Modoc County Superior Court lists one location for every case type, including criminal cases: the Robert A. Barclay Justice Center, 205 S East Street, Alturas, CA 96101, (530) 233-6516. It also has a courtroom in Alturas' Historical Courthouse, so report to the Clerk's Office on your court date.
Which courthouse hears a criminal case in Modoc County?
Modoc County Superior Court's location page lists the Robert A. Barclay Justice Center in Alturas as its courthouse for every case type, criminal cases included.
The court's own department-contact list gives the same phone number, (530) 233-6516, for its Criminal Division and its Civil Division. The court says it has two courtrooms in service, a newer one in the Justice Center and the other in the courthouse, and its Zoom page lists conference lines for the Justice Center courtroom and for Alturas' Historical Courthouse.
How do you look up a Modoc County criminal case online?
Modoc County Superior Court runs a Public Case Portal with basic case information; for portal document access call the court, and for copies write to or visit the clerk's office.
- Go to the Public Case Portal.
- Search for the case to see recent filings, the schedule of hearings, and the parties on the case, which the court's own page says the portal shows.
- Call (530) 233-6516 to request document access on the portal. For copies of documents in a criminal case, the court's Criminal FAQ says to write to or visit the clerk's office; staff cannot look up criminal records over the telephone.
- Check the court's own Court Calendar page if you already have a case open and need an upcoming date.
For custody information instead of a case number, see our Modoc County Jail guide; for other counties, see our courthouse and jail guides by county.
What happens at your first court date in Modoc County?
A person held in custody must see a judge within 48 hours of arrest, excluding Sundays and holidays; the arraignment is where the charge is read and a plea taken.
Penal Code section 825(a)(1) sets the outer limit: "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." Section 825(a)(2) adds a buffer for timing: when those 48 hours would otherwise expire while court is not in session, the deadline runs through the end of the next court session on the following court day. A separate part of that same subdivision covers a Wednesday arrest specifically: once that day's court session has ended, and as long as the Wednesday is not a court holiday, the person must still be brought before a judge by Friday, provided Friday is not a court holiday either. Nothing in this rule promises an eventual release, and it has nothing to do with when, or whether, a prosecutor files charges.
Modoc County's own court pages do not list a current felony or misdemeanor bail schedule; the only bail-related document on the court's Forms and Filing page is the Judicial Council's 2019 statewide schedule for traffic, boating, and similar regulatory offenses. Call the court at (530) 233-6516 and ask about the figure for a specific charge before assuming any number. A schedule amount, wherever it comes from, is only a starting point: once a judge actually rules on bail at the hearing, the judge's own figure controls, bounded by two California Supreme Court rulings. In re Humphrey bars jailing someone purely over an unaffordable dollar figure, requiring the judge to weigh real ability to pay against whether a nonfinancial option, such as supervision, would reasonably keep the public and the victim safe or reasonably ensure the person comes back to court. In re Kowalczyk, decided in 2026, holds that in a noncapital case a judge may deny bail outright only for the offenses listed in California Constitution article I, section 12(b) and (c), and that any money figure the judge does set must generally be reasonably attainable for that person, though it need not be easily affordable. Our guide to how California bail amounts are set walks through both rulings in full, and our bail hearing guide covers what the hearing itself looks like.
Can you appear remotely in a Modoc County criminal case?
Sometimes, and Modoc County Superior Court is unusually specific about it: its own Zoom page separates the rules for misdemeanor defendants, felony defendants, and witnesses.
The court's page states that defendants "may appear remotely in all misdemeanor proceedings except misdemeanor jury and court trials," and that in felony cases, defendants "may appear remotely in all felony proceedings except trials and sentencing, unless the court allows the waiver of defendant's presence for noncritical portions of felony trials where no testimonial evidence is taken." Witnesses may appear remotely in misdemeanor and felony proceedings other than felony trials, but only with the consent of both parties and the court. Modoc also offers telephonic and secure video appearances through CourtCall, at (888) 882-6878. These local rules sit under the statewide limits in Penal Code section 977, which a court's own Zoom page cannot expand beyond: a misdemeanor defendant must agree before a remote hearing, a domestic violence misdemeanor requires presence at arraignment and sentencing, and a judge may order presence in a misdemeanor DUI case; a felony defendant must be physically present at arraignment, plea, the preliminary hearing, the evidence portions of trial, and sentencing unless presence is waived, and even with a waiver no trial can be remote and felony sentencing can be remote only in postconviction relief proceedings or as otherwise provided by law.
What should you bring, and how do you get there?
Bring identification and your court paperwork to the Justice Center at 205 S East Street in Alturas, and report to the Clerk's Office when you arrive.
The court's Criminal FAQ asks you to be prepared with identification and information about the arrest or offense, such as jail release paperwork, a notice to appear, bail or bond receipts, or an arraignment letter. The court's Location and Contact Information page gives driving directions from Reno, Redding, Klamath Falls and Lakeview, and lists hours of Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays and court closures; its location listing gives building hours of 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Local Rule 2.05 requires appropriate attire in the courtroom: shoes and shirts are required, and hats may not be worn.
How do you get an interpreter in a Modoc County criminal case?
Modoc's Local Rule 2.10 requires counsel, or a party without a lawyer, to notify the clerk at least 48 hours before a criminal hearing that needs an interpreter.
The underlying right does not depend on any local form. California Constitution article I, section 14 states that "a person unable to understand English who is charged with a crime has a right to an interpreter throughout the proceedings," and Evidence Code section 752(b)(1) makes the interpreter's pay in a criminal case a charge against the court rather than the defendant. Raise the need with the clerk, the judge, or your attorney as soon as you know you need one, or see the Judicial Council's statewide guide, Ask for an interpreter, for the steps that work the same way across California courts.
Who is Modoc County's district attorney, and how do you get a court-appointed lawyer?
The court's contact list gives the District Attorney's number, (530) 233-6212; if you cannot afford a lawyer, ask the judge to appoint one at your first appearance.
| Office | Phone |
|---|---|
| Modoc County District Attorney | (530) 233-6212 |
| Modoc County Probation Department | (530) 233-6324 |
| Modoc County Victim Witness Advocate | (530) 233-3311 |
Modoc's own Criminal FAQ describes the appointment process directly: "You may request court-appointed counsel from the judge at your first appearance in court. The judge will require that you fill out a financial declaration and determine if you qualify." The court's Local Rule 6.04 adds that the Public Defender is notified of every pending in-custody arraignment and must be present at in-custody arraignment calendars, whenever available, to represent defendants it may be appointed for.
Does Modoc County have collaborative or treatment courts?
Modoc County Superior Court's own list of divisions does not name a separate drug court, veterans court, or other collaborative calendar.
The court lists its divisions as Civil, Criminal, Juvenile, Small Claims, Traffic, Family Law, Family Court Services, and Probate, with no additional collaborative or treatment track among them. That does not rule out a diversion option under state law for a specific charge; ask a criminal defense lawyer whether a program outside the ordinary criminal calendar could apply to a particular case.
Talk to a lawyer about your Modoc County case
If you or a family member has a criminal case in Modoc County, talk to a lawyer before the arraignment in Alturas. 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.
Frequently asked questions
Does Modoc County have more than one courthouse?
The court lists one location, the Robert A. Barclay Justice Center at 205 S East Street in Alturas, for every case type, but it also has a courtroom in Alturas' Historical Courthouse. Report to the Clerk's Office on your court date.
How do I find out if someone is in custody in Modoc County?
The court's Criminal FAQ says to contact the Modoc County Sheriff's Department at (530) 233-4416 or stop in at 102 S. Court Street in Alturas. Our Modoc County Jail guide covers custody, bail and release.
How much is bail in Modoc County?
Modoc's own court pages do not publish a felony or misdemeanor bail schedule; the only bail document linked there is the Judicial Council's 2019 statewide schedule for traffic and similar regulatory offenses. Call (530) 233-6516 to ask about a specific charge, and remember that a judge can set a different amount at arraignment, generally one that is reasonably attainable under In re Kowalczyk (2026).
What happens if I miss my Modoc County court date?
The judge may issue a bench warrant for your arrest (Penal Code section 978.5), and willfully failing to appear can be charged as a separate crime. Call your attorney right away if a date was missed or is about to be.
Do I need a lawyer at my first Modoc County court appearance?
You have the right to one. If you want a lawyer and cannot afford one, you fill out a financial declaration at your first appearance so the judge can decide whether to appoint counsel.
Can I talk to a family member who is in custody during a Modoc County hearing?
No. The court's Criminal FAQ warns that you may be charged with a misdemeanor if you try to speak or motion to anyone in custody while they are in court.