How to Conduct a Florida Warrant Search

The guidelines specified in the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution dictate the criminal laws that are followed in the various states. This also applies to the state search and arrest warrants–who shall issue the warrant, the abilities that the warrant bestows on law enforcement officials, when is the warrant valid, and exceptions to the warrant. In Florida, a search and arrest warrant can be issued only on the basis of a probable cause, that is, a reasonable belief that a crime has been or is being committed and that the suspected individual was or is involved in it. This belief must be corroborated by tangible evidence.

Conducting a Florida Warrant Search

To obtain information regarding a warrant in Florida, you will need to conduct a Florida warrant search. The information that you can obtain from a Florida warrant search helps you in these ways: you can confirm if any search or arrest warrant has been issued in your name; you can carry out a background criminal check of a little-known person who can be your newly hired employee, a chance meeting at a party that has turned into a dinner date, your new tenant, or the new babysitter. Before allowing these people to enter your life or obtain access to your precious belongings, it is always a good idea to check if warrants have been issued in their names and for how serious an offense.

A Florida warrant search is easy; most records are accessible to you, unless classified as sealed by the court.

Accessing Florida Warrant Records

The many Florida law enforcement agencies host warrant information on their websites and you may access them online. Law enforcement agencies all over Florida report warrant information to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. This information is authorized to be made accessible to the public and is kept here: http://pas.fdle.state.fl.us/pas/person/displayWantedPersonsSearch.a.

The Department of Law Enforcement and the reporting agencies caution against taking any action based on this warrant search results, for they do not guarantee the veracity and completeness of the warrants. These should thus not be used for legal purposes. The Department also makes it clear that information obtained from a warrant search in this site does not represent an active warrant.

The Florida Department of Corrections maintains and regularly updates information on absconders and fugitives in the state. This information is documented on their website, http://www.dc.state.fl.us/absconder/search.asp. The Department does not make claims for the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the information and advises against using this information for legal purposes. You may direct your queries to the Department of Corrections, Bureau of Probation and Parole, Absconder Unit, at (850) 410-3437 or leave an email at absconders@mail.dc.state.fl.us

Most public databases containing information on warrants contain mugshots of the individuals on record. However, when you are carrying out a Florida warrant search, do keep in mind that the real physical characteristics of a person may be quite different from that represented in the mugshot. This information is issued only in the interest of public safety and you should know how to responsibly use the information obtained from a Florida warrant search.