• What is a warrant?
• How does a person get a warrant issued in their name?
• What happens when you miss a court date?
• What happens if I fail to appear at jail?
• What happens when you fail to pay a fine?
• What should I do after if receive a letter from the police?
• How to turn yourself in on a warrant.
• What happens after I turn myself in?
• What if it was not me? — Someone used my name.
• What if I live in another state?
• Can I call the Police Department and find out if I have warrant?
• Will the warrant go away if I ignore it?
• I'm afraid to find out if I have a warrant.
• List of local courts
  

WHAT IS A WARRANT?

A court order authorizing your arrest for a crime you have committed.

HOW DOES A PERSON GET A WARRANT ISSUED IN THEIR NAME?

After being arrested for a crime you are given the opportunity to pay a fine or appear before a Judge. If you do not comply with either of these methods, a warrant may be issued for your arrest for the original crime committed. In addition, an arrest warrant can be issued from evidence collected in a crime report submitted to the District Attorney indicating possible guilt. This is an Arrest Warrant.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MISS A COURT DATE?

If you miss a court date, a bench warrant may be issued by the court. The warrant will be assigned for service to the agency where the initial crime occurred. As a courtesy, if it is assigned to the Ripon Police Department a letter will be mailed to you advising you of the warrant.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I FAIL TO APPEAR AT JAIL?

If you fail to appear at jail, a bench warrant may be issued by the court. The warrant will be assigned to the agency responsible where the initial crime occurred. As a courtesy, if it is assigned to the Ripon Police Department a letter will be mailed to you advising you of the warrant.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FAIL TO PAY A FINE?

If you fail to pay a fine, a bench warrant may be issued by the court. The warrant will be assigned to the agency responsible where the initial crime occurred. As a courtesy, if it is assigned to the Ripon Police Department a letter will be mailed to you advising you of the warrant.

WHAT SHOULD I DO AFTER I RECEIVE A LETTER FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT?

Bring the letter with you to any law enforcement agency and turn yourself in.

HOW TO TURN YOURSELF IN ON A WARRANT

If you have a warrant for your arrest, you may go to any law enforcement agency in the State of California or the issuing court and turn yourself in. If the warrant is not in the statewide system, any agency outside of San Joaquin County will have to call the Ripon Police Department at 209-599-2102 to confirm it for you.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I TURN MYSELF IN?

You will be placed under arrest on the warrant and advised of the specific charges against you. Depending on the severity of the warrant, you will either receive a citation with a new court date and time to appear, or be booked into a jail. If the warrant is from a county other than San Joaquin, you may be transferred to an additional jail after being booked into the San Joaquin County Jail. The warrant will be cleared from the system.

WHAT IF IT WAS NOT ME, BUT I KNOW IT WAS MY BROTHER WHO USED MY NAME? HOW WOULD/CAN I CLEAR MY NAME?

(What if I am a victim of identity theft?)

By going to the issuing court and verifying your true identity. If you do not live in the local area, you may have to begin by filing a report with your local police department.

WHAT IF I LIVE IN NEW JERSEY, WILL THEY PICK ME UP ON A RIPON WARRANT? HOW WOULD NEW JERSEY KNOW IF I HAVE A WARRANT IN RIPON?

1. Only if the warrant is authorized for nationwide extradition.

2. For the Ripon Police Department a warrant can be issued into more than one computer database. The first database is the San Joaquin County Warrant Database. Any agency within the boundaries of San Joaquin County can inquire directly into this system and serve active warrants. The second database is the California Wanted Persons System. Any warrant in this system is made available to any law enforcement agency in the state. The third is the National Crime Information Center Wanted Person System, and is accessible by any agency in the nation.

CAN I CALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIND OUT IF I HAVE A WARRANT?

No you cannot, you must come in person. No information will be released over the telephone as we are unable to determine who the information is being given to.

WILL THE WARRANT GO AWAY IF I IGNORE IT?

No it will not. The warrant will remain active in system until it has been served.

I’M AFRAID TO FIND OUT IF I HAVE A WARRANT.

If you are aware that you have a warrant or suspect that you do, it is to your benefit to take care of it immediately. If you do not take care of it, it may be served at your home or at a public place, at the grocery store, etc. If you are driving a vehicle at time of arrest your vehicle may be towed.

LIST OF LOCAL COURTS