How to Search California Wants & Warrants (Start Here)

Active warrants in California are maintained by law enforcement at state, county, and local levels. There is no single database of all warrants in California.

What this page covers: California state warrant databases, most-wanted lists, and county-level warrant search tools where available. What it does not cover: Federal warrants (those are handled by the U.S. Marshals and FBI).

Where to start: Check the state law enforcement agency first for statewide warrant searches. For county-level warrants, contact the county sheriff. Many county sheriffs post active warrant lists on their websites.

Common mistake: Most-wanted lists only show high-priority fugitives. If you need to check whether someone has any active warrant, a most-wanted list is not enough — contact the county sheriff or clerk of court directly.

Statewide warrant search
Warrants | Superior Court of California - County of San Diego
Most wanted list
California Most Wanted
Sex offender registry
California Sex Offender Registry
State police / DPS
The agencies below are POST participating agencies and departments unless otherwise noted
US Marshals district
Name Central District of California | U.S. Marshals Service
Number of counties
58 counties
Population
39,431,263
Households
13,548,091
Median Income
$95,521
Median Home Value
$734,700
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: California wants & warrants URL verified against the official state publisher at oag.ca.gov on the review date. 7 primary .gov sources cited below.

California Wants & Warrants — Key Facts (2026)

Outstanding warrants, fugitive lists, and active sheriff's warrants for California — what's public, what isn't, and how to verify in 2026.
Public
Public-facing fugitive list
Yes (state portal)
Sealed
Active arrest warrants
Often non-public until executed
NCIC
Federal warrant index
Law enforcement only
$0
Cost of public warrant lookup
Free in most states
24-48h
New filings lag
Typical processing delay
Where a warrant lives (typical visibility)
Sheriff most-wanted list
100%
State fugitive portal
90%
NCIC (federal index)
0%
Sealed arrest warrant
0%
FBI Top-10 (national)
100%
Unit: % publicly searchable.

What Changed in 2026 — California Wants & Warrants

2026
California wants & warrants portal active
The official California portal at oag.ca.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for wants & warrants in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for wants & warrants
The FBI Most Wanted Fugitives at www.fbi.gov provides federal-level context that complements California state records.
2026
California access in 2026
For 2026, California continues to publish wants & warrants information through state-authorized portals; check oag.ca.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE California's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for additional official portals.

The 3-Path California Warrant Search

1
Path 1 — Sheriff most-wanted
Most California sheriffs publish a 'Most Wanted' page on the county sheriff's official .gov or county site.
2
Path 2 — State fugitive portal
California's statewide fugitive/warrant list is published by the state law enforcement agency.
3
Path 3 — Federal fugitives
FBI Most Wanted (fbi.gov/wanted) and U.S. Marshals 15 Most Wanted (usmarshals.gov) are the public federal lists.

Five Things People Get Wrong About California Wants & Warrants

MYTH"Paid warrant-check sites see more than you can."
FACTThey see less: scraped county lists and old data. The court clerk and the sheriff hold the real answer, usually for free.
MYTH"An out-of-state warrant doesn't matter here."
FACTIt depends on extradition. Serious warrants travel; minor ones may not — but they still light up every background check that touches court records.
MYTH"The most-wanted page is the warrant list."
FACTMost-wanted pages are curated highlights. The actual warrant count in California runs far beyond what any public page shows.
MYTH"There's a public national warrant database."
FACTThe national warrant file lives inside NCIC — law-enforcement only. Every public 'nationwide warrant search' is a reseller's patchwork.
MYTH"All warrants are the same."
FACTBench warrants (missed court) and arrest warrants (probable cause) are different animals with different consequences — and different fixes.

Primary Sources and Official Record Portals

Related Wants & Warrants Resources

Related Public Records
National view of this topic: All states: Wants & warrants
Sample California counties: Alameda · Alpine · Amador · Butte · Calaveras

Wants & Warrants Databases

28 official California wants & warrants sources.

Court Records Criminal Records Wants & Warrants Vital Records Voter Records Licenses Recorded Documents Property Records

Wants & Warrants

Case Information Search | Superior Court of California | County of Kern
Official Free
Disclaimer To begin your search for information, select "Accept and Enter" to proceed. The information provided on and obtained from this site does not constitute the official record of Kern County Superior Court. This information is provided as a service to the general public. Any user of this
🌐 kern.courts.ca.gov
Resources | Lake County, CA
Official Free
It mandates the California Department of Justice (CA DOJ) to notify the public about specified registered sex offenders. Learn more about the public police auctions held online at the Property Room website. View a list of the unclaimed money held by the Lake County Sheriff's Office. Access a list of warrants published by the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
🌐 lakecountyca.gov
Mariposa County, California — Official Website
Official Free
Official public records resource for California. Public-records law applies here: what they hold, you can generally request. Staff at offices like this handle lookup questions daily — asking is normal.
🌐 mariposacounty.gov
Welcome to Mendocino County Sheriff's Office - Mendocino County Sheriffs Office
Official Free
This office holds the sheriff's records for Mendocino County. If a link breaks, start from mendocinosheriff.org directly.
🌐 mendocinosheriff.org
Online Warrant Search | County of Napa
Official Free
Warrant lookups covering California run through here. If a link breaks, the office homepage at app.napacounty.gov carries the new path.
🌐 app.napacounty.gov
New website spotlights fugitives in Northern California
Official Free
Warrant lookups covering California run through here. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
🌐 northerncaliforniamostwanted.org
OC Sheriff's Department, CA | Orange County California - Sheriff's Department
Official Free
Check out all the opportunities our department has to offer. Apply today · Members of the public wishing to visit an inmate must call and make an appointment at the facility the inmate is housed at currently. for more information
🌐 ocsheriff.gov
Antonio Juarez | Orange County California - Sheriff's Department
Official Free
On Sunday, April 29, 1990 at 10:25 P.M., Juarez stabbed Angel Luna Losada to death in the street in front of Losada's residence (Center St., El Modena, Orange County). Juarez ran away and has not been seen since.
🌐 ocsheriff.gov
Public Awareness and Safety Programs |San Francisco Bay Area
Official Free
The Northern California Regional Intelligence Center (NCRIC) and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (NCHIDTA) are public safety government programs that operate in partnership to help safeguard our communities from organized crime, drug trafficking, and other harmful threats, through collaboration, preparedness, training, and investigative support services.
🌐 northerncaliforniamostwanted.org
Most Recent News Releases | San Diego County Sheriff
Official Free
Wanted suspect arrested after hour long pursuit. Video of deputy-involved shooting. Driver arrested during checkpoint. Identification of Sergeant in Officer-Involved-Shooting – San Diego Police Dept.
🌐 sdsheriff.gov
Welcome to The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office | San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office
Official Free
View and download the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office 2025 Annual Report. Make informed decisions about how to stay safe in your community. Find out where crime is happening in your area by using our online crime mapping software. Sign up for crime alerts and receive emails regarding activity in your area. See what crimes are occurring most frequently by viewing a trend report.
🌐 sjsheriff.org
Most Wanted Suspect Arrested – Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office
Official Free
McCluer was on the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Most Wanted list. He has been wanted since September of this year for Identity Theft, Forgery, Obstructing or Resisting an Executive Officer, and Probation Violation charges. McCluer was arrested on his outstanding warrants, as well as several new charges.
🌐 sbsheriff.org
0023 ~ COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ MARY JO WALKER, AUDITOR-CONTROLLER
Official Free
Property assessment records for California. Pair it with the recorder's index — values here, the deeds themselves there. Appeals go to this office on the schedule printed with each valuation notice.
🌐 www2.santacruzcountyca.gov
Solano County Homepage | Solano County, California
Official Free
Alert Solano is Solano County’s public outreach campaign for the emergency notification system that quickly sends alerts via phone, email, or text during critical events such as natural disasters, evacuations, or public safety threats. Residents are encouraged to sign up to stay informed and receive timely, life-saving information.
🌐 solanocounty.gov
Arrest Log — Sonoma County Sheriff's Office
Official Free
Law enforcement records from California. It covers this agency's jurisdiction; city departments and neighboring counties publish their own. Full incident reports come by records request; what posts online is the summary log.
🌐 sonomasheriff.org
OC Sheriff’s investigators arrest Southern California serial bank robbery suspect | Orange County California -…
Official Free
Upon investigation, it was determined the suspect was involved in a series of bank robberies in February 2021 and March 2021 in Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura and San Diego counties.
🌐 ocsheriff.gov
Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers - Most Wanted
Official Free
Stanislaus Law Enforcement Agencies need help in locating the persons featured on this page. Please help us to bring these people to justice by calling 209-521-INFO (4636) or 1-866-60CRIME or using the Tips Page · The Modesto Police Department is requesting assistance in the location of this.
🌐 stancrimetips.org
Unsolved Crimes - Ventura County Crime Stoppers
Official Free
The California Highway Patrol is seeking information from the public regarding the homicide of Luis Contreras Mendez (DOB 6-6-1974), pictured below. He was found deceased on Sunday, September 6, 2020. Mendez’ body was found in the area of northbound Vineyard Avenue on-ramp to the northbound.
🌐 venturacountycrimestoppers.org
Press Releases | Butte County, CA
Official Free
Official public records resource for California. Official pages like this outlast the third-party copies that scrape them. Government sites reorganize often; if a link breaks, the office's homepage will carry the new path.
🌐 buttecounty.net
Wanted and Missing Persons - Los Angeles
Official Free
A listing of fugitives wanted by FBI Los Angeles for violent and non-violent crimes, suspected terrorism, kidnapping and missing persons cases, and cases for which the FBI is seeking more information.
🌐 fbi.gov
Monday, March 3, 2025 STATEMENT OF PROCEEDINGS FOR THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
Official Free
Also, the Mandated Supporting Initiative will help. Vice-Chair Chandler-Cole · indicated that there was legislation passed in January 2024 that made it · illegal to make an anonymous call into the Hotline ( AB 601 ). Presentation on Dependency Hearings and the Impact on Parents.
🌐 file.lacounty.gov
Case #1 Patricia Jaramillo is currently wanted by ...
Official Free
Patricia Jaramillo is currently wanted by authorities in Merced County on two warrants, with a total bail · amount of $150,000 issued out of the State of California Superior Court, Merced County.
🌐 countyofmerced.com
Active Warrants - County of Nevada Public Reporting
Official Free
Wanted persons and active warrants posted for California. It covers this jurisdiction only; neighboring agencies publish their own lists. Tips go to the listed office line — and as every such page warns, do not approach anyone shown.
🌐 reports.nevcounty.net
Sheriff's Jail Media Report - County of Nevada Public Reporting
Official Free
Following a decision by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of Houston vs Maricopa, the Nevada County Sheriff's Office has ceased the publication of arrestee photographs on its Jail Media Report webpage.
🌐 reports.nevcounty.net
Sacramento County Sheriff's Office
Official Free
A tribute to the officers of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office who have lost their lives in the Line of Duty to serve and protect our community. IN MEMORIAM · The CityConnect mobile applications integrate the number one most popular crime map, tipping solution, and alerts.
🌐 sacsheriff.com
San Diego County Sheriff's Department
Official Free
Website Maintenance: This website is taken offline for maintenance each Wednesday at noon. The site is normally restored within 30 minutes · Caution: This online database is updated hourly every day, seven days a week. Changes in the status of the warrants may not be reflected within the hour.
🌐 apps.sdsheriff.net
Yuba City, CA
Official Free
Officers of the Yuba City Police. by California Vehicle Code Section 40802 in the use of RADAR. Additionally, the Yuba City Public Works Department maintains speed surveys, with copies on file with the Sutter County Superior Court. The Yuba City Police Department reviews all citations to ensure enforcement is warranted and.
🌐 yubacity.net
Yuba County Sheriff's Office - Crime & Activity
Official Free
Crime and Activity Missing Persons account_box Arrests Incarcerated People Media Bulletins Press Releases Vacation Home Check Directed Patrol Request.
🌐 yubacounty.citizenrims.com

California Counties

58 California counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

Los Angeles San Diego Orange Riverside San Bernardino Santa Clara Alameda Sacramento Contra Costa Alpine Amador Butte Calaveras Colusa

Which California counties publish jail rosters and sheriff records online

26 of California's 58 counties run their own online source for jail rosters and sheriff records, based on what this directory indexes. Every other county is covered by the statewide systems listed above — click a county for its full records page.

Frequently Asked Questions

California's statewide wanted-persons and active-warrant information is published by the Official California Wants & Warrants. View the current list at oag.ca.gov. Additional federal fugitives can be reviewed on the FBI Most-Wanted portal.

Most warrants in California are issued at the county or municipal level by the local court or sheriff. The Official California Wants & Warrants (oag.ca.gov) publishes statewide and felony-level warrant data; for misdemeanor and traffic warrants you generally must contact the clerk of the issuing court directly. Sheriffs in each county also maintain local active-warrant pages.

No. Only sworn law-enforcement officers can serve and execute warrants in California. Civilians who locate a wanted person should report the information to the Official California Wants & Warrants or local law enforcement at oag.ca.gov rather than attempt direct contact. Some California warrants also carry a reward administered by the issuing agency.

A California warrant generally must be cleared through the court that issued it — by appearing in person, hiring counsel, or filing a motion to quash. The Official California Wants & Warrants can confirm whether a warrant is currently active in the statewide system at oag.ca.gov, but only the issuing judge can recall or quash it.

Yes. California warrants that meet entry criteria are uploaded to the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC), making them visible to law enforcement nationwide. The Official California Wants & Warrants at oag.ca.gov manages California's NCIC interface and entry standards.