Ontario Bench Warrants

Ontario bench warrants are issued by the San Bernardino County Superior Court when someone fails to appear for a scheduled court date or violates terms of their release. The Ontario Police Department handles local law enforcement but all warrant records are maintained at the county level. With a population over 175,000, Ontario is one of the largest cities in the Inland Empire. If you have an active warrant from a case filed in Ontario, you will need to work with San Bernardino County to resolve it. This guide covers how to search for and clear bench warrants in Ontario.

How Bench Warrants Work in Ontario

Bench warrants in Ontario are issued by judges at the San Bernardino County Superior Court. When you miss a court date or violate the terms of your probation, the judge can issue a warrant from the bench. This gives law enforcement the authority to arrest you. The warrant goes into state and local databases. Any officer who runs your name will see it.

Ontario has its own police department that handles law enforcement within city limits. If Ontario police stop you for any reason and find an active warrant, they can arrest you on the spot. The warrant does not have to be from Ontario. It could be from anywhere in California. The officer will hold you until you can be transported or see a judge.

All bench warrants issued for cases in Ontario go through San Bernardino County. The county maintains the records. The court sets the bail amount. To clear your warrant, you will work with county resources, not the city. The Ontario Police can tell you if you have a warrant but cannot clear it for you.

San Bernardino County Warrant Records

San Bernardino County Superior Court handles all bench warrants for Ontario cases. The county has a case access portal at cap.sb-court.org where you can search for case information. This portal shows case status and may indicate if a warrant has been issued. You need to create an account to use the full features.

For direct warrant checks, contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff Records at (909) 888-5916. The Sheriff Records office is at 655 East Third Street in San Bernardino. They can confirm if you have an active warrant. Staff may ask for identification. Clearance letters cost $38 from the county. You can also call the non-emergency line for the valley area at (909) 387-8313.

For more details on San Bernardino County warrant procedures, see our San Bernardino County bench warrants page.

Ontario Police Department Records

The Ontario Police Department Records Division can help with local records requests. Their main number is (909) 408-1951. The police station is at 2500 S Archibald Ave, Ontario, CA 91761. Hours for records services are typically 9 AM to 4 PM on weekdays.

Criminal records requests through Ontario PD cost $35. This covers the search and any copies provided. The police can tell you if they have any local warrants in their system. But county warrants may not show in their database. For a full warrant check, contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff.

If you want to turn yourself in on a warrant, you can do so at the Ontario Police Department. Staff will process you and contact the court. You may be held until you can see a judge. Surrendering voluntarily often looks better than being arrested during a traffic stop.

Clearing a Bench Warrant in Ontario

You have several options to clear a bench warrant in Ontario. The best choice depends on your case type and the bail amount set on the warrant.

Posting bail is one option if your warrant has a set bail amount. You can pay the bail at the San Bernardino County courthouse and receive a new court date. Bail can be paid with cash, cashier's check, or through a bail bondsman. If your warrant says "no bail," this option is not available. You must appear before a judge instead.

You can also turn yourself in at the county jail or at Ontario Police Department. When you surrender, you will be booked and held until you can see a judge. This might mean staying overnight. But it shows the court you are taking responsibility. For misdemeanor cases, your attorney may be able to appear for you under Penal Code Section 977.

Note: Felony warrants require a personal appearance before a judge.

Failure to Appear Penalties in Ontario

Missing a court date in Ontario creates more problems than just a warrant. Under Penal Code Section 1320, willfully failing to appear when released on your own recognizance is a crime. The court presumes you intended to skip if you do not show within 14 days.

For felony cases where you were out on bail, Penal Code Section 1320.5 makes failure to appear a felony too. Fines can reach $10,000. The court can also add a civil assessment up to $300 under Penal Code Section 1214.1. The DMV may place a hold on your license if the case involves traffic violations.

Nearby Cities

These nearby cities also file cases through San Bernardino County or neighboring counties.