Shasta County Warrant Information
Shasta County handles warrant records through the Sheriff's Records Division located at 300 Park Marina Circle, Suite 200 in Redding. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and can provide warrant information to the public. Call (530) 245-6025 to reach the Records Division. The Superior Court at 1500 Court Street in Redding issues warrants and processes criminal cases for the county. With over 180,000 residents, Shasta County is one of the larger counties in Northern California. The area handles warrant cases ranging from traffic failures to felony arrests. Both the Sheriff's Office and the Superior Court work together to manage the warrant system in Shasta County.
Shasta County Quick Facts
Sheriff's Records Division
The Shasta County Sheriff maintains a Records Division that handles all public records requests including warrant information. The office is at 300 Park Marina Circle, Suite 200 in Redding. This is separate from the main Sheriff's Office. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The office closes on weekends and holidays.
To check if you have a warrant, visit the Records Division in person. Bring valid photo ID. Staff will search the system for your name. They can tell you if there's an active warrant, what the charge is, and what the bail amount is. This service is free. The Records Division serves the public and provides access to warrant information in Shasta County.
You can also call (530) 245-6025 during business hours. Staff may give limited warrant information over the phone. For full details, an in-person visit works best. The Records Division is in a secure building, so you'll need to check in at the front desk when you arrive in Shasta County.
Superior Court
The Shasta County Superior Court issues all warrants in the county. The courthouse is at 1500 Court Street in Redding. This is the main location for criminal cases. The court also has a branch in Burney for cases from the eastern part of the county, but most criminal matters file in Redding.
If you have a bench warrant for failing to appear, you can contact the criminal division. The clerk can look up your case and tell you what to do next. The main court number is (530) 245-6789. Call during business hours to ask about your warrant status in Shasta County.
Many people with bench warrants can appear at the courthouse in the morning and get seen the same day. Arrive early, before 8:30 AM. Go to the criminal clerk's office on the first floor. Tell staff you have a warrant. They'll check you in and give you instructions. You'll wait for your case to be called. The judge will address your warrant and set a new court date.
Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The clerk's office may close for lunch. Get there early if you want same-day service. Parking is available around the courthouse, but it can fill up on busy days in Shasta County.
Types of Warrants
Shasta County issues several warrant types. The most common is the bench warrant. A judge issues a bench warrant when you fail to appear in court. This happens all the time. You miss a court date, the judge issues a warrant. Penal Code 978.5 authorizes bench warrants when defendants fail to appear as ordered by the court.
Traffic warrants are a subset of bench warrants. If you got a traffic ticket and didn't show up for court, there's probably a warrant. Vehicle Code 40508 makes it a misdemeanor to fail to appear on a traffic citation. Shasta County issues many traffic warrants each year. These usually have lower bail amounts, often $200 to $500.
Arrest warrants come from criminal investigations. A judge signs an arrest warrant based on probable cause that you committed a crime. Law enforcement requests these during investigations. Arrest warrants allow police to take you into custody. Bail may be high or there may be no bail depending on the charges in Shasta County.
Search warrants authorize police to search property for evidence. The public doesn't deal with these directly. Judges review search warrant applications from law enforcement. If there's probable cause, the judge signs the warrant and police can search the location specified in Shasta County.
Voluntary Surrender
If you find out you have a warrant in Shasta County, you can turn yourself in. This is better than waiting for deputies to find you. Your cooperation gets noted in the records. This can help when you appear before the judge.
Go to the Sheriff's Office or a local police station. Bring valid photo ID. Tell the desk officer you have a warrant and want to surrender. They'll run your name to confirm the warrant. Depending on the warrant type and bail amount, you may be arrested and booked, or you may be cited out with a court date.
For low-bail bench warrants, you can often post bail and get released the same day. For high-bail warrants or serious charges, you'll be booked into the Shasta County Jail. The jail is at 1655 West Street in Redding. Booking can take several hours. Bring cash or a credit card if you plan to post bail in Shasta County.
Some people prefer to hire a lawyer before turning themselves in. An attorney can sometimes arrange for you to appear in court without being arrested. This is called a motion to quash and recall the warrant under Penal Code 166. It works best if you had a good reason for missing court.
Costs and Fees
Clearing a warrant involves costs. Bail is the biggest one. Amounts vary. A traffic warrant might have $250 bail. A misdemeanor could be $2,500. A felony can be $25,000 or more. Some serious warrants say "no bail" which means you must see a judge before you can be released in Shasta County.
If you appear on a warrant, the judge may add a warrant fee to your case. This is usually around $150. The fee covers the cost of issuing and processing the warrant. Some judges waive it if you show good cause for missing court. Ask your lawyer or the public defender about fee waivers in Shasta County.
Court records cost money too. Copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $40.00 plus the per-page fee. If the clerk searches for more than 10 minutes, there's a $15.00 research fee. These are standard Superior Court fees across California and apply in Shasta County as well.
If you hire a lawyer, expect to pay attorney fees. Criminal defense lawyers charge by the hour or a flat fee per case. A simple warrant recall might cost $500 to $1,500. Complex cases with serious charges cost more. Many lawyers offer free consultations where you can ask basic questions about your warrant situation in Shasta County.
Getting Legal Assistance
A lawyer can help you handle a warrant. An attorney knows the court system and can advise you on the best approach. Some warrants can be recalled without you having to appear in person or be arrested. This requires filing the right motions with the court.
The Shasta County Bar Association can refer you to local attorneys. Call them to get connected with lawyers who handle criminal cases. Most attorneys offer a free or low-cost initial consultation. Use this time to explain your warrant and get advice on next steps in Shasta County.
If you can't afford a private lawyer, contact Legal Services of Northern California. They provide free legal help to low-income residents. The Redding office can be reached at (530) 241-3565. They may not handle all criminal cases, but they can refer you to other resources. Another option is the public defender if you're charged with a crime and can't afford a lawyer.
The court self-help center has forms and general information. Staff can't give legal advice, but they can help you fill out paperwork correctly. The self-help center is at the Redding courthouse. Bring all your court documents. Staff can help you figure out what forms you need for your warrant case in Shasta County.
Cities in Shasta County
Shasta County has no cities with population over 100,000. The largest city is Redding with about 92,000 residents. Other cities include Anderson, Shasta Lake, and several small communities. All these cities fall under the Shasta County Superior Court jurisdiction for warrant matters.
No matter which city you live in, your warrant case goes through the Superior Court in Redding. Some cases from eastern Shasta County may file at the Burney branch, but most criminal matters are in Redding. Check your paperwork or call the court to confirm where your case is assigned in Shasta County.
Nearby Counties
Shasta County is in Northern California and borders several other counties. Each has its own court system and warrant procedures.
- Siskiyou County to the north
- Modoc County to the northeast
- Lassen County to the east
- Tehama County to the south
- Trinity County to the west
If you have warrants in multiple counties, you must clear each one separately. A warrant in Shasta County is different from a warrant in Tehama County. But all California warrants are in a statewide system. Any law enforcement officer in California can see your Shasta warrant if they run your name.