3 Types of Warrants in California
If you suspect that you may have an outstanding warrant in California, we highly advise that you confirm whether your suspicions are true by proactively addressing this issue as quickly as possible and avoiding further problems with the court.
Take Control of Your Situation—It Starts with One Call
An arrest warrant can feel overwhelming, but you don't have to face it alone. Let us guide you toward resolution.
What Types Of Warrants Can Judges Issue In California
There are three types of warrants that a judge can issue in the state of California:
1. Arrest Warrant
An arrest warrant authorizes law enforcement officers to arrest the defendant named in the warrant. It is issued when a person is believed to have committed a crime, based on evidence presented by a district attorney or peace officer, or after a grand jury indictment.
2. Bench Warrant
Just like the arrest warrant, the bench warrant authorizes law enforcement officers to arrest the person named on the warrant. However, unlike an arrest warrant, it isn't issued because of suspected criminal activity.
Bench warrants are issued when the defendant is found in contempt of court, such as when they:
- Failing to appear in court
- Failing to comply with a court order.
- Fail to pay a fine
3. Search Warrant
This type of warrant does not give the police the power to arrest someone, but it does give them the authority to search the following:
- person
- home
- vehicle
- business premise
- or any other area
You should know that once a judge signs a warrant, the court clerk will enter it into the relevant court or law enforcement website, making it accessible to anyone who can access the Department of Justice website.
Thus, any police officer nationwide can obtain this information to see if a person has an active arrest warrant.
Find Out If You Have an Outstanding Warrant In California
There are various ways a person can find out if have an active warrant:
1. Search the Sheriff or Court Website
If you have an idea from which county in California your warrant is coming from, you could easily search their Sheriffs department website or courts website to see if they have a warrant issued against you or not. However, this method only works if you are sure which county the order will be coming from.
Remember, court clerks will update arrest warrants on these websites once they are issued. Thus, if you have a warrant out there and a county name, you can definitely use either of these websites to find it.
2. Search the Relevant Superior Court of Californias website
This method is especially useful if you are unsure which county your warrant will be coming from. Every county in California has a Superior Court of California website.
Therefore you can conduct a warrant search there to see if there has been an issue against you. However, to use the site to run a warrant search, you have to include:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Drivers license number
- Court case number
3. Conduct A Criminal Background Check
There are two ways a person can conduct a criminal background check. You can choose to do it yourself and search through public records, criminal records, and government agency records, or outsource the job to a third party who will conduct the check.
Once the check is complete, it will show you whether you are subject to a warrant, suspected of any criminal activity, exposed to potential criminal liability, wanted by law enforcement, or have violated a particular California Penal Code.
I Have A Warrant. What Next?
If you have a warrant against you, you must contact a criminal defense attorney as quickly as possible to help you address this issue as promptly and efficiently as possible.
If you have been charged with a crime, it is important to contact a skilled criminal defense attorney right away. Seppi Esfandi is an expert Los Angeles criminal defense attorney with over 22 years of experience defending a wide range of criminal cases.
Seppi Esfandi is an Expert Attorney with over 22 years of practice defending a wide range of cases.
