Ventura County Warrants

Ventura County warrant records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office and the Superior Court across this coastal Southern California county with over 850,000 residents. The Sheriff's Records Division at 800 S Victoria Ave in Ventura handles all warrant inquiries for the county, and you can reach them at (805) 654-2336 for warrant information. Cities like Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, and Ventura have their own police departments, but all warrants are processed through the county court system. The Superior Court has an online case search system at secured.countyofventura.org where you can look up criminal case information. Both bench warrants for missed court dates and arrest warrants for new charges remain active until they are served or recalled by the court.

Check Warrants in Ventura County

The Ventura County Sheriff's Office Records Division is at 800 S Victoria Ave in Ventura. Call (805) 654-2336 to reach the records staff. They can help you check for active warrants. You may need to visit in person with a photo ID to get detailed info. The Sheriff maintains all warrant records for the county and works with city police departments to serve warrants.

The Superior Court has an online case inquiry system at secured.countyofventura.org. You can search for criminal case information by name or case number. The system shows case details and court dates. It may not always display active warrant status, especially if the warrant was recently issued. For the most current warrant info, contact the Sheriff or the court directly.

If you have a warrant, do not ignore it. Warrants stay active until you are arrested or the court recalls them. You can be arrested during a traffic stop, at your home, or at your workplace. It is better to deal with a warrant on your own terms by turning yourself in or hiring a lawyer to help you.

Sheriff Records Division

The Sheriff's Records Division at 800 S Victoria Ave in Ventura handles all warrant inquiries for Ventura County. You can visit the office during business hours to check for warrants. Bring a valid photo ID. The staff can search the system to see if you have an active warrant. They will only share warrant info with the person who is the subject of the warrant or with law enforcement.

The Sheriff charges fees for some services. All services including booking photos, booking sheets, police reports, and clearance letters cost $20.00. If you need a clearance letter to show you have no warrants or no criminal record, you can request one through the Records Division. Processing may take a few days depending on how busy they are.

The Sheriff works with local police in Ventura County cities. If you are stopped by city police, they will check for warrants. If you have one, you will be arrested. Do not think you can avoid a warrant by staying in a certain city. Any law enforcement officer in California can see your warrant and arrest you on it.

Note: The Records Division is closed on weekends except for emergency services.

Superior Court Warrants

Ventura County Superior Court has locations in Ventura, Oxnard, and Simi Valley. When you miss a court date, the judge can issue a bench warrant. California Penal Code Section 978.5 allows judges to issue bench warrants when defendants fail to appear. You can read the statute at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. The warrant stays active until you go back to court or the judge recalls it.

Traffic warrants are common in Ventura County. If you got a ticket and did not show up for your court date, a bench warrant was likely issued. California Vehicle Code Section 40508 makes it a misdemeanor to willfully fail to appear on a traffic charge. You can read that law at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Even if the original ticket was minor, the failure to appear makes it worse. Your license may be suspended until you clear the warrant.

Arrest warrants come from new criminal charges filed by the District Attorney. If the prosecutor files a case and a judge finds probable cause, an arrest warrant is issued. These warrants can be for felonies or misdemeanors. Bail is set based on the charge and your criminal history. High bail on felony charges may require a bail bond agent. Ventura County has multiple bail bond companies in Ventura, Oxnard, and other cities.

You can search for case info on the court's online system. The portal shows case details for criminal and traffic cases. If you find your case, you can see the charges and court dates. If you have questions about a warrant, call the criminal clerk's office at the courthouse that issued the warrant. They can tell you what steps to take.

Clear a Warrant in Ventura County

If you have a warrant in Ventura County, you need to deal with it. Here are your options.

Turn yourself in at the courthouse or the Sheriff's Office. Go early in the morning if you want to see a judge the same day. Bring your photo ID and any paperwork about your case. If the warrant is for a minor issue, you may get a court date without being arrested. If it is serious, you may be booked into jail. Turning yourself in shows you are taking responsibility.

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 new court date. You must show up for that date or the bail is forfeited and a new warrant is issued. Bail bond agents in Ventura County can help you post bail quickly.

Hire a lawyer if you have a serious warrant or need legal advice. A lawyer can file a motion to recall the warrant or reduce bail. They can represent you in court and negotiate with the prosecutor. Lawyers who practice in Ventura County know the local judges and court procedures. They can give you advice on the best way to handle your case.

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

Major Cities in Ventura County

Ventura County has 10 cities. The largest are Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Ventura, Camarillo, Moorpark, Santa Paula, Port Hueneme, Fillmore, and Ojai. Some have their own police departments. Others contract with the Sheriff for law enforcement.

Oxnard is the largest city with over 200,000 people. The city contracts with the Ventura County Sheriff for police services. Warrants are handled through the county system.

Thousand Oaks has around 130,000 residents. The city also contracts with the Sheriff. Call (805) 654-2336 for warrant info.

Simi Valley has about 125,000 people. Simi Valley Police are at 3901 Alamo Street. Call (805) 583-6950. Warrants are issued by the Superior Court and served by local police or the Sheriff.

The city of Ventura has around 110,000 residents. Ventura Police are at 1425 Dowell Drive. Call 805-339-4400. They charge $20.00 for most services. Emailed records are free.

All cities in Ventura County use the county court system for warrants. Check with your local police first for arrest info, then contact the Sheriff or court for warrant details.

Nearby Counties

Ventura County is on the Southern California coast. It borders Los Angeles County to the south and east, Kern County to the north, and Santa Barbara County to the west. If you are not sure where a warrant is from, check nearby counties.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Records is at 12440 East Imperial Highway in Norwalk. Call (562) 345-4441. LA County is the largest county in California.

Santa Barbara County is to the west. The Sheriff's warrant check line is (805) 681-4330. Choose the warrants option when you call.

Kern County is to the north. The Sheriff is at 1350 Norris Road in Bakersfield. Call (661) 391-7624. Their court portal is at portal.kern.courts.ca.gov.