All criminal court cases from Torrance go to the Los Angeles County Superior Court. The Torrance courthouse is a branch of the county court system. Judges there can issue bench warrants if you miss a court date. Arrest warrants come from the District Attorney filing charges and a judge signing the warrant.

Los Angeles County does not have an online warrant search for the public. The Sheriff and the courts keep warrant files private. The LA County Sheriff FAQ page at lasd.org/records-faq says if you want to know if you have a warrant, you should go to your local police station or sheriff station and they can run a check for you.

For Torrance residents, your local station is Torrance PD, so that is where you go.

The court also has an electronic search warrant portal at esw.lacourt.org/eSearchWarrant/signin but this is for law enforcement use only. You cannot access it as a member of the public. You must go through the police or the court clerk to get warrant information.

Checking for Warrants in Torrance

Walk into Torrance PD Records during open hours. Bring valid photo ID. Ask the clerk for a warrant check on yourself. They will search local, county, and state databases. This takes a few minutes. If you have a warrant, the clerk will tell you what it is for, what court issued it, and what the bail is.

If the warrant is from Torrance or another Los Angeles County court, you can usually deal with it right there or get info on how to clear it. If the warrant is from a different county, they will give you contact info for that county so you can handle it. Small traffic warrants from other counties may not result in arrest if you are just doing a check. But felony warrants from anywhere in California can get you arrested on the spot.

Another option is to call the Los Angeles County Superior Court and ask about your case. If you know your case number, the clerk can look it up and tell you if a warrant was issued. The court phone system is big and can have long wait times. Going to Torrance PD in person is often faster.

Some people hire a lawyer to check for warrants. A criminal defense attorney can call the court or the DA office and find out if there is a warrant without you having to show up in person. This is safer if you think you may get arrested. The lawyer can also help you set up a surrender time or post bail before you turn yourself in.

How to Clear a Warrant in Torrance

If you have a bench warrant from missing court in Torrance, you can turn yourself in or you can go to court and ask to be put on the calendar. Turning yourself in means going to Torrance PD or to the county jail and telling them you are ready to face the warrant. They will book you and hold you until you see a judge. This can be the same day or the next court day depending on when you go in.

Going to court to clear a warrant is called a court surrender. You show up at the Torrance courthouse early in the morning. Check in with the clerk and tell them you have a warrant and want to see a judge. They put you on the calendar for that day. You wait until your name is called. The judge will ask why you missed court before. If you have a good reason, the judge may recall the warrant and let you go home. If not, the judge may keep the warrant active or set new bail.

Bail is money you pay to get out of custody while your case is pending. If your warrant has a bail amount listed, you can post it before you turn yourself in. Pay the bail at the courthouse or use a bail bondsman. Once bail is posted, the warrant is stayed and you get a new court date. Show up to that date or you will get another warrant and lose your bail money.

Traffic warrants in Torrance often can be cleared by paying the fine. Call the traffic division of the court and ask if you can pay by mail or online. Some courts let you pay and clear the warrant without ever coming in. Others make you appear even if you pay. It depends on the charge and how long the warrant has been out.

Note: Bring all case documents you have when you go to clear a warrant so the clerk can look up your file fast.

California Warrant Laws

California Penal Code section 978.5 at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov covers bench warrants in the state. A judge may issue a bench warrant if you fail to appear in court as ordered. This law applies to all Superior Courts in California including Los Angeles County courts in Torrance.

Arrest warrants come from Penal Code sections 813 through 829 at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov which set out the process for getting a warrant. A law enforcement officer must present facts to a judge showing probable cause that a crime was committed. The judge reviews the information and signs the warrant if there is enough proof.

For traffic cases, Vehicle Code section 40508 at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov makes it a misdemeanor to willfully fail to appear on a traffic citation. When you sign a ticket, you promise to appear in court or pay the fine. If you do not do either, the court can issue a warrant for your arrest. This is very common in Los Angeles County and across California.

Penal Code section 166 at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov deals with contempt of court. Willful disobedience of a court order can be charged as misdemeanor contempt. If you have a warrant and you do not turn yourself in, you could face additional contempt charges on top of your original case.

Legal Help in Torrance

If you cannot afford a private attorney, you may qualify for a public defender. The Los Angeles County Public Defender Office represents people who are charged with crimes and cannot pay for a lawyer. You apply for a public defender at your first court appearance. The judge will ask about your income and assets. If you qualify, a public defender is appointed to your case at no charge to you.

Several legal aid groups serve Los Angeles County. These groups mostly handle civil cases like housing and family law, but they may have referrals for criminal defense or self help resources. The Los Angeles County Bar Association has a lawyer referral service where you can get a low cost consultation with a private attorney.

Law libraries are open to the public in Los Angeles County. You can visit a law library and look up statutes, read case law, and use legal forms. Librarians can show you where to find information but cannot give legal advice. This is helpful if you want to learn about your charges or understand the warrant process before you go to court.

Many criminal defense lawyers in Torrance offer a free first meeting. You can sit down with an attorney, explain your warrant situation, and get advice on what to do next. Some lawyers will go with you when you turn yourself in. They can argue for lower bail or ask the judge to release you without bail. Having a lawyer with you can make a big difference in how your case is handled.

Other Records in Torrance

Torrance Police Department keeps arrest records, crime reports, and traffic collision reports. If you were arrested in Torrance, your arrest record is on file with the department. You can request a copy of your own arrest report by going to the Records Bureau and filling out a request form. There may be a fee for copies depending on how many pages your report is.

For your full California criminal history, go through the state Department of Justice instead of the local police. The DOJ charges $25 for a record review. You must submit fingerprints using a Live Scan service. Instructions are on the DOJ website at oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/record-review. This gives you a statewide summary of all your arrests and convictions, not just what happened in Torrance.

If you need court records like a minute order or a case summary, you must get those from the Superior Court clerk, not the police. The court charges fees for copies and certifications. Check with the Torrance courthouse clerk office for their current fee schedule and how to request documents.

Warrant Records in Nearby Cities

Torrance is surrounded by other Los Angeles County cities. Each city with its own police department keeps separate warrant and arrest files. Here are some nearby cities where you may also need to check for warrants:

• Long Beach has its own police department and warrant system separate from Torrance.
• Carson uses Los Angeles County Sheriff, so warrant checks go through the county.
• Hawthorne has its own police force and Records Bureau for warrant checks.
• Redondo Beach borders Torrance to the west and has its own PD.
• Los Angeles is the largest city in the county and has a huge police department with warrant files.

Each city keeps its own records. A warrant from Torrance does not show up if you only check with Long Beach PD. You must check each city separately if you have lived in more than one place or had cases in different cities.