There is no nationwide warrant database. The California State Police, county sheriffs, and local police agencies each publish their own most-wanted lists. Active warrants can only be confirmed by contacting the issuing court or law enforcement agency.
- California State Police: official statewide wanted persons portal.
- Most Wanted list: the State Police publishes featured fugitives online.
- U.S. Marshals: usmarshals.gov/wanted for federal fugitives.
- FBI Wanted: fbi.gov/wanted for federal cases.
- County sheriffs maintain local wanted lists — see the individual county pages.
Wants & Warrants Databases
29 official California wants & warrants sources.
Wants & Warrants
California Counties
All 58 California counties. Click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if there is a warrant for someone?▼
There is no free public warrant lookup. Contact the court in the county where the warrant was issued, or the local police agency. The California state judiciary public portal may show open criminal cases.
Where is California's most-wanted list?▼
The California State Police publishes a featured most-wanted list. Individual sheriffs and city police departments also keep their own lists.
What about federal warrants?▼
For federal fugitives, see the U.S. Marshals Service and FBI Wanted lists.
Are arrest records the same as warrants?▼
No. An arrest record documents that someone was taken into custody. A warrant is a court order authorizing arrest. Both are filed at the court in the issuing county.