Sacramento County Warrant Search

A warrant is a legal document issued by a judge to authorize the arrest of a person or the search of their property. A Sacramento County warrant search involves looking up law enforcement databases to determine if there is an existing warrant against a person. This search is permitted by law, as law enforcement records are public under the California Public Records Act (Government Code § 6250–6270).

In Sacramento County, a warrant search typically involves contacting the official record custodian, which is the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, to confirm the existence of or status of the warrant. Identifying information, such as a full name or date of birth, may be needed to verify the status of a warrant. The sheriff's office provides access to county (local) warrant records only.

Information returned from a warrant search typically includes the type of warrant found (if any), the date the warrant was issued, the offense involved, and the status of the warrant. Note that only the subject of an active warrant can access the warrant information, so requestors may need to submit an identification document during a search.

Why Conduct a Warrant Search in Sacramento County?

A warrant search is usually conducted to find out whether or not a person has an active warrant issued against them. Anyone may also do a warrant search to know their legal status, fulfil employment requirements, complete employment or housing background checks, or prepare for upcoming court proceedings. At any rate, a warrant search typically reveals information like the type of warrant issued, the reason for issuance, and the status of the warrant. The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office and Sacramento County Superior Court are the official government sources of warrant information. They can be contacted by phone for access to warrant information.

How to Perform a Sacramento County Warrant Search Online

Although Sacramento County does not maintain a centralized database for warrant searches, interested individuals can locate warrant information through online searches of court records. Examples of these public portals for court records include the Sacramento County Superior Court Case Information System and California Courts Online Case Access.

To search these records, requestors would need information such as the case number, full name, and date of birth of the person whose record is inquired about. Requestors may also contact the sheriff's office or search third-party databases to find warrant information.

It is important to note that not all warrant information is publicly available. Active warrants are kept confidential to protect the integrity of the case. Active warrant information from the sheriff's office is also only available to the subject of the warrant, so an identity verification is needed before the search can be processed.

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

To confirm the existence of a warrant, contact the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office (local enforcement) or the courts (issuer of the warrant). These offices can be contacted by phone, by mail, or in person at their office addresses. To conduct a warrant search, identifying information is needed, such as the subject's full name and date of birth.

Phone requests usually take a few minutes to get results, as the staff receives the key data, checks the internal warrant system, and relays to the inquirer if a warrant is on file. For in-person warrant searches, requestors may be required to submit a photo ID to confirm their eligibility to access the record. On-site warrant searches may take longer due to wait times, and individuals with active warrants may be arrested on the spot if an active warrant is found in their name.

Requestors can also conduct offline warrant searches by contacting the Sacramento County Main Jail or the criminal division of the Sacramento County Superior Court. If a warrant was issued during legal proceedings, it will form part of the court record and will be available with the criminal court search. For additional information, contact:

Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Search Process

The Records and Warrants Bureau of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office maintains warrant information and handles all active warrant confirmations. Individuals seeking to conduct a record search or inquire about active or outstanding warrants should contact this office directly, as warrants are not publicly published in Sacramento County.

When a request is made, the Records and Warrants Bureau first verifies the identity of the requester, as only the subject of a warrant is allowed access to the record. They then check their internal database and confirm if a warrant exists, the type of warrant that exists, and the warrant status.

Other information typically obtained through a warrant inquiry includes the court that issued the warrant, the date the warrant was issued, and the charges associated with the warrant. They, however, do not include information on ongoing warrants, warrant information restricted by court order, and warrant information outside their jurisdiction (Sacramento County).

Individuals can contact the sheriff's office by phone or in person, along with a valid ID, to conduct a warrant search. It is important to note that felony warrants are processed by a different entity: the Sacramento County Main Jail. The contact information of the record custodians' offices for conducting a warrant search is as follows:

Accessing Public Records Related to Warrants in Sacramento County

Warrants are considered public records under California law, as are the related records generated by criminal justice agencies in the execution of the warrant and later events. Some public records that can be requested, which may contain warrant information, include the following:

• Court records: Sacramento County warrants are issued by and can be accessed through the superior courts.
• Arrest records: If an arrest was executed as a result of a warrant, information on the associated warrant will be included in the arrest records or the jail booking records.

Note that warrant records that jeopardize ongoing investigations, are legally restricted, or are outside Sacramento County jurisdiction are not available.

Types of Warrants Issued in Sacramento County

Examples of warrants typically issued in Sacramento County include the following:

• Arrest warrant - issued by a court to authorize law enforcement officers to take a person into custody under suspicion of committing a crime. For it to be issued, evidence of probable cause needs to be presented to the judge, and after probable cause is established, the warrant is issued.
• Bench warrant - issued against a person for failing to honor a court summons or disobeying a court order.
• Search warrant - issued by the court to allow law enforcement officers to search a person or their property to retrieve evidence relating to a case or crime.

When conducting a warrant search, it is important to know the warrant type as this can provide information on why they were issued and how they can be resolved. This can also inform concerned persons on the actions that may be taken against them by law enforcement officers executing the warrant.

How Long Warrants Remain Active in Sacramento County

The duration of a warrant in Sacramento County depends on the type of warrant. Sacramento County warrants have different durations and methods of resolution.

• Arrest warrants remain active indefinitely until they are executed or withdrawn
• Bench warrants remain active indefinitely until the individual complies with the court order
• Search warrants expire 10 days after they are issued (California Penal Code § 1534)

Some other factors that can affect the execution of a warrant include dismissal by a court, the warrant being recalled by the issuing judge, or resolution through a plea bargain.

What To Do if You Find an Outstanding Warrant in Sacramento County

Residents of Sacramento County who discover that a warrant has been issued against them should first verify the warrant context and status, as this will determine the next step in resolving the warrant. Verification of a warrant with the Warrants Bureau is necessary to find out whether the warrant is outdated, issued in error, can be resolved by going to court, or will lead to an arrest. When resolving warrants, concerned persons should consider getting a lawyer to navigate the court process for an improved case outcome. Warrants, if left unattended, can lead to an unexpected arrest.