Execute a Free Orange County Warrant Search on Anyone

Perform a free Orange County warrant search today to check who’s wanted locally. Interested parties can search for active warrants to help themselves, friends, or family members clear up an outstanding issue or alert law enforcement about a wanted individual.

This resource provides contact details and steps to take for quickly and conveniently accessing information on warrants within Orange County and throughout the entire state of California.

An Overview of Locating Free Information About Orange County Warrants

Warrants and various other documents are public records according to statutes 6250-6270, the California Public Records Act (CPRA).¹

This means that records holders must make active warrant information as well as related arrest records available to any interested party. Searchers should note that the details of criminal records are often sealed for privacy.

Warrants are a class of court orders that direct law enforcement officers to search or detain a person or their belongings. There are many kinds of warrants that are described further below, all of which are publicly available in all of California’s counties.

In most cases, the information can be found quickly and for free online. On occasion, a warrant will not be available if the information may compromise a criminal investigation.

Legal records are kept by a variety of custodians including the county court, and municipal governments. For warrants, the main custodian to consider is the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the County Court.²

Conduct an Orange County Warrant Search

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is the primary custodian of all warrant information for the county. Orange County record seekers can use a convenient Online Warrant Search Tool to check active legal statuses for free.³

Enter the person’s name into the online search. The first and last name are required, and users can also enter more details to narrow the search.

After entering the information and clicking on search, the system will display a list of matching warrant records.

Click on the warrant of interest and the information will display. Typically, the online record shows the warrant number, the reason it was issued, a bail amount, and the issuing court.

Interested parties should call to make an appointment to visit the sheriff’s office in-person, want to call for more information, or wish to give a tip to the Sheriff. The Sheriff has numerous offices and divisions across the county. The three main locations’ addresses and phone numbers are:

Orange County Sheriff
North Operations Unit
550 N. Flower Street
Santa Ana, CA 92703

Phone: (714)-647-1851

Orange County Sheriff
Southeast Operations Unit
20202 Windrow Drive
Lake Forest, CA 92630

Phone: (949)-206-6100

Orange County Sheriff
Southwest Operations Unit
11 Journey
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

Phone: (949)-425-1900

All of the units can answer questions and provide warrant information. Those who are the subject of warrants should know that your location may be identified when you call or you may be arrested if you arrive at the office in person.

Another option when searching for warrant info is through the Orange County Superior Court. The court offers an Online Criminal/Traffic Case Search Tool with two options to search.⁴

To search by case number or through a calendar search.

Providing the case number will view the specific case information, including warrant information.

Alternatively, requesters may visit the court in person at

Orange County Superior Court
Central Justice Center
700 West Civic Center Drive
Santa Ana, CA 92701

Phone: 657.622.6878

Some interested parties prefer to work with their local police instead of county officials. For example, citizens in the county’s largest municipality can contact the Irvine Police Department. The local police have access to the county warrant database, and can answer questions about warrants.

Keep in mind that the county and local law enforcement can only provide the warrant information such as the type of warrant and the agency or court that issued the warrant. The issuing agency can provide further details about the underlying cause of the warrant.

Each Warrant Type & Their Meanings

The word “warrant” is an umbrella term for various court orders that authorizes officials to search, seize, or detain a person or property. In Orange County, individuals may have warrants for a variety of underlying reasons including being wanted for crimes, failing to appear in court, or failing to pay fines.

All the types of arrest or search orders may also be referred to as an active warrant, meaning that the order is still in effect and has not been resolved.

Arrest Warrants: These are often the type of warrant that comes to mind for most people. These orders are issued by a judge and allow law enforcement officers to take a person into custody because they are suspected of a crime. Arrest warrants are usually issued upon probable cause presented to the judge to show the person is probably guilty of the crime.

Bench Warrants: These orders are issued when a party misses a required hearing in court. The judge issues the warrant and law enforcement officers can seize the person and bring them back to the court.

Probation & Parole Violation Warrants: People who have been convicted of a crime are sometimes let out on a supervised release to serve all or part of their sentence. If the individual violates conditions of the probation or parole, they can be taken into custody and often sent back to jail. Common violations include drug use or missing required meetings.

Since a person on supervised release has already been found guilty, they do not have many procedural rights and the warrant can be issued without probable cause.

Traffic Warrants: Smaller courts such as local municipal courts often enforce traffic violations. A warrant can be issued for unpaid traffic tickets or missing a mandatory hearing for a more serious moving violation.

Child Support Warrants: Courts often order mandatory child support payments from a non custodial parent. When the parent falls behind on payments, a family court judge can issue a warrant for their apprehension.

Capias & Capias Pro Fine Warrants: These are special kinds of bench warrants that are issued when a defendant in a serious criminal case does not show up to a trial. Capias warrants often are “no bail” warrants where the missing defendant is then held in jail for the remainder of the trial.

Fugitive Warrants: Any kind of warrant that orders the arrest of a person who has fled the jurisdiction to avoid being held accountable for a crime. These warrants usually contain extradition boundaries as well. This means that the law enforcement determines how far away they will travel to pick up the fugitive if they are captured in another location.

Search Warrants: This is another warrant that many readers will be familiar with from popular depictions of police procedures. They allow law enforcement to search a person’s property including clothing, homes, vehicles, and other possessions.

Law enforcement must show the judge evidence that there is a likelihood that evidence of a crime will be found before a search warrant will be issued.

How To Respond to an Outstanding Warrant in Orange County California

This resource helps interested parties find out about warrants, but it is equally important for individuals to know what to do with the information. The best outcome varies depending on circumstance and may include resolving the warrant, surrendering to authorities, or alerting law enforcement about a wanted person.

If you or someone close to you has a warrant, the first step is to find out the reason for the warrant and the court that ordered it. Then individuals should immediately contact professionals who can assist. A lawyer can help represent you, communicate with authorities, and give you advice.

Additionally, make sure to contact a bail bonds company. They can help you post bail in the event you need to turn yourself in for arrest to the sheriff. The Regional Branches of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office are located at:⁵

North Operations Unit
550 N. Flower Street
Santa Ana, CA 92703

Phone: (714)-647-1851

Southeast Operations Unit
20202 Windrow Drive
Lake Forest, CA 92630

Phone: (949)-206-6100

Southwest Operations Unit
11 Journey
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

Phone: (949)-425-1900

Depending on the circumstances, there are multiple ways to address the warrant. In many cases, it is possible to avoid jail by paying a past due fine or agreeing to a court hearing date.

For example, the Orange County Traffic Court provides a guide on how to resolve a traffic warrant without going to jail.⁶ If the cause of the warrant is more serious, the wanted person may be apprehended and detained by law enforcement. The lawyer and bail bonds company can assist you in navigating the best possible resolution.

Again, the lawyer and bail bondsperson can help you prepare for all circumstances and resolve the warrant in the best way possible based on the situation. This can even include surrendering in person to local law enforcement or at the Sheriff’s Office.

Conversely, if a concerned party is seeking information about someone they are suspicious or afraid of, the resolution will be different. Generally, the best course of action is to immediately contact the appropriate law enforcement agency. You can call the sheriff or the local police station to report the whereabouts of a person with an active warrant.

Orange County also partners with the Crime Stoppers Website, where parties can make anonymous tips.

Concerned citizens can call 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) to make a report of the location of a wanted person.

You can also text to CRIMES (274637). Include “To OCCS” (Orange County Sheriff’s Office) somewhere in your text so the proper authorities receive the information.

No matter the reason you search, a warrant is an important order from the court that must be resolved. To begin the process, use this resource to conduct a free Orange County warrant search; the information can be used to help resolve a warrant or help law enforcement apprehend a wanted individual.