Los Angeles County, California Warrant Search

In Los Angeles County, California, warrant searches are used to locate warrants issued within the county. Interested individuals or entities may search for warrants using available online resources, such as searchable portals or online lists. For example, you can locate active arrest warrants by viewing the Los Angeles Police Department’s Most Wanted List.

An alternative option for locating warrants is to contact the government entities directly responsible for producing or maintaining the records. The Superior Court of Los Angeles allows offline access to warrants issued at the courthouse. Inquirers may inquire for these documents at the court’s physical location.

Warrants are court directives that authorize government officials to conduct specific actions, such as arrests. You may come across the following information when searching warrants in Los Angeles County:

• The record subject (defendant)’s name and physical features, like ethnicity and gender.
• The defendant’s address and other contact information.
• Warrant issuance date and time.
• Court document number.
• Reasons for the warrant, including alleged criminal offenses and descriptions.
• Name of the court that issued the warrant.
• Name and signature of the court official who issued the warrant.
• The court official’s name and signature.

Why Conduct a Warrant Search in Los Angeles County?

In Los Angeles County, persons or entities may look up warrants for these reasons:

• To determine their legal status. Individuals may conduct a warrant search if they suspect a warrant has been issued for their arrest. This helps them to make arrangements to resolve the issue and avoid public or embarrassing arrests.
• To conduct background checks: Warrants reveal information about an individual’s criminal past. Employers or partners may conduct warrant searches about a prospective employee or life partner. Note that some warrants contain confidential information that is not accessible to third parties.
• To prepare for legal issues: Legal representatives may conduct searches for search warrants to determine if there was probable cause for the warrant issuance. If there was no probable cause, legal representatives may move a motion to suppress evidence obtained during the search.

How to Perform a Los Angeles County Warrant Search Online

There are multiple tools and online search repositories that contain information on active warrants issued in Los Angeles County. Inquirers may search warrants by using any of these online tools:

• The LAPD Most Wanted List
• The Los Angeles Superior Court’s online case search platform.

Inquirers may follow these steps to find warrant information on the case search platform:

1. Select one of these search options:
   1. Search by Litigant’s Name (to find arrest and search warrants issued in civil, probate, or family cases).
   2. Search by Defendant’s Name (to find arrest warrants issued in relation to criminal cases).
2. Create an account or choose to search as a guest.
3. Fill in the required search information, like the case party name or filing date.
4. Select “Search” to generate related court documents, which may include issued warrants.

Note: The court charges specific fees per search conducted on the platform. Guest users pay $4.75 per search, while registered users pay $1 for the first 10 searches and $4.75 for the 11th to 100th search.

How to Check for Outstanding Warrants in Los Angeles County by Phone or In Person

The Los Angeles County Superior Court and local law enforcement agencies allow in-person or phone-based requests for outstanding warrants. Persons seeking to access a warrant from the superior court may follow these steps:

1. Determine the court that issued the specific type of warrant:You may need to find the particular courthouse that issues specific types of warrants. For example, 12 out of 23 courthouses in Los Angeles issue warrants for civil-related cases. On the other hand, all the county courthouses have jurisdiction to issue warrants for criminal cases.
2. Make inquiries at the court’s physical address: The clerks of these courts may attend to in-person or phone-based inquiries during business hours. For example, you can view outstanding warrants for civil-related cases by making inquiries at these courthouses:

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Search Process

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, along with other local law enforcement agencies, executes warrants issued by the county courts. Additionally, the agency may retain and disclose records of active warrants to interested parties.

For warrant searches at the sheriff’s office, inquirers are typically required to make a request in person. The sheriff may attend to the request during official hours at this address:

Accessing Public Records Related to Warrants in Los Angeles County

In Los Angeles County, warrants are often included as part of some court documents and arrest reports or logs. Inquirers may view these records to get information about warrants issued in the county.

To access court records, inquirers may use the superior court’s search portal. The court also allows mail-in or in-person requests for court records. For mail-in requests, inquirers must submit a request to the specific court that handled the case.

The request must include the following:

• A completed request form.
• The required search fee. The court charges $0.5 per page to copy court records and $50 per record certification.
• A self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Types of Warrants Issued in Los Angeles County

Los Angeles Superior Courts may issue different types of warrants depending on the complaint. These warrants serve specific functions, as some might lead to arrest while others require the defendant to perform specific duties. Common types of warrants issued in Los Angeles County include the following:

• Arrest warrants: These are court directives that call for the arrest of persons named on the document. The court judge generally issues an arrest warrant after receiving complaints from an arresting officer. The complaint must contain sufficient evidence that the offender violated the law. Arrest warrants are usually accessible via local law enforcement agencies or county courts.
• Bench warrants: Unlike an arrest warrant, the court issues bench warrants when an individual fails to comply with the court orders or summons. A bench warrant does not always lead to an arrest.
• Search warrants: This court directive empowers officers to search a specific location or property for evidence. The warrant may specify a timeframe and describe the evidence.

How Long Warrants Remain Active in Los Angeles County

Arrest and bench warrants do not expire in Los Angeles County. Instead, they remain active even after the statute of limitations for the offense has elapsed. Such warrants only become inactive when the defendant gets arrested or the court nullifies the directive. However, search warrants have a 10-day lifespan. Law enforcement officers must search within the set timeframe.

What To Do if You Find an Outstanding Warrant in Los Angeles County

In Los Angeles County, you may resolve an outstanding warrant by using these options:

• Turn yourself in at the nearest police department. It may help your court case and increase your chances of receiving a favorable judgment if you surrender willingly.
• Contact the court that issued the warrant: In most cases, resolving a warrant is as easy as contacting the court and following the set guidelines.
• Contact a professional, such as an attorney or a bail bond company, to resolve the outstanding warrant.