Search Alameda County Warrants

Alameda County warrant records are kept by the Sheriff Office in San Leandro and by the Superior Court in Oakland. You can find active warrants for arrest and bench warrants issued by judges in Alameda County. The Sheriff runs custody and warrant operations. The court handles case files and criminal records. Alameda County has over 1.6 million people spread across 14 cities. Cities like Oakland, Fremont, and Berkeley have their own police but warrants still go through the county system. Most warrant checks need a phone call or visit. The Superior Court keeps an online portal called Odyssey where you can search criminal case info if the case had activity after 2005.

Check Warrants in Alameda County

The Sheriff Office in Alameda County is your first stop for warrant checks. Call them at 510-667-3685 or go to their main office at 2000 150th Ave in San Leandro. That is where they run jail operations and serve warrants. They also have an admin office at 1401 Lakeside Drive, 12th Floor in Oakland if you need to call that location at 510-272-6878.

For court records, the Superior Court keeps files on all criminal cases in the county. You can call the court records line at 510-891-6005. They can tell you if a case has an active warrant. The court uses a system called Odyssey Portal. You can view criminal case info through that portal. The court says case information is there only for cases that had any activity since 2005. Older cases may not show up online.

If you walk in to check, bring a photo ID. They need to confirm who you are before they give out warrant info. Some warrants let you post bail and leave. Others may mean you get arrested on the spot. It depends on the charge. If you have a traffic warrant or misdemeanor bench warrant, you may be able to clear it without going to jail. Ask the clerk about a court surrender option. Many counties let you turn yourself in and see a judge the same day.

The Alameda County Superior Court main site is at alameda.courts.ca.gov where you can find links to their records page and details on how to get copies of court documents.

Their records office can help with any questions about Alameda County criminal cases or warrant status.

Alameda County Sheriff Office

The Sheriff Office handles all warrants in Alameda County. They work with city police to serve active arrest warrants. The main office for custody is at 2000 150th Ave in San Leandro. That is the Santa Rita Jail complex where most inmates are housed.

You can call the Sheriff at 510-667-3685 for general questions. If you want to turn yourself in on a warrant, they will tell you where to go. For some warrants you can schedule a time to come in. For others they may tell you to come right away. It depends on what the warrant is for and how much the bail is set at.

The Sheriff Office also does warrant sweeps. They go out and pick up people with active warrants. If you know you have a warrant, it is better to deal with it yourself than to get picked up at home or work. Once you are in custody, it can take a day or two to see a judge. If you turn yourself in at the right time, you may get seen the same day.

Note: The Sheriff does not post warrants online so you have to ask them directly.

Court Records and Warrant Clearance

Alameda County Superior Court runs multiple courthouses. The main criminal court is at the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse at 1225 Fallon Street in Oakland. That is where most felony cases are heard. Misdemeanor cases can be in Oakland or at the Hayward Hall of Justice at 24405 Amador Street in Hayward.

If you have a bench warrant for missing court, you need to go back to the courthouse that issued the warrant. Check with the criminal clerk at the courthouse. They can set you on a clear warrant calendar. You show up early in the morning and wait for your name to be called. The judge will ask why you missed court. They may let you off with a warning or set a new date. Or they may raise your bail or add more penalties.

Some traffic warrants can be cleared by paying a fine. Call the court and ask if you can pay over the phone. If your license is suspended because of a warrant, you need to clear the warrant before DMV will give your license back. The court will send a notice to DMV once the warrant is recalled.

For copies of court records or certified documents, you pay a fee. The standard fee for certification is around $40 plus 50 cents per page. Research fees may apply if the clerk has to search for your file for more than 10 minutes. Call 510-891-6005 to ask about fees before you go in.

Major Cities in Alameda County

Alameda County has several big cities that each have their own police but still use the county Sheriff for warrants. Here are the main ones.

Oakland is the county seat with nearly 450,000 people. Oakland Police run their own records bureau at 455 7th Street. They handle police reports and arrest records but warrants go through the Sheriff.

Fremont has over 230,000 people and is in the south part of the county. Fremont Police use a system called NextRequest for public records. Warrants still come from the Superior Court and get served by the Sheriff or local police.

Hayward is a city of about 160,000 people. Hayward Police are at 300 W Winton Ave. You can call them at 510-293-7023 for local arrest records. Clearance letters cost $25 and copies are 50 cents per page for the first 10 pages, then 10 cents after that.

Berkeley has just over 120,000 people and sits on the east side of the bay. Berkeley Police are at 2100 Martin Luther King Jr Way. Call them at 510-981-5750 for records. They say the Records Bureau is the place for all official reports and warrants for the city. Clearance letters are $10.

Other cities in the county include Alameda, Albany, Emeryville, Newark, Pleasanton, San Leandro, and Union City. All of these cities have local police but use the county system for warrants. Check with the city police first if you want to know about a local arrest. Then contact the Sheriff or court if you need to check for a warrant.

Nearby Counties

Alameda County borders several other counties. If you are not sure where a warrant is from, check these nearby counties too.

Contra Costa County is to the north and east. Their Sheriff is in Martinez and their court system is separate from Alameda.

Santa Clara County is to the south. Their Sheriff Office is at 55 West Younger Avenue in San Jose and they have their own records window for warrant checks.

San Mateo County is just across the bay to the west. They have a detailed active warrants page on their court site.

San Joaquin County is to the east past the hills. Their records office is at 7000 Michael N. Canlis Blvd in French Camp.

If you live near the border of one of these counties, a warrant could be in either county. Check both if you are not sure.