What is the Merced County courthouse for a criminal case?

Merced County hears criminal cases at two courthouses: the Ogletree Jr. Courthouse, 2260 N Street in Merced, and the Robert M. Falasco Justice Center, 1159 G Street in Los Banos. Which one applies depends on where the case was filed, so check your citation or release papers, and call the Criminal Clerk's Office if it does not say.

Which Merced County courthouse hears your case

The Superior Court of California, County of Merced, states that its Criminal Division "has jurisdiction over felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions," heard at two buildings.

Table: Merced County court buildings and whether each hears criminal cases, from the court's own locations page.

The Los Banos Division's own page confirms it "hears criminal matters" and notes that the Dos Palos and Gustine branches no longer hear matters, with everything routed through Los Banos instead. If your paperwork does not name a building, call the Criminal Clerk's Office at (209) 725-4113 before you drive over.

How do you find your case and court date in Merced County?

The court says criminal case information is not available online, since its Case Records Search Portal covers only limited civil, unlimited civil, and small claims documents.

For a criminal case, the Criminal Division's own page says the Criminal office keeps a public computer that can look up cases; it only works from inside the courthouse, not from home. If you want to appear before your scheduled date rather than wait for it, the same page says to report to the Clerk's Office first rather than walking into a courtroom.

If the case could also touch another county, the firm's guide to criminal court records from multiple California counties covers how that search works.

What happens at arraignment in Merced County?

At your first appearance the judge tells you the charge and your right to a lawyer at every stage, under Penal Code section 858. In a felony case, section 859 also requires a copy of the complaint and reasonable time to get counsel.

If you are held in custody, Penal Code section 825 requires that "the defendant shall in all cases be taken before the magistrate without unnecessary delay, and, in any event, within 48 hours after his or her arrest, excluding Sundays and holidays." Saturdays count. If the 48 hours would run out while court is not in session, section 825(a)(2) extends the deadline "to include the duration of the next court session on the judicial day immediately following," but a person arrested on a Wednesday after that day's session ends must be taken before the judge no later than the following Friday, unless either day is a court holiday. This sets when you must reach a judge, not a charging deadline or a promise of release.

A misdemeanor conviction cannot exceed 364 days in county jail under Penal Code section 18.5. A felony charge carries its own, generally longer, range depending on the statute. A person held in custody and arraigned on a misdemeanor complaint is generally entitled to own-recognizance release under Penal Code section 1270(a), unless the court finds on the record that release would compromise public safety or not reasonably assure your appearance.

If you are unsure whether you must appear in person or a lawyer can appear instead, see the firm's guide to when an attorney can appear for you. A domestic violence charge carries stricter appearance rules; see the firm's Merced domestic violence defense page.

Can you appear remotely in a Merced County criminal case?

Merced's own criminal remote appearances page states that in-person appearance is required "unless otherwise ordered by the judicial officer," with two named exceptions. In felony courtrooms, Courtroom 3 allows remote appearances for video arraignments and post-conviction relief hearings. In misdemeanor courtrooms, Courtroom 5 allows remote appearances for State Hospital hearings. For any other criminal hearing, the court directs you to the Clerk's Office or your attorney; the statewide Penal Code section 977 framework behind this is in the FAQs below.

Where a remote appearance is allowed, the court's remote appearance instructions say it uses Zoom at no cost, and that recording any remote hearing, including screenshots, "is absolutely prohibited."

How does bail work in Merced County?

Before you see a judge, bail is the warrant's amount or, without a warrant, the county schedule; once a judge sets bail, that amount controls. Under Penal Code section 1269b, Merced County's Superior Court judges adopt and annually revise that uniform countywide schedule.

The court's fee and bail schedules page currently publishes a 2026 Felony Bail Schedule and a 2026 Misdemeanor Bail Schedule, both effective January 1, 2026. A judge can set a different amount from either schedule under section 1269b, section 1269c, or Penal Code section 1270.1.

California bail law changed in 2026. In re Kowalczyk (California Supreme Court, April 30, 2026) holds that in noncapital cases a trial court "has the authority to deny bail only as to offenses specified in section 12, subdivisions (b) and (c)" of the California Constitution, and that money bail "must generally be set in an amount that is reasonably attainable," not the same as easily affordable. In re Humphrey (2021) also requires weighing your ability to pay and whether nonfinancial conditions, such as electronic monitoring, could reasonably protect the public and victim or assure your appearance. Penal Code section 1275 adds the seriousness of the charge, your record, and the likelihood of appearing, with public safety as the primary consideration.

What happens if you miss a Merced County court date?

A missed date can bring a bench warrant, which the law requires after a Penal Code citation release, and a willful failure to appear can be its own crime. Penal Code section 978.5 allows a bench warrant after a failure to appear on a citation, bail, or own recognizance; the statute says a warrant "may be issued." But after release on a signed promise to appear without bail under Penal Code section 853.6, section 853.8 requires the magistrate to issue a warrant within 20 days of the failure to appear. Willfully failing to appear to evade the court is its own crime, a misdemeanor or felony under section 1320 after an own-recognizance release, or section 1320.5 after a felony bail release; the 14 days named in both decides when that intent is presumed or may be found, not a grace period. A court also declares bail forfeited under Penal Code section 1305 when the absence has no sufficient excuse, vacated if you appear or are arrested within 180 days.

The Public Defender's own answer to "How can I clear my warrant?" gives two options for a misdemeanor warrant: go to the Sheriff's Office records division at 700 W. 22nd Street in Merced and ask to be cited out with a new date, or appear in person at the Criminal Division, Monday through Thursday between 7:45 and 8:15 a.m. in Merced, and ask to have the case put back on the calendar, where you explain the missed date to a judge. In Los Banos, the court's own Los Banos Division page lists walk-ins on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday between 7:45 and 8:15 a.m. Walk-ins also work for a felony warrant if you have not entered a felony plea or been held to answer; otherwise, contact your attorney.

Public defender, district attorney, and probation in Merced County

The Public Defender, District Attorney and Probation Department each have a Merced office and a Los Banos branch at 445 I Street, as the table shows.

Table: Merced County criminal justice offices outside the court, with their Merced and Los Banos locations.

If you want a lawyer and cannot afford one, Penal Code section 987 requires the court to appoint one once you ask, and Government Code section 27706(a) requires the Public Defender's Office to represent you "without expense to the defendant." The firm's Merced County Public Defender guide covers appointment, eligibility, and conflicts in this county in more detail. Court staff cannot give legal advice; for that, the Criminal Division page says to "contact a private attorney."

What collaborative courts does Merced County offer?

The court's own Collaborative Courts page lists four programs, for behavioral health, drug treatment, homelessness and veterans, each with its own calendar:

• Behavioral Health Treatment Courts, Courtroom 3, the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Tuesdays of the month at 10:00 a.m.
• Drug Treatment Court, Courtroom 3, Fridays at 10:00 a.m.
• Homeless Court, the last Tuesday of each month at 3:00 p.m., held at the Hoffmeister Center, Central Presbyterian Church, 920 Canal Street, Merced; reached through the Homeless Court Navigator at Worknet, (209) 724-2100.
• Veteran's Court, the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 8:30 a.m.

What should you bring to a Merced County courthouse?

The court's own court security page bars firearms, knives, box cutters, pepper spray, scissors, tools, replica weapons, and recording devices, and anyone entering is subject to search. A factory-sealed plastic water or soda bottle is fine. Laptops are allowed except in the juvenile courthouse, and camera phones may not photograph, record, or broadcast inside without prior approval.

Building hours vary: the Ogletree Jr. Courthouse and Old Merced Courthouse open at 7:45 a.m. Monday through Friday, and the Falasco Justice Center in Los Banos is open 7:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. the same days.

To check whether someone is booked into a Merced County jail tonight, the Sheriff's Office links its official Inmate Search tool, searchable by name, subject number, or booking number, with a filter for people currently in custody.

Talk to a lawyer about a Merced County case

If you or a family member has a case at the Ogletree Jr. Courthouse or the Falasco Justice Center, talk to a lawyer before your court date. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley offers a free, confidential consultation, available 24 hours a day, with payment plans and service in Spanish. Call (800) 755-5174 or request a free consultation online, or see the firm's Merced criminal defense page and its directory of California criminal courthouses and jails.

Frequently asked questions

How do you look up a Merced County criminal case online?

You cannot. The court's Case Records Search Portal excludes criminal, family law, juvenile, paternity, probate, mental health, and traffic cases; only limited civil, unlimited civil, and small claims filings are searchable online. Use the public computer in the Criminal office, or call the Criminal Clerk's Office.

What if your citation or release papers do not say which Merced County courthouse to go to?

Penal Code section 853.6 requires a citation to state the time and place to appear. If the place listed does not tell you which courthouse, call the Criminal Clerk's Office at (209) 725-4113 to confirm before you go.

Can your lawyer appear for you instead of you going to a Merced County court in person?

Often, in a misdemeanor case. Penal Code section 977 lets a misdemeanor defendant appear through counsel and, with their agreement, remotely for most proceedings except trials, with stricter rules for domestic violence and DUI cases. A felony defendant must generally be physically present at arraignment, plea, the preliminary hearing, trial testimony, and sentencing, unless they waive that presence for the earlier steps.

How do you find out if someone is in the Merced County jail tonight?

Use the Sheriff's Office online Inmate Search tool, which looks up a person by name, subject number, or booking number and can be filtered to people currently in custody.

How do you get a public defender in Merced County?

Ask for one at your arraignment. Penal Code section 987 requires the court to appoint one once you say you want a lawyer and cannot afford one; the firm's Merced County Public Defender guide covers the office's address, phone numbers, and how the process works in this county.