In Los Angeles County, arrest warrants are not handed out lightly. The police must first present a compelling case to the magistrate’s court, laying out substantial evidence against the individual in question. This process begins with gathering proof, meticulously compiled into an affidavit. Once submitted, the sitting magistrate scrutinizes the document, carefully weighing the information to determine if it meets the stringent probable cause standard. Only when the evidence convincingly points to criminal activity does the court issue the warrant, marking a significant step in the pursuit of justice.
In the Criminal Code of California, probable cause is defined as enough grounds for a reasonable person to believe that the offense in question was indeed committed by the person against whom the warrant is being sought. Before the issue of active warrants in LA County, the judge may very well call in the witnesses and the victim for sworn testimony.
Once a warrant is released, it is sent to the sheriff’s department for execution. The deputies have 48 hours to make an arrest after which time, such arrest orders get stored in the crime database as outstanding warrants. Because local law enforcement and several divisions of the judiciary have a role to play in the process of warrant issue, it is possible to get information on these detention orders from multiple government sources.
Who can conduct an LA County warrant search?
Not everybody can access warrant records in LA County; in fact, applicants who not a part of a justice agency or a law enforcement division can only get information on warrants issued in cases that ended in a conviction.Also, pursuant to the California State Public Records Act only a certain category of employers and licensing authorities have access to this data.
The only exceptions to this rule are victims and perpetrators of a crime who can get information on the case that they were involved in from the LAPD or the California Department of Justice. Also, legal representatives of these parties can request such information provided they have a release from the victim or the accused.
Finding information on LA County arrest warrants
The local sheriff’s departments would undoubtedly be a reliable source of information on warrants issued in the area. In fact, the law enforcement agency also holds records on all arrests that have occurred in the area, along with data on other legal instruments released in criminal matters, like search warrants.
Contact the sheriff’s office at 4700 Ramona Blvd, Monterey Park, CA 91754. You can also contact the agency by phone at 323-267-4848. However, records pertaining to warrants are never disseminated over the phone, as the applicant has to file a formal request for such information.
Remember that the sheriff’s department will only offer details on warrants issued in LA County and not the other geographical divisions of the state. For a wider warrant search, you can approach the California Department of Justice and the Office of the Attorney General by writing to the Record Review Unit, P.O. Box 903417, Sacramento, CA 94203-4170.
Judicial sources of information on arrest warrants issued in LA County
Because the local LA county court that holds criminal jurisdiction issues all warrants in the area, you can also get information about these detention decrees from the judicial office. However, you will need information on the case to get records on warrants issued.
So, it would only make sense to approach the judiciary if you have the case number and details about the date and location of the legal infraction. To approach the magistrate’s court, you can go to 4848 Civic Center Way, Los Angeles, CA 90022.
Alternatively, you can contact the office of the District Attorney of LA County for warrant-related information. Call the agency at 213-974-3512 or write to them at [email protected].
For an online search, try the official website of LA County Superior Court at lacourt.org. The search costs about $5, and you can find information about the defendant’s name in a criminal matter along with the charges filed in the case.
What about bench warrants issued in LA County?
A bench warrant differs vastly from an arrest order issued in a felony case. Unlike the latter, where the police have to approach the court for the decree of detention, a bench warrant is released by the tribunal of its own accord.
Usually, a bench warrant is issued when an accused or a person involved in a legal matter in some way fails to show up in court or does not adhere to the court ruling. Also, these arrest orders are frequently issued in cases of traffic violations where the applicable fines remain unpaid. If the decree is issued in case of civic offense, it would be best to approach the local courthouse’s division that deals with traffic infractions and civil matters.