Santa Clara County Warrant Lookup

Santa Clara County makes warrant information available to anyone who requests it at the Sheriff's Office Records window at 55 West Younger Avenue in San Jose, which is open 24 hours every day. You need to provide the name and date of birth of the person you're checking. If you're checking a warrant on yourself, you must show proper ID. For warrants with bail over $15,000, you will need to post bail to get a court date. The Sheriff's Office charges $20.00 for clearance letters and $25.00 for criminal records. As the most populous county in the Bay Area with over 1.9 million residents, Santa Clara County processes a high volume of warrant cases through the Superior Court in San Jose. The county also has a traffic case information portal at portal.scscourt.org where you can look up some case information online.

Sheriff's Office Records Window

The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office keeps all warrant records. Anyone can request warrant information at the Records window. The office is located at 55 West Younger Avenue in San Jose. It's open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This makes it easy to check for warrants any time in Santa Clara County.

When you go to check for a warrant, you need specific information. Provide the full name and date of birth of the person. If you're checking on yourself, bring valid photo ID. The staff will search the system and tell you if there's an active warrant. They can give you the warrant number, the issuing court, and the bail amount.

For warrants with bail over $15,000, you must post bail before you can get a court date. This is a county policy. If the bail is under $15,000, you may be able to get a court date without posting bail. It depends on the warrant type and your criminal history. High-bail warrants usually involve serious felonies in Santa Clara County.

The Sheriff's Office main phone number is (408) 808-4705. You can call to ask general questions, but they may not give warrant information over the phone for security reasons. It's better to go in person to the Records window. Bring ID and be ready to wait. Busy times can have lines.

Superior Court

The Santa Clara County Superior Court handles all criminal cases and issues warrants. The main courthouse is in San Jose at 191 North First Street. This is where most criminal matters get heard. The court also has other locations throughout the county for different case types.

If you have a warrant, you can contact the criminal division to find out more about your case. The clerk can look up your case by name or case number. They can tell you the charge, the next court date if one is set, and the bail amount. The criminal clerk's office phone is (408) 882-2700.

Many bench warrants in Santa Clara County come from missed court dates. If you were supposed to appear and didn't, the judge issued a bench warrant. Penal Code 978.5 allows judges to issue bench warrants when defendants fail to appear as ordered.

Traffic cases generate a lot of warrants. If you got a ticket and didn't show up for court, there's probably a warrant. Vehicle Code 40508 makes it a crime to fail to appear on a traffic citation. The court issues a warrant and adds fees to your case. You can check traffic cases online at portal.scscourt.org.

How to Clear a Warrant

There are a few ways to clear a warrant in Santa Clara County. You can turn yourself in to law enforcement. You can post bail if the warrant allows it. Or you can hire a lawyer to file a motion to recall the warrant. Each option has pros and cons.

Turning yourself in means going to the Sheriff's Office or a local police station. Tell them you have a warrant. They will run your name and confirm it. Depending on the warrant, they may arrest and book you, or they may cite you out with a court date. If you get booked, you'll go to the Santa Clara County Jail until you post bail or see a judge.

Posting bail clears the warrant and gets you a court date. You can post bail at the jail or at the courthouse. Bring cash, a money order, or a credit card. The amount depends on the bail schedule or what the judge set. For high-bail warrants over $15,000 in Santa Clara County, you must post bail to proceed with your case.

A lawyer can file a motion to quash and recall the warrant under Penal Code 166. This asks the court to remove the warrant without you having to be arrested. The judge may grant this if there was a good reason you missed court. Not all warrants can be recalled this way. It depends on the case and the judge in Santa Clara County.

Fees and Costs

Santa Clara County charges fees for various services related to warrants and criminal records. A clearance letter costs $20.00. This is a document that shows you have no active warrants or it lists your criminal history status. People often need clearance letters for jobs or housing.

Criminal records from the Sheriff's Office cost $25.00. This includes a local criminal history check. If you want your full California criminal history, you need to go through the state. The California Department of Justice charges $25.00 for a record review. Visit oag.ca.gov for instructions.

Court fees also apply. If you appear on a warrant, the judge may add a warrant fee to your case costs. This can be $150 or more. Bail amounts vary widely. A simple warrant might have $500 bail. A felony could be $50,000 or higher. Check with the court or jail to find out the exact bail for your warrant in Santa Clara County.

If you hire a lawyer, expect attorney fees. Criminal defense lawyers charge by the hour or a flat rate per case. A warrant recall might cost $1,000 to $3,000 depending on complexity. Serious cases with felony charges cost more. Many attorneys offer free consultations where you can discuss your warrant situation in Santa Clara County.

Getting Legal Assistance

A lawyer can help you handle a warrant. An attorney can review your case, explain your options, and represent you in court. Some lawyers specialize in warrant recalls. They know how to file the right motions and how to talk to judges. This can save you time and stress.

The Santa Clara County Bar Association has a lawyer referral service. Call (408) 971-6822 to get connected with a local attorney. The service matches you with lawyers who handle criminal cases. Many offer a free or low-cost initial consultation. Use this time to ask about your warrant and get advice.

If you can't afford a private lawyer, contact Legal Aid. The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley provides free legal help to low-income residents. Call (408) 280-2424 for the San Jose office. They may not handle all criminal cases, but they can refer you to other resources in Santa Clara County.

The court self-help center is another option. Located at the main courthouse, the center has forms and general information. Staff can't give legal advice, but they can help you fill out paperwork correctly. This is useful if you want to file a motion yourself without a lawyer in Santa Clara County.

Types of Warrants

Santa Clara County issues different types of warrants. Each one serves a different purpose.

Bench warrants are the most common. A judge issues these when you fail to appear in court. This could be for any case type. Criminal, traffic, or even civil matters can result in bench warrants. The warrant orders law enforcement to bring you before the court. Most bench warrants allow bail. You can post bail and get a new court date in Santa Clara County.

Arrest warrants come from criminal investigations. A judge signs an arrest warrant based on probable cause that you committed a crime. Probable cause means there's a reasonable belief you did it. Arrest warrants let police arrest you. Bail may be high or there may be no bail. It depends on the charges and your criminal history.

Traffic warrants are a type of bench warrant. They happen when you fail to appear on a traffic ticket or fail to pay a fine. Under Vehicle Code 40508, this is a misdemeanor. Santa Clara County issues thousands of traffic warrants each year. These usually have lower bail amounts, often a few hundred dollars.

Search warrants are different. These authorize police to search property for evidence. The public doesn't deal with search warrants directly. They're part of police investigations. Judges in Santa Clara County review search warrant applications to ensure there's probable cause before approving them.

Cities in Santa Clara County

Santa Clara County has several large cities. San Jose is the county seat and the largest city in the county with over 1 million residents. Other cities with populations over 100,000 include Santa Clara and Sunnyvale.

Other significant cities in the county include Palo Alto, Mountain View, Milpitas, Cupertino, and Campbell. These cities all have populations under 100,000 but still handle many residents and warrant cases through the county system.

No matter which city you live in, your warrant case goes through the Santa Clara County Superior Court. The main courthouse is in San Jose. Some cases may be heard at branch locations. Check your paperwork or call the court to find out where your case is assigned in Santa Clara County.

Nearby Counties

Santa Clara County is in the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area. It borders several other counties. Each county has its own court system and warrant procedures.

• San Mateo County to the north
• Alameda County to the northeast
• Stanislaus County to the east
• Santa Cruz County to the southwest

If you have warrants in multiple counties, you must clear each one separately. A warrant in Santa Clara County is different from a warrant in Alameda County. But all California warrants are in a statewide system. Any police officer in the state can see your Santa Clara warrant if they run your name.