Where to Conduct an Oklahoma Warrant Search

An individual’s right to privacy is one of the most important freedoms, provided by the United States Constitution. The 4th Amendment of the United States constitution has laid down specific laws and legal requirements that are required to be followed by the law enforcement agencies to invade your privacy. So if you are involved in any criminal investigation, it is vital for you to know your rights.

Search Warrant:

A search warrant is an order which is sanctioned and signed by a judge or magistrate in Oklahoma State who gives permission to the police officers involved, to search a particular individual, or property, object, material, article or location at a specified time. The judge directs the executing officer to search for and take into custody or seize any relevant materials where there is credible cause to believe that an individual is involved in a criminal offense, or a criminal activity has taken place in a particular location or there is sufficient evidence to prove that a crime has taken place at that location.

The application for a search warrant is usually applied for by a peace officer or police officers who obtain a search warrant by presenting a written testimony under oath (affidavits), before a judge or magistrate, in the county in which the criminal activity has taken place or is believed to have taken place. The affidavits report the observations of the police officers or peace officers, or it may report the observations of private citizens or undercover, police informants who believe there is “probable cause” to seek for a search warrant.

The judge or the magistrate, upon receiving the application for a search warrant, may issue a search warrant or deny the issuance. If the judge or the magistrate is convinced that there is sufficient credible cause or reason provided by the application and the affidavits, he or she will immediately issue a search warrant without any delay. In such a case a copy or the application for a search warrant and the warrant issued by the judge is kept as a record with the Clerk of the Courts office. A copy of the application and the warrant issued is also forwarded to the applicant.  The warrant normally remains active for 10 days after the application has been approved by the judge or the magistrate in Oklahoma State.

If the individual who is a suspected of committing a criminal offense, or is connected with the location that is to be searched is not available, he may contest the validity of such a warrant before the trial.

Affidavits for Search Warrants

The affidavits provided by the police officers to a judge or a magistrate in Oklahoma State, have to be based on substantial evidence that can objectively identify suspicious criminal activities. It has to provide sufficient reason which is more than just a suspicion but do not have to furnish a “proof beyond a reasonable doubt”. In addition, the details provided by an affidavit should be coming from a reliable source. Some of the sources that are considered to be reliable by the magistrate or a judge in an Oklahoma court, while issuing a search warrant are:

•    a reliable police informant who may have firsthand knowledge of the illegal activity
•    An informant whose testimony can be verified by the police officers
•    A victim who is related to the search
•    An individual who is a  witness to the crime
•    A police officer
•    An informant who may incriminate himself as well as the suspect

Search Warrant Privileges:

Oklahoma State allows the police officers, to only search and seize the individuals, property, place, article, substance, material that is listed in the search warrant. The police can usually only seize those items which are specified in the list but if the officers find any additional evidence while conducting the search they have the right to seize these objects as well. The officers are sanctioned to arrest or search only, the individual who is identified in the search warrant. But if the officers can connect other individuals apart from those which are listed in the warrant, to the crime or the crime scene, they may also search such individuals as necessary and may even take them into custody.

Conducting a Warrant Search in Oklahoma

The Oklahoma State laws allow, law enforcement agencies, and individuals who have a warrant against them to conduct a search , by providing basic details such as name, date of birth, case number if known and other such details, of their case. The records of the warrants can be found at the Sheriff’s office of the various counties. The arrest records are also maintained by the Clerk of the Court’s office in each county in Oklahoma State.

For more information on search warrants and other warrant search in Oklahoma State you can visit Oklahoma County Clerk’s Court, Room 421, Oklahoma County Annex Building, 320 Robert S. Kerr, Oklahoma City, OK 73102. Phone: 713-1705. Office Hours: Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. excluding holidays. Website: http://www.oklahomacounty.org/courtclerk/

Or you can also visit the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s office at http://www.oklahomacounty.org/sheriff/