How to Check for Active Warrants in Florida
Robert Malove A Florida warrant search starts with the Wanted Persons Search in the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Public Access System, which lists Florida warrant information reported to FDLE by law enforcement agencies. A result is a lead, not proof, so confirm it with the reporting agency or your local law enforcement agency, as FDLE advises, and check the county clerk’s court records.
Below: the FDLE search, South Florida county tools, warrant types, what a warrant means, what to do, how a lawyer helps, and warrants missing online.
How Do You Run a Florida Warrant Search With FDLE?
The FDLE Wanted Persons Search finds a person entered as wanted by a Florida law enforcement agency. A search needs at least the last 2 characters of a last name or an exact nickname.
A result can show the offense, the date of the warrant, the warrant number, and the reporting agency. FDLE updates the data from the Florida Crime Information Center files every 24 hours.
What does the FDLE search not prove?
The FDLE search does not prove that a warrant is active. FDLE states that its data may not be current, active, or complete and should be verified with the reporting agency. Wanted persons may use false identification, so a listed name may belong to someone else.
Which County Tools Help With a South Florida Warrant Search?
County tools in South Florida show court cases, jail bookings, or a sheriff’s fugitive list, not a complete list of open warrants.
| Tool | Who runs it | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Case Search – Public | Broward County Clerk of Courts | Felony, misdemeanor, and traffic cases by name, case number, or citation number |
| Arrest Search | Broward Sheriff’s Office | Arrests and inmates in BSO jails, updated every 15 minutes |
| Criminal Justice Online Case Search | Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court and Comptroller | Felony and misdemeanor case information in Miami-Dade County |
| Fugitive Warrants Most Wanted | Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office | Selected fugitives and their offenses |
What Types of Warrants Are Issued in Florida?
Five types of warrants come up most often in Florida: arrest warrants, capiases, failure to appear warrants, violation of probation warrants, and search warrants.
What is an arrest warrant?
An arrest warrant is a judge’s written order to arrest a named person, issued under Florida Statute 901.02 when the judge finds probable cause. Under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.121, the warrant states the offense and, where a right to bail exists, the bail amount or other conditions of release.
What is a capias?
A capias is an arrest order issued under Rule 3.131(k) after the State files an indictment or information against a person who is not in custody or on bail for that charge. The judge endorses the bail amount, if any, on the capias.
What is a bench warrant for failure to appear?
A bench warrant for failure to appear is a court order under Rule 3.131(h) to arrest a defendant on bail who breached the bond, such as by missing court. Willful failure to appear is also a separate crime under Florida Statute 843.15. See the firm’s guide to a missed court date.
What is a violation of probation warrant?
A violation of probation warrant is an arrest order issued under Florida Statute 948.06(1)(b) on an affidavit that the person violated probation or community control. A probation violation warrant is returnable before the court that granted probation, and some probationers receive a notice to appear instead.
Is a search warrant the same as an arrest warrant?
A search warrant is not an arrest warrant. Under Chapter 933, a search warrant authorizes a search of a described place or person for specified property, such as evidence of a felony (Statutes 933.02 and 933.07).
What Does an Active Warrant Mean for You?
An active warrant means you can be arrested anywhere in Florida. Florida Statute 901.04 directs warrants to all sheriffs of the state, and Statute 901.15(4) lets an officer arrest a person without having the warrant in hand when another officer holds it for execution.
What happens after an arrest on a warrant?
An arrest on a warrant leads to booking at the county jail and, unless the person is released first, a first appearance before a judge within 24 hours of arrest, under Rule 3.130. The judge states the charge, advises of the rights to silence and counsel, and decides pretrial release or detention under Rule 3.131 or 3.132. Under Rule 3.131(b), posting the bail set on the warrant can allow release before first appearance, unless a statutory exception applies.
What Should You Do If You Find a Warrant?
A person who finds a warrant should confirm it and resolve it through the court. The four steps are:
- Confirm it. Verify it with the reporting agency or your local law enforcement agency, as FDLE advises, and check the clerk’s court file.
- Do not discuss the facts. Anything said about the case may be used against you.
- Call a defense lawyer. A lawyer can check the court file and the bond first.
- Plan the surrender and bond. The Palm Beach County jail, for example, accepts bonds on warrants around the clock.
How Does a Lawyer Handle a Florida Warrant?
A lawyer confirms the warrant in the court file, then clears it one of three ways:
- Voluntary surrender. A planned surrender with the bond amount known in advance.
- Motion to recall the warrant. A judge can recall a warrant. In Palm Beach County, PBSO then sends the original warrant back to the Clerk’s Office.
- Bond arrangements. The lawyer prepares for bond hearings at first appearance or before the trial judge. After a willful and knowing failure to appear that breaches a bond, Rule 3.131(d) bars a recognizance bond, and a person arrested after forfeiture needs a monetary bond of at least $2,000 or twice the original bond, whichever is greater.
Which Warrants Do Not Show Up in Online Searches?
Online searches miss three groups of warrants:
- Some traffic and misdemeanor warrants. PBSO states that not all Palm Beach County traffic and misdemeanor warrants are entered into FCIC and NCIC.
- Very new warrants. FDLE updates every 24 hours, so a warrant signed today may not appear yet.
- Federal warrants. A federal judge issues these, for example on a criminal complaint under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 4. FDLE describes its database as Florida warrant information reported by law enforcement agencies in the state, so a federal warrant may not appear there, and a federal case calls for a federal criminal defense lawyer.
Why Hire The Law Offices of Robert David Malove?
Robert David Malove is a Florida Bar Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer who has defended felony cases in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties since 1984, including years as an Assistant Public Defender in all three. The firm’s Fort Lauderdale office at 200 SE 9th Street is a short walk from the Broward County Courthouse.
The first step after finding a Broward County warrant is to call a Fort Lauderdale criminal defense lawyer before talking to police. A defense lawyer can check the court file before moving to recall the warrant, arranging a surrender, or seeking a bond the person can post.
Call (954) 861-0384 for a free consultation with a Fort Lauderdale warrant lawyer.
Florida Warrant Search: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a clear FDLE search mean there is no warrant?
A clear FDLE search does not mean there is no warrant. FDLE states that its data may not be current, active, or complete, and PBSO states that not all Palm Beach County traffic and misdemeanor warrants reach FCIC, so check the county clerk next.
Can police arrest you on a warrant at any time in Florida?
Police can arrest you on a Florida warrant at any time. Florida Statute 901.04 allows an arrest on any day and at any time of the day or night.