Orange County Warrant Search

An Orange County warrant search enables individuals to verify whether any active warrants are issued against them or someone else. Warrants are legal documents issued by judges or magistrates that authorize a specific enforcement action. For example, a warrant can command a police officer to arrest a subject or search a property for a criminal item.

Warrants play a crucial role in Orange County's justice system, empowering law enforcement agents to execute justice fairly and in line with the provisions of the Constitution. By searching warrants, the subjects of an active warrant can understand their legal status and take the necessary steps to resolve the case against them. A warrant search lookup also facilitates criminal background checks and helps members of the public to be aware of potential threats. They are primarily held in the county's courts but may also be featured within related Orange County arrest records.

Are Warrants Public Records?

Yes. Florida's Public Records Law (Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes) provides for transparency in government affairs by ensuring that documents kept in the custody of government agencies are open to the public. Consequently, anyone can request information regarding a warrant from an official custodian at a reasonable time. The law also stipulates that record custodians must honor requests for public records promptly and in good faith.

However, the Public Records Law and other relevant statutes provide exceptions to the general rule of public record disclosure, and a judge may, through a court order, also limit access to certain kinds of warrant information. For example, Rule 2.420 of the Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration covers public access to judicial branch records, copies of arrest, and search warrants that the court retains until their execution are deemed confidential and exempt from the Public Records Law.

Types of Warrants in Orange County

Although there are different types of warrants in Orange County, the most frequently issued are arrest, bench, and search warrants. These warrants differ by purpose and have unique requirements for issuance. Understanding the differences between the various warrant types can help streamline a requester's search process and ensure that they receive the correct warrant information promptly.

Do I Have a Warrant in Orange County?

The various official custodians of warrant information in Orange County offer several options for accessing them. For example, individuals can utilize the court case information database provided by the Orange County Clerk of Court's office to obtain warrant information that forms part of the county's court records. Law enforcement agencies responsible for executing a warrant may also operate a publicly accessible database of outstanding warrants.

Other avenues for obtaining Orange County warrants include:

• Visiting third-party aggregator websites
• Leveraging bail bonding companies
• Obtaining guidance from legal practitioners

Active Warrant Search in Orange County

Interested parties can discover active arrest warrants by sending a public records request to the official custodian of such records, which includes the court that heard the natter and the law enforcement agency charged with executing the warrant. More details on accessing arrest and bench warrant information are discussed below.

Arrest Warrant Search

The typical method for conducting an Orange County arrest warrant lookup is through the local law enforcement agencies serving the issuing court's jurisdiction. Since arrest warrants are addressed to and executed by police personnel, law enforcement agencies have direct access to warrant information and often maintain a publicly searchable database for them.

For example, the Orange County Sheriff's Office operates a fugitive unit responsible for apprehending wanted individuals and disseminating warrant information. The unit also has a dedicated warrant search page and mobile app for members of the public to look up individuals with outstanding warrants. Warrant information is searchable by name, sex, date of birth, and address information.

Parties can also send an open records request to the municipal police department responsible for executing the warrant. Information on sending such requests can be obtained by contacting the agency or scanning their website. For example, the Orlando Police Department's records and open data page has information on obtaining public records maintained by the agency.

Bench Warrant Lookup

A judge issues a bench warrant when the subject fails to appear in court on an appointed date or respects a court order. Orange County bench warrants are part of the larger Orange County court records, which can be retrieved by querying the clerk of the court handling the pending case.

Generally, the Orange County Clerk of Courts Office attends to in-person requests at their address and provides an e-search platform for reviewing court records. Upon accessing the Clerk of Court's official website, individuals should navigate to the Court Records Search section and click "criminal case records". This will direct them to a search page where they can filter their search by "fugitive warrant cases" through the "case type" box. The search criteria include name, case number, and citation number.

Free Warrant Search

Official custodians of warrant records do not charge a fee for providing information about outstanding warrants. As discussed above, these record keepers often offer free online warrant lookup platforms for public searches. Individuals may also visit the custodians' physical locations to inspect documents at no charge. However, requesters must cover the costs associated with special requests such as reproducing or certifying public documents.

Can You Check Warrants Online?

Yes. In addition to the online platforms provided by official custodians, certain private entities aggregate data from various sources into an easily searchable online database. This allows members of the public to obtain warrant information from different jurisdictions at a glance.

Searchers must note that third-party warrant lookup options often charge a fee for their searches. To facilitate the search, searchers must provide some information about the sought warrant, including the subject's name and date of birth.

Do Warrants Expire?

It depends. In Orange County, an arrest warrant has no expiration date, so law enforcement agents can execute an active warrant anytime. However, search warrants have a 10-day validity period (section 933.05 of the Florida Statutes).

Note: Although arrest warrants do not expire, certain factors, such as the subject's death, affect its validity. The issuing court can also recall a warrant, primarily when it was issued in error.

How to Clear a Warrant Without Going to Jail

Depending on the unique circumstance of the case, warrant subjects can avoid arrest by voluntarily appearing in court alongside their attorney. An attorney can also arrange for bail immediately, negotiate favorable terms with the prosecution, or push to have the warrant quashed if it was issued improperly. For a bench warrant, the subject can avoid jail by proving that their absence in court on the scheduled date was unavoidable.