How to Conduct a State Warrants Search
A warrant is much more than just a piece of paper; it contains a justification or a valid reason to arrest a person, search a person’s property or belongings, or seize his/her belongings. A valid warrant issued by an authorized body gives a law enforcement officer the right to arrest, search, or seize.
Types of Warrants
Warrants may be of various types: arrest, search, eviction, or capias pro fine.
An arrest warrant issued by the court allows a police officer to detain a person. These are issued when a crime has been committed and there is reasonable belief supported by tangible evidence that the person named in the arrest warrant has committed the crime.
A search warrant is issued when the court believes a crime to have been or being committed in a particular location. Armed with this warrant, a law enforcement officer may search the named premises.
An eviction warrant is issued against someone who has not paid his/her rent or mortgage over an extended period of time. This warrant contains a date by which the person must vacate the property.
A capias pro fine warrant is issued against a person who has not paid his/her fines or has not fulfilled the requirements that have been decided and ordered by the court.
There are some other types of warrants like an alias warrant, which is issued against someone who fails to make an appearance in the court after being granted a plea bargain. This warrant is also issued if a person fails to appear in court on a scheduled court date or on the initial appearance date on the citation. The court reserves the right to arrest on the basis of this warrant alone. A felony warrant is issued against a person suspected of committing a felony. This warrant stands valid until the time the person named in the warrant is arrested.
Usually small claims courts issue civil warrants when filing a law suit. The warrant in detinue is a specific type of civil warrant which may be issued to obtain possession of a property illegally possessed.
State Warrants Issuance
According to the rules of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, citizens shall be secured against unreasonable search or seizure of property. So no warrants can be issued by a state unless there exists a probable cause for issuing it. A probable cause is a reasonable belief, supported by concrete evidence that a crime had or is being committed or a law has been violated. A state warrant must be issued by a neutral judicial official.
Exceptions to State Warrant Requirements
There are, exceptions to the aforementioned state warrant requirement. Arrests may be made, searches may be conducted, or property may be seized without warrants if circumstances make obtaining one impossible. There are also some other instances where a person may waive his Fourth Amendment rights and agree to a warrant-less arrest, search, or seizure.
Access State Warrant Records
As per the rules of the Freedom of Information Act, warrant records are made available to the public. The Central Records System maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation contains such records and you may access them at http://foia.fbi.gov/foiaindex/foiaindex.htm. You may also look up the records at FBI’s Reading Room located at FBIHQ, 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington DC between 8:30 am and 2:30 pm. You will need to reserve your time 48 hours beforehand, by calling at 202-324-4682.
You may also mail your record request to FBI, Record/Information Dissemination Section, 170 Marcel Drive, Winchester, VA 22602-4843. All public warrant records are also available in CDs, each costing USD 15.
The state warrant records involving juveniles are not made public. You can also not access sealed and expunged warrant records.
Accessing warrant records have been made easier over the years so that citizens may look through and allay their doubts about dubious individuals.
Specific State Warrant Information:
Alabama Warrants
Arizona Warrant
Arkansas Warrant
California Warrant
Colorado Warrant
Delaware Warrant
Florida Warrants
Georgia Warrants
Idaho Warrants
Illinois Warrant
Indiana Warrants
Iowa Warrants
Kansas Warrant
Kentucky Warrant
Louisiana Warrant
Maryland Warrant
Massachusetts Warrant
Michigan Warrant
Mississippi Warrant
Missouri Warrants
Nebraska Warrant
Nevada Warrant
New Jersey Warrant
New Mexico Warrant
New York Warrant
North Carolina Warrant
Ohio Warrant
Oklahoma Warrant
Oregon Warrant
Pennsylvania Warrant
South Carolina Warrant
Tennessee Warrants
Texas Warrants
Washington Warrant
Wisconsin Warrant
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