Free Riverside County Warrant Search (Find Wanted Individuals)

Start a free Riverside County warrant search right away to gather more information about wanted individuals in your area. Warrant records are compiled in public databases maintained by governmental organizations.

Information on live warrants and criminal data is made public and accessible to any interested citizen; the key is knowing how to find these details.

To simplify the lookup process, this resource provides a helpful overview of how to efficiently retrieve warrant information in person or through online search tools in Riverside County, California.

Information Necessary To Find Warrant Details for Free in Riverside County California

According to the California Public Records Act (CPRA), citizens have full access to view records maintained by the state.¹ However, some records can be exempted from this act and will not be shared with the public. Thanks to the CPRA, citizens can access warrant details through several different methods.

However, before searchers go looking for warrant details, they must understand the several kinds that are present. Apart from that, they must also have basic details on the individual that they are looking for. Some of that information is as follows:

• First & Last Names
• Age
• General Address
• Known Aliases

There are several places searchers can refer to to find more details on public records such as warrant details. Sometimes, citizens will find free online records such as the ones found through the Superior Court of Sheriff’s Department. Moreover, they can also head down to their local police departments to learn more about the warrants present.

It is important to note that not all warrant information is public. If an arrest warrant is set out against a minor, then those records cannot be accessed by citizens. Similarly, warrant records can also be sealed because of an ongoing legal investigation. According to the CPRA, warrant information may also be hidden if it will endanger the safety of a person.

Information on warrants can often be found through the Superior Court of Sheriff’s Department of the relevant county. The Superior Court’s services for sharing warrants are both free and paid, depending on which one is selected.

Moreover, curious parties can reach out to local police departments and put in requests for warrant records.² For example, the City of Palm Springs has an official website where users can find warrant information through a request. Here, they will be asked for general information as well as a description of why the records are needed.

To learn more about the different warrant types and methods of finding these records, continue to the subsequent sections.

Conduct a Riverside County Warrant Search To See Who Is Wanted Locally

If an individual has an arrest warrant issued against them, it simply means that a sheriff is allowed to arrest them regarding a specific crime. However, if that active warrant cannot be ensured by a police officer, then it is called ‘outstanding’.

Before a citizen can begin looking for arrest warrants, they need information. This includes personal information like the person’s name, age, and if possible, known aliases.

Using that information, they can access public records through forms such as the one provided by Riverside Superior Court.³ Upon visiting this link, individuals will find a mix of free and paid services that they can use depending on the information they have. If spending isn’t on the to-do list, users can use the “Case Number Search” option. Searchers must log in or create an account before conducting the search.

Each service has a small explanation that people can refer to, telling them about the information required to complete the search. The details required range from case numbers to names.

On the other hand, searchers who do not have the case number available to them can use the “Name Search” option. This service is paid, with one name search costing $1. Similarly, 5 searches will cost $3.50. 10 searches will cost $10, 25 searches will cost $75, and finally, $250 for 30 days of unlimited credits.

In addition to the tool above, curious parties can also head to the Riverside County Sheriff’s website, or call them at 951-955-2430.⁶ Through their services, citizens can learn more about getting the warrant searches; albeit in person or online.

Alternatively, users can get their hands on a physical copy by visiting the main sheriff’s office. It is important to note that oftentimes, some information may not be shared with the public.

However, this is only for cases that are undergoing investigation or involve minors. Keep in mind that it may take up to 10 working days for a report to arrive. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office can be visited or contacted via the following information:⁷

Riverside County Sheriff – Coroner
4095 Lemon Street
Riverside, CA 92501

Phone: 925-955-2400
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM

If citizens are unsure whether an arrest warrant has been set out in their name, visiting the Sheriff’s Department may not be the best move. Citizens can and will be arrested if it turns out that there is a warrant applicable.

For searchers who are looking to contact sheriff or police departments directly, they should use the Riverside County District Attorney’s website for more information.² Here, they will find phone numbers of all relevant departments under the county section.

Citizens can find online warrant information in Palm Springs through the City’s Public Record Request Form.⁸ Once the form is submitted, searchers will be required to pay a fee of 11 cents/page.

Moreover, citizens can also visit the local Palm Springs Police Department to get a physical copy with the following information:⁹

City of Palm Springs Records Bureau
3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way,
Palm Springs, CA 92262

Lt. Mike Villegas: (760)323-8116 ext. 8177
Records Supervisor Stephanie Green: (760)323-8116 ext. 8542
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 8 AM – 5 PM

Each Warrant Type & Their Meanings

While conducting their search, curious parties may come across several kinds of warrants; here, a couple of the recurring ones will be elaborated on:

Arrest Warrants: Simply put, this type of warrant allows authorities to arrest an individual at any time. An active arrest warrant refers to law enforcement being allowed to follow through with detaining the individual. Whereas, an outstanding warrant of this type signifies that the arrest has not been made until now.

An arrest warrant can be set out if law enforcement officers believe that a person may have taken part in a crime. In legal terms, this is known as ‘probable cause.’

Bench Warrants: Bench warrants are issued by a judge. These are issued if a person has violated a court order through ways like FTA (Failure-To-Appear) or contempt of court. With an active bench warrant, police officers are allowed to arrest a person on sight.

Probation & Parole Violation Warrants: Just as the name suggests, these warrants are issued when an individual violates the terms of their release. Because of this, the individual may face more criminal charges than before.

Traffic Violation Warrants: As indicated by the name, these warrants are set out when a citizen fails to follow traffic laws. Traffic violation warrants will also be set if a person fails to appear in traffic court.

Child Support Warrants: If a citizen fails to meet their child maintenance obligations, then a child support warrant is set out. This can include the parent not paying child support and being difficult to find.

Capias Warrant/Capias Pro Fine Warrants: If a person is found guilty of a crime, then a Capias warrant is issued against them. This ensures that the suspect has to appear in court.

On the other hand, Capias Pro Fine warrants ensure that suspects pay a fine, in lieu of jail time, that is decided by the courts. These warrants can only be cleared if time is spent in jail or the fine has been paid in full.

Fugitive or Extradition Warrants: If a person flees from one jurisdiction into another county or city, then a fugitive or extradition warrant is issued. For example, if California happens to be the asylum state, then the governor of the state (from where the suspect has fled) sends a request to CA’s governor. The warrant is subsequently issued.

After the warrant has been issued, the court determines whether the suspect has grounds for contesting the extradition. Acceptable reasons can only be the following:

• Mistaken identity (the wrong person has been caught)
• The suspect did not know of the warrant against them
• The criminal act does not fall under extradition laws in California

All in all, these statements can only properly be made by a criminal defense attorney. If validated, the fugitive is sent back to the other state.

Search Warrants: A search warrant is issued allowing law enforcement to search a specific area regarding a certain crime. This is first determined by a judge, and if that judge finds probable cause that they will find evidence in that area, they can issue the warrant.

How To Handle an Active Warrant in Riverside County California

If citizens discover that someone they know of has an active arrest warrant, the first step should be to inform the other person. However, that is not always the case.

In some instances, there may be concerns regarding the other person’s safety. If that happens, it is recommended that citizens contact the Riverside County Sheriff’s Crime Tip Line at 951-955-2430.¹⁰

This can be completed by heading over to the Riverside County Sheriff’s crime tip line. Upon visiting the website through the link provided, users can click the relevant tip line. Doing so will pop up a form that they need to fill out. The type of information required is as follows:

• Type of Criminal Activity: Here, citizens are required to choose the best applicable option
• Each user will be asked whether the report is an emergency
• Date & Time
• Suspect Information
• Subject Information: Here, citizens are required to add information on the individual subject to the abuse
• Individuals can also add pictures if needed

Please note that the information required may vary depending on the type of criminal activity chosen. Apart from this, people can also call the sheriff’s department or visit them in person at the following location:⁷

Riverside County Sheriff – Coroner
4095 Lemon Street
Riverside, CA 92501

Warrant Information: 951-955-2430
Phone: 925-955-2400
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM

If a person finds an active arrest warrant against themselves, there are three important steps to take. Depending on the crime, individuals can set up a court date or pay a fine – especially if the warrant has yet to be changed to “outstanding”.

However, if citizens are not fully aware of Riverside County laws, then they’re highly advised to get in contact with a criminal defense attorney. The lawyer is much more capable of grasping the situation and figuring out the best way out.

Before turning themselves in, it is recommended that citizens contact their friends and family beforehand. This is just to tell them about the situation. If the person is eligible for bail, then they can get in touch with a bail bondsman.

Ultimately, Riverside County warrant records are public data and they are available in a couple of different ways: Searchers use third-party websites to conduct paid searches.

If citizens don’t want to pay fees, they can contact the sheriff’s department or visit the superior court’s website to run their free Riverside County warrant search; because of the California Public Records Act (CPRA), citizens are legally allowed to search for any arrest order, giving them the opportunity to provide a helping hand to their state’s law enforcement.¹