How to Conduct a Warrant Search

Warrants are a legal authorization generally issued by the magistrate or the judge of a court, and are directed to the sheriff of the county or the police officer of the area. Warrants command “a law enforcement officer to perform some act incident to the administration of justice”.

Different Warrants

Warrants can be of different types and for different purposes. Warrants are most commonly issued to direct the police to arrest a suspected guilty person while investigating on any case. These are known as arrest warrants. Warrants may also be issued against an individual for violating court rules. These are known as outstanding warrants and are a variant of arrest warrants. A search warrant is another type of warrant that entitles the law enforcement officer to search a particular premise or person(s) for probable evidence in relation to some crime. A bench warrant is yet another kind of warrant that directs the law enforcement officer to present a person before court.

Given the kinds of warrants and the various circumstances under which they are issued, the warrant search services provided by most of the states are an immense help to the general people. The warrant search allows you to go through the warrant records of the state. A warrant search serves two main purposes:

* It helps you to find warrant issued against your name
* It also lets you perform a background check on an individual if you are an employer or you have suspicions against any person for certain reasons.

Where are the Records Kept?

The warrant records are maintained at the county sheriff’s office in many cases. You may contact the appropriate office and request a warrant search. In some cases you have to contact the Attorney General’s office, while in others, visiting the county sheriff’s office would be sufficient. At other times, you may have to contact the correctional or rehabilitation institutes for a warrant search.

For example, in Ohio you may contact the county sheriff’s offices and request for a warrant search. The Department of Public Safety maintains the warrant records. The website to visit is http://www.esorn.ag.state.oh.us/Secured/p5.aspx.
Here you will find a list of all the county sheriffs' names and their contact numbers. You will have to visit the appropriate agencies for specific warrant information. If a person was arrested for sex offense, the sex offender’s registry will reveal the details of the warrant and other details like if he or she was convicted and the sentence that was imposed on him or her. Visiting the official websites of the states will reveal this information to you.

The warrant records also keep a record of the subsequent developments of the specific case. In various cases, you may also want to expunge your warrant records. Records once expunged will not be available to anyone anymore. This is particularly helpful in case you are looking for employment. Several pre-employment background checks reveal these records and they hamper your employment prospects. Most of the states offer an online free warrant search. You may also order a copy of the records by paying a fee. A warrant check increases public safety to a great extent. 
 

Information on Conducting State-Specific Warrant Searches:

Arizona Warrant Search

Florida Warrant Search

Georgia Warrant Search

Indiana Warrant Search

Kansas Warrant Search

North Carolina Warrant Search

Ohio Warrant Search

Oklahoma Warrant Search

Texas Warrant Search

Utah Warrant Search

Types of Warrant Searches:

Outstanding Warrant Search

County Warrant Search

Arrest Warrant Search