Search Los Angeles County Warrants

Los Angeles County warrant records are kept by the Sheriff's Department and the Superior Court across the nation's most populous county. With over 10 million residents spread across 88 cities, Los Angeles County processes more warrants than any other county in California. The Sheriff's Records and Identification Bureau at 12440 East Imperial Highway in Norwalk handles warrant information and criminal history requests. You can find bench warrants for missed court dates and arrest warrants for criminal charges throughout LA County. Cities like Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Pasadena have their own police departments, but all warrants go through the county court system and the Sheriff coordinates warrant service across the region.

Check Warrants in LA County

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Records and Identification Bureau is the main hub for warrant checks. Their office is at 12440 East Imperial Highway, Suite 400 West, in Norwalk. Call them at (562) 345-4441. They maintain criminal records and warrant info for the entire county.

According to the Sheriff's FAQ page at lasd.org, if you want to find out if you have a warrant, you should go to your local police department or sheriff's station. They can search to see if you have one. You cannot check warrants by phone in most cases. You need to go in person with a photo ID. If you have an active warrant, you may be arrested on the spot depending on the charge and bail amount.

The Sheriff runs multiple stations across LA County. You can visit any station to ask about warrants. Some cities have their own police that can check warrants too. The warrant stays in the county system no matter which agency serves it. Once it is in the system, any officer in California can see it during a traffic stop or other contact.

Los Angeles County Superior Court also handles warrant info. The court has multiple locations from downtown LA to Lancaster. If you know which court issued the warrant, you can contact that courthouse directly. The criminal clerk can tell you if there is an active warrant and what steps to take. Court staff may require you to come in person rather than give out warrant info over the phone.

LA Sheriff Records Bureau

The Records and Identification Bureau in Norwalk is the central point for all Sheriff records. They handle requests for arrest reports, criminal history checks, and warrant verification. You can visit the office Monday through Friday during business hours. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID.

The Sheriff's Department has an Electronic Search Warrant Portal at esw.lacourt.org. This system is used by law enforcement and authorized parties to process search warrants. It is not for public warrant checks. The public must still contact the Sheriff or the court to check for active arrest or bench warrants.

If you were arrested by the Sheriff or by a city police agency in LA County, your booking info goes into the county jail system. The Sheriff runs all county detention facilities. You can search for current inmates online through the Sheriff's website. Past arrest records must be requested through the Records Bureau. Some records are confidential under California law and only available to the subject or law enforcement.

Note: LA County is huge, so make sure you go to the right location for your case.

Superior Court Warrants

Los Angeles County Superior Court is the largest trial court in the nation. The court has locations in Alhambra, Antelope Valley, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Chatsworth, Compton, Culver City, Downey, Glendale, Inglewood, Long Beach, Norwalk, Pasadena, Pomona, Santa Monica, Torrance, Van Nuys, West Covina, and downtown LA. Each location handles criminal cases for its region. Warrants are issued when defendants fail to appear or when charges are filed.

Bench warrants are the most common type in LA County. They come from missed court dates on traffic tickets, misdemeanors, and felonies. California Penal Code Section 978.5 allows judges to issue bench warrants when you do not show up as ordered. You can read that law at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. The warrant stays active until you go to court and deal with it. It will not expire or go away on its own.

Arrest warrants in LA County are issued when the District Attorney files charges and a judge finds probable cause. These warrants can be for any crime. Bail is set based on the charge and the person's criminal history. Some warrants have no bail, which means you stay in custody until you see a judge. High bail amounts on serious felonies may require a bail bond agent. Most agents charge 10 percent of the bail as a fee.

The LA Superior Court website has case info online for many cases. You can search by name or case number. The system may not show all warrant details, especially if the warrant was just issued. For the most accurate info, contact the court that issued the warrant. The criminal clerk's office can look up your case and tell you what to do next. Some courts have walk-in warrant clearance calendars where you can appear early in the morning and see a judge the same day.

Clear a Warrant in LA County

You have several options to clear a warrant in Los Angeles County. The best choice depends on what the warrant is for and how much bail is set. Do not ignore it. Warrants do not expire.

Turn yourself in at the courthouse. Go to the courthouse that issued the warrant early in the morning. Check in at the criminal clerk's office and tell them you have a warrant. Bring your ID. If the warrant is minor, you may get a court date without being arrested. If it is serious, you may be booked and held until you see a judge. Turning yourself in can show the judge you are being responsible.

Post bail if your warrant has a bail amount. You can pay cash at the courthouse or use a bail bond company. Once bail is posted, the warrant is lifted and you get a court date. You must show up for that date or the bail is lost and a new warrant is issued. Bail bond agents are all over LA County and can usually post bail within a few hours.

Hire a lawyer. If you have a serious warrant or a high bail amount, a lawyer can help. They can file motions to recall the warrant or reduce bail. Some lawyers can appear in court for you on certain types of cases. Lawyers who practice in LA County know the local courts and can give advice on the best way to handle your case.

Some traffic warrants can be cleared by paying the fine. Call the courthouse and ask if that is an option. If your license is suspended due to a warrant, you need to clear the warrant before DMV will give your license back. The court sends a notice to DMV once the warrant is recalled. It may take a few weeks for DMV to update their system.

Major Cities in LA County

Los Angeles County has 88 cities, many with over 100,000 people. Each city may have its own police department, but warrants are processed through the county system. Here are some of the largest cities.

Los Angeles is the county seat and the largest city in California with nearly 4 million people. LAPD has a Records and Identification Division at 100 West 1st Street. Call them at 213-486-8300. Warrants for LA city cases are issued by the Superior Court and served by LAPD or the Sheriff.

Long Beach is the second largest city in LA County with over 460,000 residents. Long Beach Police have a Warrant Detail at (562) 570-5717. You can call Monday through Thursday from 7:00am to 1:00pm. Their main station is at 400 West Broadway.

Glendale has about 200,000 people. Glendale Police Records Bureau is at 131 North Isabel Street. Call (818) 548-3135 for records. Warrants are handled through the county court system.

Pasadena has around 140,000 residents. Pasadena Police have a warrants line at (626) 744-4556 and a records line at (626) 744-4565. Their station is at 207 Garfield Ave.

Torrance, Pomona, South Gate, and many other cities have their own police. All use the LA County court system for warrants. Some smaller cities contract with the Sheriff for police services. Those cities rely entirely on the Sheriff for warrant checks and service.

Other major cities include Inglewood, West Covina, Burbank, El Monte, Alhambra, Whittier, Hawthorne, and Baldwin Park. Each has local police or Sheriff contract services. Check with the city police first for local arrest info, then contact the court or Sheriff for warrant details.

Nearby Counties

Los Angeles County borders Orange County to the south, Ventura County to the west, Kern County to the north, and San Bernardino County to the east. If you are not sure where a warrant is from, check the nearby counties too.

Orange County has an online warrant search at ws.ocsd.org. Their Central Warrant Repository in Santa Ana handles all county warrants.

Ventura County Sheriff is at 800 S Victoria Ave in Ventura. Call (805) 654-2336. Their court has an online case search system.

San Bernardino County Sheriff Records is at 655 East Third Street in San Bernardino. Call (909) 888-5916. Their court portal is at cap.sb-court.org.

Kern County Sheriff is in Bakersfield at 1350 Norris Road. Call (661) 391-7624. Their court has an online portal at portal.kern.courts.ca.gov.