The Pittsburg courthouse is the Richard E. Arnason Justice Center, 1000 Center Drive, Pittsburg, CA 94565, (925) 608-1000, a Contra Costa Superior Court branch. It is the East County courthouse for Antioch, Bay Point, Bethel Island, Brentwood, Byron, Discovery Bay, Knightsen, Oakley and Pittsburg, hearing criminal and traffic cases. Your own citation or court notice states where to appear.
Other courthouse and jail guides are listed in the firm's California courthouse and jail directory.
What does the Pittsburg courthouse actually hear?
The Arnason Justice Center hears criminal and traffic cases for Contra Costa's East County, alongside family law, small claims and some domestic violence and juvenile matters.
The court's own Arnason Justice Center page names the building as the courthouse for the former Delta Judicial District, serving "the communities of Antioch, Bay Point, Bethel Island, Brentwood, Byron, Discovery Bay, Knightsen, Oakley and Pittsburg," with seven courtrooms and matters heard there listed as "family law, small claims, civil-unlawful detainers, criminal and traffic proceedings," plus some domestic violence and juvenile cases. Because Contra Costa also calendars criminal arraignments and trials in Martinez and Richmond, the courthouse and date printed on your own paperwork control, not an assumption based on where the arrest happened.
Contra Costa County's criminal courthouses.
| Courthouse | Address | Criminal work the court lists |
|---|---|---|
| Richard E. Arnason Justice Center | 1000 Center Drive, Pittsburg, CA 94565 | Criminal and traffic proceedings, plus family law, small claims and unlawful detainers; some domestic violence and juvenile matters |
| A.F. Bray Courthouse | 1020 Ward Street, Martinez, CA 94553 | General trials and criminal arraignments in nine courtrooms; Jury Services |
| Wakefield Taylor Courthouse | 725 Court Street, Martinez, CA 94553 | Felony and misdemeanor trials, including criminal pretrial matters, DUI cases and arraignments |
| George D. Carroll Courthouse | 100 37th Street, Richmond, CA 94805 | Criminal, traffic, small claims and landlord-tenant cases for communities such as Richmond, San Pablo and El Cerrito |
How do you look up a Pittsburg case or get court records?
The court's Public Portal needs no login for a basic case search, but certified copies of documents still go through a mail request.
Search the court's Public Portal with Smart Search to find a case by name or number, or Search Hearings to see a date range of hearings; no registration is required. The court's own criminal records page says the criminal clerk's office cannot process most in-person copy requests, so a name search goes on form CR-147 and copies on form CR-114, mailed with a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment to the Pittsburg Criminal Clerk's Office, 1000 Center Drive, Pittsburg, CA 94565; copies cost 50 cents a page, with certified copies an added $40 plus 50 cents a page. See the firm's arraignment guide for what happens at the first hearing itself.
Can you change your Pittsburg court date, and what about Zoom?
The court is direct that a criminal court date cannot simply be changed, and most hearings run by Zoom, in the courtroom, or both.
The court's own general criminal information page states plainly, "You cannot change your court date on any criminal case"; a defendant with a lawyer should contact that lawyer, and anyone who posted a bail bond should contact the bail company. Its calendars and remote appearances page confirms Zoom as the court's sole remote-appearance platform and that "the Criminal Department conducts hearings both via Zoom and in the courtroom"; recording a remote hearing without express prior permission is barred, and the court warns it never demands payment for a Zoom appearance through Apple Pay, Venmo, PayPal, CashApp or similar apps. For a person held in custody, Penal Code 825(a)(1) requires a judge "without unnecessary delay, and, in any event, within 48 hours after his or her arrest, excluding Sundays and holidays," extended under 825(a)(2) through the end of the next court session on the following court day when those 48 hours would otherwise expire while court is closed, and a Wednesday arrest after that day's session must reach a judge by the following Friday unless either day is a court holiday. Whether the defendant personally needs to appear at all is a separate question: under Penal Code 977, a misdemeanor-only defendant may appear through a lawyer and, with consent, handle most proceedings remotely except a jury or court trial, with exceptions for misdemeanor domestic violence or Penal Code 273.6 charges and, at the court's discretion, misdemeanor DUI; a felony defendant must be physically present at arraignment, plea, the preliminary hearing, the evidence phase of trial and sentencing unless that right is waived, and even a waiver never reaches a jury or court trial or felony sentencing, except for postconviction relief proceedings and as otherwise provided by law.
How does bail and release work after an East County arrest?
Contra Costa's Pre-Arraignment Release Protocol sorts most arrests into zero-bail categories before a judge is ever involved, with cash bail reserved for the categories and offenses the schedule excludes.
Since July 8, 2026, the court's current felony and misdemeanor bail schedules use three designations: CR (Cite and Release) and BR (Book and Release), both normally zero-dollar bail with a signed promise to appear, and BC (Bail Conditions of Release), which requires posting the scheduled amount or staying in custody until arraignment. A misdemeanor driving-under-the-influence arrest under Vehicle Code 23152(a) or (b) with no qualifying prior is designated BR; the same charge with one prior within seven years is BC at $10,000, and with two priors within seven years, BC at $30,000. Zero-dollar release is unavailable for serious or violent offenses, for anyone on felony probation, parole or supervision, or for repeated recent failures to appear, and offenses listed in Penal Code 1270.1 (serious and violent felonies other than residential burglary, among others) require a court hearing before bail is lowered below the schedule or before an own-recognizance release; a sworn peace officer's declaration can still raise bail above the schedule on one of these offenses without that hearing. The schedule itself tells judicial officers to weigh "the legal principles set for In re Humphrey (2021) 11 Cal.5th 135 and In re Kowalczyk (Apr. 30, 2026, S277910)," and that an arraignment judge is never bound by the pre-arraignment designation, weighing public safety first under Penal Code 1275. Under In re Humphrey, a judge weighs ability to pay and nonfinancial conditions; In re Kowalczyk permits denying bail, in a noncapital case, only for offenses listed in California Constitution article I, section 12(b) and (c), and requires money bail to generally be reasonably attainable. How judges set the figure is explained in the firm's California bail amount guide, and a lawyer can ask for a lower amount through a motion for bail reduction.
Who prosecutes and who defends a Pittsburg case?
The District Attorney's Eastern Operations office sits in Pittsburg itself, while the Public Defender's main branch and most other county offices are in Martinez.
Offices that handle a Contra Costa criminal case from the Pittsburg courthouse.
| Office | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| District Attorney, Eastern Operations | 3890 Railroad Ave, Pittsburg, CA 94565 | (925) 655-1400 |
| District Attorney, Central Operations | 900 Ward Street, Martinez, CA 94553 | (925) 957-2200 |
| Public Defender, Main Branch | 800 Ferry Street, Martinez, CA 94553 | (925) 608-9600 |
The district attorney is the county's public prosecutor (Government Code 26500), and asking for a lawyer at the first appearance triggers the court's duty to appoint the public defender for a defendant who cannot afford one, "without expense to the defendant" under Government Code 27706(a). The Public Defender's own contact page lists additional branches in Richmond and Walnut Creek and a separate Alternate Defender Office in Martinez for conflict cases. Whether to keep the Public Defender or hire a private lawyer is covered in the firm's public defender versus private attorney answer.
Does Contra Costa have collaborative or treatment courts?
Yes. The court's own Collaborative Justice Courts page lists a Veterans Treatment Court and a Community Homeless Court among its specialty programs.
A Veterans Treatment Court, also called Military Diversion, serves veterans whose cases involve issues such as "sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, or mental health problems relating to service," coordinating the District Attorney's office, criminal defense, Probation, veterans' services and volunteer veteran mentors; eligibility excludes offenses listed in Penal Code 1170.9, including certain registrable sex offenses. The Community Homeless Court is a separate track that helps people with a history of homelessness clear infraction fines, with sessions held at the Concord Adult Homeless Shelter. Ask your attorney whether a specific charge and history could qualify for either.
What happens if you miss a Pittsburg court date?
A missed date can bring a bench warrant, and willfully skipping court to avoid the case can become its own separate charge.
The court says a judge may issue a bench warrant and that you may receive mailed instructions on clearing it; to clear a warrant, appear at the Clerk's Office between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to be placed on that day's calendar. Penal Code 978.5 authorizes, but does not require, that warrant after a bail or own-recognizance release, while after a signed Penal Code 853.6 citation without bail, Penal Code 853.8 says the magistrate "shall issue" one within 20 days of the missed date; posted bail must be declared forfeited when a defendant fails to appear without sufficient excuse (Penal Code 1305), and a willful no-show meant to evade the case is a separate crime under Penal Code 1320 for an own-recognizance release or Penal Code 1320.5 for a felony bail release. Ways to clear a warrant and limit the damage are covered in the firm's California bench warrant answer.
Talk to a lawyer about a Pittsburg case
If you or a family member is facing a criminal case at the Pittsburg courthouse, talk to a lawyer before the 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. See also the firm's Pittsburg criminal defense and Pittsburg DUI pages.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Pittsburg courthouse handle traffic tickets?
Yes. The court lists criminal and traffic proceedings at the Arnason Justice Center; Central County communities such as Concord and Walnut Creek are instead served by the traffic court at the Walnut Creek Juvenile and Traffic Center.
Are small claims and family law cases heard in Pittsburg?
Yes. The court lists family law, small claims and unlawful detainer cases among the matters heard at the Arnason Justice Center, along with some domestic violence and juvenile matters.
How do I join a Zoom hearing if the link does not work?
Find your department in the court's calendar listing, note the Meeting ID and passcode, and call in by phone using the number on the court's remote-appearances page; you then wait in a waiting room until the judge admits you.
Someone called demanding payment for my Pittsburg Zoom appearance. Is that real?
No. The court calls these calls fraudulent, says it will never demand payment for a Zoom appearance through payment apps, and that court staff never ask for Social Security, credit card or bank routing numbers by phone; report such calls to local law enforcement.
Is bail automatically zero dollars at the Pittsburg courthouse?
No. Many non-violent, lower-level arrests are released at zero dollars under the county's Pre-Arraignment Release Protocol, but serious or violent offenses, certain repeat arrests and the offenses listed in Penal Code 1270.1 still require the schedule amount or a court hearing.
Do I need a lawyer at my first Pittsburg court appearance?
You have the right to one, and the court must appoint the Public Defender if you cannot afford a lawyer and ask for one at your first appearance.
What is in the Pittsburg courthouse's jury assembly room?
The court says the room has snack and beverage vending machines, filtered hot and cold water, a lactation room, and a view of Mt. Diablo while jurors wait to be selected.