Los Angeles County Bench Warrants

Los Angeles County bench warrants are issued by the Superior Court when someone fails to appear for a court date or violates the terms of their release. The LA County Sheriff maintains warrant records and can arrest anyone with an active warrant. With nearly 10 million residents, Los Angeles County processes more bench warrants than any other county in California. You can search case records online through the court system, though warrant status checks typically require contacting the Sheriff directly. This page covers how to find and clear bench warrants in Los Angeles County.

How to Search Los Angeles County Bench Warrants

Los Angeles County does not offer a free public warrant search database. The Sheriff's office does not publish warrant lists online like some other California counties do. To check if you have a warrant, you need to use the court case search system or contact the Sheriff directly.

The LA Superior Court provides an online case search at lacourt.org/criminalcasesummary. This tool lets you look up criminal case information by name or case number. Each search costs $4.75 and includes details about one case. If you need info on more cases, you pay $4.75 for each one. Document images cost $5.00 for the first 20 pages. The system shows case status, charges, and court dates. It may show if a bench warrant was issued, but this is not a dedicated warrant search tool.

You can see the court's criminal case search portal below. The system requires payment before showing results, but it gives you access to detailed case files that may not be available anywhere else.

For direct warrant checks, call the LA County Sheriff at 213-830-0800. You can also visit the Sheriff Records Bureau at 12440 East Imperial Highway in Norwalk. Bring a photo ID. Staff can tell you if there is an active warrant in your name. Phone checks may be limited, so an in-person visit is often the best option for Los Angeles County bench warrant information.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Warrant Services

The LA County Sheriff handles warrant services for the entire county. This includes cities that contract with the Sheriff for police services and unincorporated areas. The Sheriff Records Bureau processes warrant inquiries and can provide clearance letters.

Contact information for warrant-related services in Los Angeles County includes the main Sheriff line at 213-830-0800 and the Records Bureau at (562) 345-4441. The Records Bureau is located at 12440 East Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650. Hours are limited so call ahead. Many cities in Los Angeles County use the Sheriff for law enforcement. These include Lancaster, Palmdale, Santa Clarita, Norwalk, Carson, Compton, Lakewood, Bellflower, Lynwood, Pico Rivera, and Paramount. If you live in one of these cities, the Sheriff handles your warrant matters.

Cities with their own police departments may also hold warrants in their systems. But bench warrants from Superior Court go through the Sheriff. This means all felony warrants and most misdemeanor warrants are in the Sheriff's database for Los Angeles County.

Clearing Bench Warrants in Los Angeles County

If you have a bench warrant in Los Angeles County, you have several ways to deal with it. The best choice depends on the type of case and bail amount set on the warrant. Acting fast is smart because problems grow the longer you wait.

Felony bench warrant walk-ins require a same day court appearance. You cannot just post bail and leave. Go to the courthouse that issued the warrant early in the morning. Check in with the clerk and wait to see a judge. The judge will address the warrant and decide whether to release you or set new bail. This process can take all day, so plan to be there from morning until the court closes. Bring any documents that explain why you missed your original court date.

For misdemeanor warrants, you may have more options. You can post bail at the court or through a bondsman if your warrant has a bail amount. Once you post bail, the court sets a new date. Some cases allow your lawyer to appear for you under Penal Code Section 977. Your attorney can ask the judge to recall the warrant and set a new date while you stay out of custody. This works for many misdemeanor cases in Los Angeles County.

You can also turn yourself in at the county jail. The main jail is at 450 Bauchet Street in Los Angeles. When you surrender, staff will book you and hold you until you can see a judge. This might mean staying overnight or longer. But it shows the court you are taking the matter seriously and can work in your favor.

Note: Warrants marked "no bail" require a court appearance and cannot be cleared by posting money.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Locations

Los Angeles County has one of the largest court systems in the nation. With 38 courthouse locations across the county, finding the right court matters. Your warrant will specify which courthouse issued it. That is usually where you need to go to clear it.

The main criminal courthouse is the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center at 210 W Temple Street in downtown Los Angeles. The court phone is 213-628-7900. This is where major felony cases are handled. Many bench warrant surrenders happen here. Other busy criminal courthouses include the Airport Courthouse in Los Angeles, the Compton Courthouse, the Long Beach Courthouse, the Norwalk Courthouse, the Pomona Courthouse, the Van Nuys Courthouse, the Pasadena Courthouse, and the Torrance Courthouse. Each serves a different region of the county.

Traffic cases and some misdemeanors may be heard at smaller courthouses throughout Los Angeles County. If your warrant came from a traffic ticket, check the citation for the court address. Or use the online case search to find which court has your case. Going to the wrong courthouse wastes time since they cannot help you with a warrant from another location.

Los Angeles County Failure to Appear Consequences

Missing a court date in Los Angeles County leads to a bench warrant. This happens automatically in most cases. The judge does not wait long. If you are not there when your case is called, a warrant can be issued that same day.

Under California Penal Code Section 1320, willfully failing to appear when released on your own recognizance is a crime. The law assumes you meant to skip court if you do not show up within 14 days. This adds a new charge on top of your original case. 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. This is extra money you owe on top of any fines. The DMV may put a hold on your license if the case involves traffic violations. You will not be able to renew until you clear the warrant. All these problems add up fast in Los Angeles County.

Major Cities in Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County contains 88 incorporated cities plus unincorporated areas. The county seat is the City of Los Angeles. All bench warrants are issued by the Superior Court regardless of which city the case comes from. Below are links to major cities with populations over 50,000.

Nearby California Counties

If you think your warrant may be in a different county, check these neighboring areas. Each county maintains its own warrant database.