Florida Warrant Search

How to Run a Florida Warrant Search

Running a Florida warrant search can be an important step in finding out if has any outstanding issues with law enforcement or the courts. This can help verify if there are any outstanding warrants for you or someone else. The process of running this search may seem straightforward, however, there are some things you should know. For example, if you have an outstanding Florida arrest warrant and inquire with law enforcment, you may be arrested on the spot. This means that you may want to tread carefully when doing your research. We will show you the different options you can use to run this type of search, some being anonymous. We will also cover what the implications are of having an outstanding warrant, and what the best ways are to deal with having one.

To begin your search for active warrants you will want to know a few key pieces of information. First, are you looking to find if you or someone else has a bench or arrest warrant. Then you will need to know the full name and age of the person you want to research. Lastly, do you know what county this was potentially issued in? this part is not necessary but helpful, as these are issued on a county level.

Understanding Florida Warrants

A Florida warrant is a court issued document that either requests someone's appearance in court, or to be arrested by law enforcement. These are most always issued by a judge. Depending on what type, will determine what resource you will want to do your research through.

Arrest warrants are instructions, by the courts, to authorize law enforcement to arrest someone on the spot for an alleged crime or association to some type of criminal activity. They are issued when there is enough evidence, or an affidavit by law enforcement or a district attorney, to apprehend the person of interest. Then that person is booked and detained until they either appear in court, or are allowed to be released on bail. It is important to point out that while these are not considered criminal convictions, they are still filed under someone's criminal record until that situation is resolved.

Bench Warrants on the other hand are not criminal allegations, rather they are a request for someone to appear in court before a judge or magistrate. These are most commonly issued for those that miss court appearances, or failed to comply with a court order, or missed jury duty. They do not typically result in someone's arrests, but rather are a notice that someone needs to go to court. If that person continues to comply with a bench warrant, which is a type of court order, then an arrest is theoretically possible.

How to Lookup Florida Warrants in Different Counties

Since warrants are almost always issued by a county courthouse judge, a county level search is a good option. While there are multiple ways to perform this type of search, a good starting point would be the county sheriff department. For example, if you want to run a warrant search in Manatee County Florida, you would contact the Manatee County Sheriff Department. While they do not post these on their website, you can either make a records request online, or contact them directly to make your inquiry.

If you are looking to lookup a Florida bench warrant, you can contact the courthouse clerk in the respective county. For example, if you want to find if there was one issued in Polk County FL, then you would want to contact the Polk County Clerk of the Courts. Again, they do not post this information online so you will need to make a request for this information.

A third option, which is totally legitimate and anonymous, is to use a third-party public records site. These resources offer quick search access to all things criminal and court records. Since warrants are considered part of the public record system, anyone can view these without needing to ask permission. These third-party resources can be used to search for most any public record with a first and last name. You can also use these resources to run background checks, lookup arrest records, check civil court records, and find out about a person's criminal past.

Do I Have a Warrant in Florida?

There are some simple ways to find out. The first two options are to contact the respective county sheriff department, or county court clerk. Another option is to use a public records website. This option will allow you to search anonymously, which may be a savvy option if you feel like you might be arrested. This way you can get in front of that arrest and get legal support to help guide you to surrendering yourself, or fighting the criminal allegations against you. If you go with the public records site option, there is usually a fee associate with these types of searches, but it may be worth it depending on your situation. It's always important to remember that the 4th amendment of the constitution protects people from unlawful searches and seizures, so there must be sufficient evidence for a judge to have you arrested.

How Long Does a Warrant Last in Florida?

The short answer to this is never, if it is an arrest able offense. While there are statutes of limitations on many crimes, warrants will stay active indefinitely until that person is arrested or it is resolved. The longer this process takes, the more charges and penalties add up, which could complicate things quite a bit. A good option is to get in front of these with the help of an attorney or some kind of legal assistance. These do not go away on their own.

How Do I Lookup Florida Arrest Warrants Without Being Arrested?

You can easily find out if you or someone you know has an active arrest warrant without being arrested on the spot. Using a third party public records site you can search for arrest warrants by name and find out if there was one issued in seconds. These resources offer anonymous searching which means that nobody will know you are looking. This can give you time to hire an attorney, or find out a way to mitigate your situation before being arrested.

How Can I Find if I Have a Florida Bench Warrant?

You have a couple of options to lookup bench warrants. First, you can contact the Clerk of the Court where you suspect one may have been issued in your name. Another option is to use a public records site and search the entire state of Florida with a first and last name.