Sonoma County Warrant Information

Sonoma County handles bench warrant clearances at the Hall of Justice located at 600 Administration Drive, Room 105J in Santa Rosa. To clear a bench warrant, you must appear in person at 8:00 AM Monday through Friday. Clear warrant calendars are heard at 8:30 AM for felony matters and at 9:30 AM for misdemeanor matters. The Criminal Division phone number is (707) 521-6620. With nearly 500,000 residents, Sonoma County processes hundreds of warrant cases each month. The county charges standard fees including $0.50 per page for copies, $40.00 for certification, and $15.00 for searches over 10 minutes. Understanding the warrant clearance process can help you avoid arrest and resolve your case efficiently in Sonoma County.

How to Clear a Bench Warrant

Sonoma County has a specific process for clearing bench warrants. You must appear in person at the Hall of Justice at 8:00 AM Monday through Friday. The court holds clear warrant calendars at set times. Felony matters are heard at 8:30 AM. Misdemeanor matters are heard at 9:30 AM. This information comes directly from the Sonoma County Superior Court website.

When you arrive at the Hall of Justice, go to Room 105J. This is the Criminal Division clerk's office. Tell the staff you have a bench warrant and want to appear on the clear warrant calendar. They'll check you in and give you instructions. You'll wait for your case to be called in court. The judge will address your warrant and set a new court date for your underlying case.

Arrive early. The 8:00 AM arrival time is strict. If you get there late, you may not be seen that day. Bring valid photo ID with you. Also bring any court paperwork you have. If you don't have paperwork, the clerk can look up your case by name. Make sure you know your case number if possible in Sonoma County.

Parking is available near the Hall of Justice, but it can fill up on busy mornings. Give yourself extra time to find parking and get through security. Court security will check you when you enter the building. Don't bring weapons or prohibited items. If you're not sure what you can bring, call ahead and ask.

Superior Court Criminal Division

The Sonoma County Superior Court Criminal Division is at the Hall of Justice, 600 Administration Drive, Room 105J in Santa Rosa. The phone number is (707) 521-6620. This office handles all criminal cases and warrant matters for the county.

If you have questions about a warrant, call the Criminal Division. Staff can look up your case and tell you if there's an active warrant. They can tell you the bail amount and the next court date if one is set. They can also explain the clear warrant calendar process. But they can't give legal advice. For legal advice, talk to a lawyer.

Court hours are Monday through Friday, typically 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The clerk's office may close for lunch. Call ahead to confirm hours before you visit. The court is closed on weekends and holidays. Plan your visit accordingly in Sonoma County.

Court Fees

Sonoma County Superior Court charges standard fees for court services. Copies of court records cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $40.00 plus the per-page fee. If the clerk has to search for records for more than 10 minutes, there's a $15.00 research fee. These fees are set by California law and apply across all Superior Courts including Sonoma County.

If you appear on a warrant, the judge may add a warrant fee to your case costs. 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 if you can't afford to pay in Sonoma County.

Bail amounts vary. A traffic warrant might have $300 bail. A misdemeanor could be $2,500. Felonies can be $25,000 or more. Some serious warrants say "no bail" which means you must see a judge before you can be released. You can post bail at the jail or the courthouse. Sonoma County accepts cash, money orders, and credit cards for bail payments.

Types of Warrants

Bench warrants are the most common type in Sonoma County. A judge issues a bench warrant when you fail to appear in court. This happens for any case type, from traffic tickets to serious criminal charges. 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 ticket and didn't show up for court or didn't pay the fine, there's likely a warrant. Vehicle Code 40508 makes it a misdemeanor to fail to appear on a traffic citation. Sonoma County issues many traffic warrants each year.

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 authorize police to take you into custody. Bail may be high or there may be no bail depending on the charges in Sonoma County.

Search warrants authorize police to search property for evidence. Judges review search warrant applications to ensure probable cause exists. If approved, officers can search the location specified. The public doesn't deal with search warrants directly. They're part of police investigations in Sonoma County.

Sheriff's Office

The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office serves warrants and maintains arrest records. The main office is in Santa Rosa. For records requests, contact the Sheriff's Records Division. They can provide information about arrests and bookings in Sonoma County.

If you want to turn yourself in on a warrant, you can do so at the Sheriff's Office or any police station in Sonoma County. Bring valid photo ID. Tell the desk officer you have a warrant. They'll run your name to confirm it. 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 high-bail warrants or serious charges, you'll be booked into the Sonoma County Jail. Booking can take several hours. If you plan to post bail, bring cash or a credit card. For warrants with lower bail, you may be able to post bail and be released the same day in Sonoma County.

Legal Resources

If you have a warrant, talking to a lawyer can help. An attorney can review your case and advise you on the best approach. Some warrants can be recalled without you having to appear in person or be arrested. This requires filing a motion to quash and recall the warrant under Penal Code 166.

The Sonoma 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 Sonoma County.

If you can't afford a private lawyer, contact Legal Aid of Sonoma County. They provide free legal services to low-income residents. Call (707) 542-1290 for more information. They may not handle all criminal cases, but they can refer you to other resources. The public defender's office is also available 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. Visit the self-help center at the Hall of Justice during business hours. Bring all your court documents. Staff can help you figure out what forms you need for your warrant case in Sonoma County.

Cities in Sonoma County

Sonoma County has no cities with population over 100,000. The largest city is Santa Rosa with about 178,000 residents, but it still falls under the county system. Other cities include Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Windsor, Healdsburg, Sebastopol, Cotati, Cloverdale, and Sonoma.

All cities in Sonoma County fall under the Superior Court jurisdiction. Your case goes through the Santa Rosa courthouse. No matter which city you live in, you follow the same warrant clearance process at the Hall of Justice in Santa Rosa in Sonoma County.

Nearby Counties

Sonoma County is in the North Bay and borders several other counties. Each has its own court system and warrant procedures.

• Mendocino County to the north
• Lake County to the northeast
• Napa County to the east
• Marin County to the south

If you have warrants in multiple counties, you must clear each one separately. A warrant in Sonoma County is different from a warrant in Napa County. But all California warrants are in a statewide system. Any law enforcement officer in California can see your Sonoma warrant if they run your name.