Execute a Free Fresno County Warrant Search (Wanted Lookup)

Run a free Fresno County warrant search today to see details of anyone wanted. When law enforcement has been authorized to place a person under arrest, becoming well-informed is crucial for you and others in your community.

Knowing how to look up these records and determine if an outstanding warrant exists is very important for citizens to remain aware of what’s going on around them. This streamlined resource includes helpful information for conducting free warrant searches in Fresno County, California.

An Overview of Conducting a Fresno County Warrant Search

The California Public Records Act, which was passed in 1968 by the state legislator, allows all members of the public to access government records that are deemed public.¹

This law makes it possible for anyone to look up public court records to determine if there are outstanding warrants for themselves or others.

In the State of California, all the municipal jurisdictions are integrated with the county Superior Court system. Therefore, a county-level search is the only means of finding court records and any associated warrants. Also, the county online search tools are free for the public to use.

There are several types of warrants, some of which are due to criminal activity, and others that are non-criminal in nature. While most types of warrants are open to the public, it is important to note that the availability of these may vary depending on its type and if the disclosure would interfere with ongoing law enforcement operations.

It is essential to know the individual’s full name, as well as the subject’s address when conducting a warrant search for more accurate results.

In Fresno County, California, the primary agencies that may provide warrant information are the county sheriff’s office and superior court.²

Verify if You or Someone Else Has an Active Warrant in Fresno County California

The Superior Court of Fresno County provides the public with a free Case Search Tool on which anyone can search court case records.³ Any warrants that originated in Fresno County will be part of a court case record.

A court record number, or a first and last name is the minimum information required to initiate a search.

Additional data fields that can help narrow down the search include the type of case, nickname, FBI number, SO number, booking number, file date, Judicial Officer, and judgement type.

Once the search parameters are entered and the search is initiated, the results are a list of court case records that match the search criteria. The information fields on the list include the case number, defendants name, file date, type of case, party name, and judgements (if applicable).

The case number field is linked to a web page that contains the details of the court record. Clicking on the link will bring up the record. The record is sectioned off into case information, list of parties, bond settings, bonds, disposition events, events and headlines, and financial.

Included in the “Events and Hearings” section of the record are any warrants that have been issued and activated. The date it was signed and issued is also included.

Persons that wish to make in-person or phone inquiries regarding court records to determine if an active warrant exists for themselves can do so by visiting or calling the Fresno County Superior Court. There are multiple locations. The downtown location is at the following address along with the phone number:

Fresno County Superior Court
Superior Courthouse Downtown Location
1100 Van Ness Avenue
Fresno, CA 93724-0002

Phone: 559.457.0002

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office is another resource that can be used to inquire about warrants. The Sheriff’s Office’s public website does not provide online search tools. Online searches are directed to the county court search tools.

The Sheriff’s Office will however check for warrants via telephone by calling 559.600.8402. The full name and date of birth of the subject of the warrant will be required when making the inquiry.

If an active warrant is found, the case number, court, date of issue, and bail will be provided. There is no fee for making the inquiry.

The Sheriff’s Office’s public website gives no indication that the subject of arrest making an in-person inquiry regarding an active arrest warrant will not be arrested upon presenting themselves at the Sheriff’s Office. Making an in-person may constitute surrendering oneself to resolve the warrant. The Sheriff’s Office is located at the following address:

Fresno County Sheriff’s Office
2200 Fresno St.
Fresno, CA, 93721

Fresno County, California is home to many cities and towns including the City of Fresno, the City of Clovis, and the the City of Reedley. These are the three largest cities in terms of population. In the State of California, a state constitutional amendment known as “Trial Court Unification” was passed in 1998 allowing the voluntary unification of superior and municipal courts into one county wide court system.⁴

Consequently, the cities and towns in Fresno County do not have municipal courts.

All legal matters are handled at the county level. The only way to make inquiries about warrants at the municipal level is to contact the local police department. None of the three police departments provide search tools on their public websites.

Inquiries about outstanding warrants can be made via telephone or in person.

None of the three police department’s public websites indicate that a person making an in-person inquiry regarding an active arrest warrant will not be arrested upon presenting themselves at the police department. Making an in-person may constitute surrendering oneself to resolve the warrant. There is no fee for making a telephone or in-person inquiry to any of the three police departments.

The contact and location information for the three police departments is as follows:

Fresno Police Department
3502 North Blackstone Ave
Fresno, California 93726

Phone: 559.621.6200

Clovis Police Department
1233 Fifth Street
Clovis, California 93612

Phone: 559.324.2800

Reedley Police Department
843 “G” Street
Reedley, California 93654

Phone: 559.637.4250

Different Kinds of Warrants & What Each Signifies

In the U.S. judicial system there are several types of warrants.

While most warrants signify the authorization of law enforcement to arrest someone, each type is designed to achieve a specific objective. One thing that all warrants do have in common is that a judge or magistrate must authorize and sign them in order to be approved and enforced.

An active warrant is one that currently allows law enforcement to serve the warrant, while an inactive warrant has been resolved, or an arrest has already been made.

With the exception of a search warrant, a chance encounter with a law enforcement officer will result in an arrest if it has been issued and is currently active. The different types of warrants are summarized as follows:

Arrest Warrant: An order issued by a court as a result of a grand jury indictment or declaration of probable cause by a prosecutor or police officer that authorizes the pursuit, apprehension, and arrest of a person.

Bench Warrant: Issued by a judge when a person breaks the rules of the court. Bench warrants are mostly ordered when a person does not appear for a court date.

Probation & Parole Violation Warrants: Ordered when parolees or probationers violate the terms and/or conditions of their parole/probation. Or when they commit other criminal acts.

Traffic Warrants: Warrants that originate as a result of failing to resolve traffic citations/tickets in a timely manner, or not appearing for traffic court, or failure to pay.

Child Support Warrants: If a non-custodial parent does not make child support payments that he or she is obligated to make based on a court-order, a child support warrant may be issued.

Capias & Capias Pro Fine Warrants: If a defendant is judged to be guilty in court, or via a plea deal, or an arraignment while incarcerated, and subsequently does not comply with the conditions specified, including paying a fine within the specified time period, a capias for capias Pro Fine Warrant is issued.

Fugitive Warrant: For fugitives that have fled from one jurisdiction to another in order to evade prosecution or incarceration, a fugitive warrant grants law enforcement agencies the flexibility to pursue, apprehend, and arrest such fugitives.

Search Warrants: Unlike the various type arrest warrants, this type limits law enforcement to only search persons’ specified property and premises in order to acquire evidence of a criminal.

How To Get a Warrant Dropped or Resolved in Fresno County

Not taking steps to resolve warrants runs the risk of being arrested in public on a chance encounter with a law enforcement officer.

As always, when dealing with legal matters involving warrants, seeking the assistance of knowledgeable family members, or legal professionals such as an attorney or a bondsman is advisable.

In Fresno County, warrants that are issued by the Superior Court can be resolved by taking the following actions. For arrest warrants involving felony and misdemeanor crimes, contacting the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and surrendering oneself will start the process of complying with it and avoid an arrest in public. The contact and location information for the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office is as follows:⁵

Fresno County Sheriff’s Office
2200 Fresno St.
Fresno, CA, 93721 

Phone: 559.600.8402

For non-criminal arrest warrants (i.e. traffic warrants, bench warrants, or child support warrants), a warrant can be recalled by a judge. This will require the defendant of the warrant to appear before a judge. The defendant can then make arrangements to come into compliance with the subject of the underlying case from which the warrant originated.

This process is best done with the assistance of an attorney. The downtown Fresno court location is at the following address along with the phone number:⁶

Fresno County Superior Court
Superior Courthouse Downtown Location
1100 Van Ness Avenue
Fresno, CA 93724-0002

Phone: 559.457.0002

Citizens are given the right to anonymously send a tip to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office at (559)-498-STOP.

Most American Citizens go their entire lives without ever having a warrant issued against them.

A Fresno County warrant search is not the type of activity that is typically part of anyone’s daily routine, but using this resource’s guidance to become familiar with the process can prove to offer peace of mind when the need arises.