• 1. Who makes arrests in Orange County?
• 2. Where are people booked following an arrest?
• 3. Where are the courthouses in the OC?
• 4. Can I skip court if I hire an attorney?
• 5. Am I eligible for a public defender?
• 6. Who prosecutes criminal cases?
• 7. What are common OC crimes?
• 8. Do I need a lawyer?

1. Who makes arrests in Orange County?

The OC has more than two dozen city-based police departments:

• Anaheim Police Department
• Brea Police Department
• Buena Park Police Department
• Costa Mesa Police Department
• Cypress Police Department
• CSUF University Police
• Dana Point Police Department
• Fountain Valley Police Department
• Fullerton Police Department
• Garden Grove Police Department
• Huntington Beach Police Department
• Irvine Police Department
• La Habra Police Department
• La Palma Police Department
• Laguna Beach Police Department
• Los Alamitos Police Department
• Newport Beach Police Department
• Orange Police Department
• Placentia Police Department
• Santa Ana Police Department
• Seal Beach Police Department
• Tustin Police Department
• UCI Police Department
• Westminster Police Department
• Yorba Linda Police Services

Some cities contract with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for law enforcement services. And on the OC’s freeways, police officers with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) hand out traffic ticket citations and make DUI arrests.

2. Where are people booked following an arrest?

Note that juveniles get detained at Orange County Juvenile Hall, located at 331 The City Drive South, City of Orange, CA 92868. The phone number is (714) 935-6660.

Also note that many police departments in the OC have temporary holding facilities adjacent to their headquarters (such as the Santa Ana Jail (SAJ)).

3. Where are the courthouses in the OC?

Orange County has four courthouses that handle criminal cases:

1. Central Justice Center, located at 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92868. The phone number is (657) 622-6878.
2. Harbor Justice Center, located at 4601 Jamboree Rd., Newport Beach, CA 92660. The phone number is (657) 622-5400.
3. North Justice Center, located at 1275 N. Berkeley Ave., Fullerton, CA 92832. The phone number is (657) 622-5600.
4. West Justice Center, located at 8141 13th St., Westminster, CA 92683. The phone number is (657) 622-8459.

Search online for case information here.

4. Can I skip court if I hire a lawyer?

Orange County criminal defense lawyers can usually appear in their clients’ place at court in misdemeanor cases. But if the charge is for domestic violence, the defendant may have to be in court in order to accept service of a protective order.

In felony cases, OC judges usually expect defendants to be present whether or not they have hired private counsel. Defendants who miss a required court appearance will have a bench warrant issued for their arrest.

5. Am I eligible for a public defender?

Judges appoint indigent criminal defendants an attorney from the Orange County Public Defender. But defendants who have any means to hire a private attorney are urged to do so. Deputy public defenders are too overworked and understaffed to give every case the time it needs for a vigorous defense.

The OC Public Defender is located at 801 Civic Center Drive West, Suite 400, Santa Ana, CA 92701. The office can be reached at (657) 251-6090 and PDInfo@pubdef.ocgov.com.

6. Who prosecutes criminal cases?

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is the OC‘s prosecuting authority. The office is located at 300 N. Flower Street, Santa Ana, California 92703, and can be reached at (714) 834-3600.

The OC still deserves its reputation as one of the more conservative regions of the country regarding its criminal justice system. Local law enforcement, prosecutors and judges tend to be especially tough on defendants, reluctant to reduce charges and dolling out harsh sentences for criminal convictions.

7. What are common OC crimes?

The Orange County courts hear several cases involving the following criminal matters:

• Auto theft (PC 487d1)
• Domestic violence
• Drug crimes, such as drug possession (HS 11350)
• Embezzlement (PC 503)
• Gang crimes (PC 186.22)
• Hit and run (VC 20002)
• Lewd conduct
• Sex crimes, such as sexual battery (PC 243.4)
• Violent crimes, such as assault and battery (PC 242)
• White-collar crimes

See our related article on Orange County DUI penalties.

8. Do I need a lawyer?

Criminal defendants have the greatest odds of getting their charges reduced or dismissed if they have private counsel fighting for them.

Prosecutors here try to make an example out of every case, but a relentless Orange County criminal defense lawyer can often persuade the D.A.’s office to agree to a favorable resolution. And history has shown that prosecutors are far more likely to extend good plea deals with no jail time to defendants with private legal representation.

Have you or a loved one been arrested? Contact our AVVO-rated criminal trial lawyers by phone call or our contact form. By working routinely with the prosecutors and judges at each OC courthouse, we understand the unique dynamics of how to get the best results in each case. Shouse Law Group works out of all the OC courthouses.

Our Orange County DUI lawyers handle every aspect of our clients’ DUI cases, including the criminal charge and the DMV hearing. Our practice areas also include criminal record expungements, personal injury and family law in addition to criminal defense law.

Our OC criminal defense and DUI defense attorneys create attorney-client relationships throughout northern, central, and southern California. Some of the communities our law offices serve include North County, Fullerton, Buena Park, Dana Point, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Cypress, Costa Mesa, Laguna Niguel, Yorba Linda, Westminster, Mission Viejo, Anaheim, Laguna Beach, Garden Grove, Lake Forest, San Clemente, Los Alamitos, Riverside, San Diego, Vista, Brea, Tustin, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles County.