Access Whittier Warrant Records

Whittier warrant records include arrest warrants and bench warrants issued by Los Angeles County Superior Court. The Whittier Police Department maintains warrant files for crimes that happen within city limits. Whittier 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 Whittier, you can contact the police department Records Bureau or visit them in person. The department is at 7315 S Painter Ave and handles all records requests for the city. Court cases from Whittier are heard at the Whittier courthouse, which is a branch of the Los Angeles County Superior Court. You can also call the court clerk to ask about bench warrants in your case if you know your case number.

Whittier Police Department Warrant Files

Whittier Police Department is at 7315 S Painter Ave. The Records Bureau handles all public records requests including warrant checks. You can call 562-567-9150 for information about how to request records or check for warrants. The department provides law enforcement services for the city of Whittier. If you were arrested by Whittier PD or if a warrant was issued for a crime in the city, that warrant is on file with the police department.

To check for a warrant in Whittier, you typically need to go in person with valid photo ID. Most police departments will not tell you over the phone if someone has a warrant because they want to verify your identity first. Bring a driver license or state ID card. Tell the clerk at the Records Bureau that you want to check for active warrants on yourself. They will search the Whittier PD database and can also check Los Angeles County and statewide warrant systems.

If you have a warrant, 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 information on how to post bail or turn yourself in. If the warrant is for a serious crime or has no bail, you could be arrested on the spot. Think about bringing a lawyer with you when you check for a warrant. A lawyer can help protect your rights and may be able to arrange for you to surrender at a scheduled time instead of being arrested immediately.

Los Angeles County Court System

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

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

For Whittier residents, your local station is Whittier PD.

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

Checking for Warrants in Whittier

Call Whittier PD Records at 562-567-9150 first. Ask what their process is for checking warrants. Find out if you need to come in person or if they can check over the phone. Some departments will check for you if you give your name and date of birth over the phone. Others require you to come in with ID. Get clear instructions before you go.

When you visit the Records Bureau 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 give you the details including the charge, the court, and the bail amount. If you do not have a warrant, you can leave knowing you are clear.

Another way to check is to call the Los Angeles County Superior Court. If you know your case number, the clerk can look up your case and tell you if a warrant was issued. The court phone system is large and wait times can be long. Going to Whittier PD in person is often faster and easier.

Some people hire a criminal defense lawyer to check for warrants. A lawyer can contact 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 be arrested. The lawyer can also help you decide how to deal with the warrant, whether that means posting bail, turning yourself in, or going to court for a surrender.

How to Clear a Warrant in Whittier

If you have a warrant from Whittier or Los Angeles County, you need to take care of it. You have a few choices. You can turn yourself in to the police or the county jail. 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 different outcomes.

Turning yourself in means you go to Whittier PD or to the county jail and tell them you are there to clear your 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 and what the court schedule is. If your warrant has bail, you can post it and get out. If there is no bail, you stay locked up until your hearing.

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

Court surrender is when you show up at the Whittier 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 release you. If not, the judge may set new bail or keep the warrant active.

For traffic warrants, you may be able to clear the warrant just 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 require you to appear even after you pay. It depends on the charge and how long the warrant has been outstanding.

Note: Bring all your case paperwork when you go to clear a warrant so the clerk can find your file quickly.

California Laws on Warrants

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 when ordered. This law applies to all California Superior Courts including Los Angeles County courts in Whittier.

Arrest warrants are covered by Penal Code sections 813 through 829 at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. These sections explain how law enforcement gets 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 traffic ticket, you promise to appear in court or pay the fine. If you do not, the court can issue a warrant for your arrest. 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 deals with 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 contempt charges on top of your original case.

Legal Help in Whittier

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 based on financial need, a public defender is appointed to your case at no charge to you.

Legal aid organizations in Los Angeles County mostly handle civil cases like housing, family law, and consumer issues. They do not usually take criminal cases. But they may have referrals to other resources or self help materials. 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 understand your charges or learn about the warrant process before you go to court.

Many criminal defense attorneys in Whittier offer a free first meeting. You can sit down with a lawyer, 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 try to get you released on your own recognizance. Having a lawyer with you can make a big difference in how your case is handled and whether you end up in jail.

Other Records in Whittier

Whittier Police Department keeps arrest records, booking sheets, and crime reports. If you were arrested in Whittier, 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 Whittier 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 Whittier courthouse clerk office for current fees and procedures for requesting documents.

Warrant Records in Nearby Cities

Whittier is in southeastern Los Angeles County near several other cities. Each city with its own police department keeps separate warrant and arrest files. Here are nearby cities where you might also need to check for warrants:

• Pico Rivera is west of Whittier and has its own police department.
• Santa Fe Springs borders Whittier and uses contract law enforcement.
• La Habra Heights is in Orange County just south of Whittier.
• Norwalk is northwest of Whittier and is served by Los Angeles County Sheriff.
• Downey is west of Whittier and has its own police force.

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