West Covina Warrant Records

West Covina warrant records show arrest warrants and bench warrants issued through Los Angeles County Superior Court. The West Covina Police Department maintains warrant files for crimes committed in the city. West Covina is part of Los Angeles County, so all criminal cases go through the county court system. If you need to check for a warrant in West Covina, you can visit the police department Records Bureau or call them during business hours. The department is at 1444 West Garvey Avenue and keeps files on all arrests and warrants in the city. Court cases from West Covina are heard at the West Covina courthouse, a branch of the Los Angeles County Superior Court. You can also contact the court clerk to ask about bench warrants in your case.

West Covina Police Department Records

West Covina Police Department is at 1444 West Garvey Avenue. The Records Bureau is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. You can call 626-939-8540 for questions about records requests or warrant checks. The department handles all law enforcement for the city of West Covina. If you were arrested by West Covina PD or if a warrant was issued for a crime in city limits, that warrant is on file with the police department.

To check for a warrant in West Covina, you typically need to go in person with photo ID. Most police departments will not tell you over the phone if someone has a warrant. They want to verify who you are before giving out that information. Bring a driver license or state ID card. Tell the clerk you want to check for active warrants on yourself. They will search the West Covina PD database and can also check the Los Angeles County system and statewide warrant databases.

If you have a warrant from West Covina, the clerk will tell you what it is for, which court issued it, and what the bail amount is. If the warrant is for a minor offense with bail, you may be given the option to post bail and turn yourself in later. If the warrant is for a serious crime or has no bail, you could be arrested on the spot. Think about whether you want to bring a lawyer with you when you check for a warrant. A lawyer can help protect your rights and may be able to set up a time for you to surrender instead of being arrested right away.

Los Angeles County Handles Court Cases

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

Los Angeles County does not offer an online warrant search for the public. Warrant information is not posted on the court website. The LA County Sheriff FAQ page at lasd.org/records-faq explains that if you want to find out if you have a warrant, you should go to your local police or sheriff station and they can check for you.

For West Covina residents, your local station is West Covina PD.

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

How to Check for Warrants in West Covina

Start by calling West Covina PD Records at 626-939-8540. Ask what their process is for checking warrants. Some departments let you come in and check without an appointment. Others want you to call first or submit a written request. Find out what they need from you and what hours they are open.

When you go in person, bring valid photo ID. Tell the clerk you want 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 the details. If you do not have a warrant, you get peace of mind.

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 large and may have long wait times. Going to West Covina PD in person is often faster.

Some people hire a criminal defense lawyer to check for warrants. A lawyer can call the court or the District Attorney office and find out if there is a warrant without you having to go in person. This is safer if you think you may get arrested. The lawyer can also help you plan how to deal with the warrant, whether that means posting bail, turning yourself in, or going to court for a surrender.

Clearing Warrants in West Covina

If you have a warrant from West Covina or Los Angeles County, you need to deal with it. You can turn yourself in. You can post bail. Or you can go to court and ask to be put on the calendar for a court surrender. Each option has pros and cons.

Turning yourself in means you go to West Covina PD or to the county jail and tell them you are ready to face the warrant. They will book you into custody. You wait in jail until you see a judge. This can be the same day or the next court day depending on when you turn yourself in. If your warrant has bail, you can post it and get out. If there is no bail, you stay in custody until your hearing.

Posting bail before you turn yourself in is another option. You can pay bail at the courthouse or use a bail bondsman. A bondsman charges 10 percent of the bail amount and puts up the rest. Once bail is posted, the warrant is stayed. You get a new court date. You must show up to that date or you will lose your bail and get another warrant.

Court surrender is when you show up at the West Covina courthouse early in the morning. Check in with the clerk and tell them you have a warrant and want to see a judge. The clerk puts you on the calendar for that day. You wait until your name is called. When you see the judge, the judge asks why you missed court. If you have a good reason, the judge may recall the warrant and let you go home. If not, the judge may set new bail or keep the warrant active.

For traffic warrants, you may be able to clear the warrant by paying the fine. Call the court traffic division and ask if you can pay by mail or online. Some courts let you pay and the warrant goes away. Others make you appear even if you pay. It depends on the charge and how long the warrant has been out.

Note: Always bring ID and any case documents you have when you go to clear a warrant.

California Warrant Laws

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

Arrest warrants come from Penal Code sections 813 through 829 at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. These sections lay out the process for law enforcement to get a warrant from a judge. An officer must present facts 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, the court can issue a warrant. This is one of the most common types of warrants in Los Angeles County and across California.

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

Legal Help in West Covina

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

Legal aid groups in Los Angeles County mostly handle civil cases like housing and family law. They do not usually take criminal cases. But they may have referrals 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 laws, read case examples, 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.

Many criminal defense attorneys in West Covina offer a free first meeting. You can sit down with a lawyer, explain your warrant, and get advice on what to do. Some lawyers will go with you when you turn yourself in. They can argue for lower bail or try to get you released without bail. Having a lawyer can make a big difference in how your case is handled.

Other Records in West Covina

West Covina Police Department keeps arrest records, booking sheets, and crime reports. If you were arrested in West Covina, 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 West Covina or Los Angeles County.

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 West Covina courthouse clerk office for current fees and how to request documents.

Warrant Records in Nearby Cities

West Covina is in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles County. Several nearby cities also have their own police departments and warrant systems. Here are some nearby cities where you might need to check for warrants:

• Pomona is west of West Covina and has its own police department and Records Bureau.
• El Monte is northwest of West Covina and has its own PD.
• Baldwin Park borders West Covina to the west and has its own police force.
• Covina is right next to West Covina and has separate police and court systems.
• Los Angeles is the largest city in the county with its own huge police department.

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