Polk County Warrant Search

Warrant searches in Polk County are conducted to check whether arrest or search warrants have been issued for specific individuals within the county. These searches are initiated by people who want to check whether they have a warrant issued for their arrest, confirm the legality of a search warrant, or research another individual's background. Law enforcement agencies also perform warrant checks to verify whether a person is wanted for allegedly violating the law.

Certain warrant information, such as an offender's personal information and alleged offense, can be found in the Polk County arrest records, especially when the warrant leads to an arrest. At the same time, warrants are considered court records because they are issued by judges and filed with court clerks.

Are Warrants Public Records?

Yes. Warrants in Polk County are classified as "public records" under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes (Florida Sunshine Law). Court rules also permit members of the public to view and inspect arrest and search warrants issued by courts and filed by clerks.

However, some records are restricted from public access, including a suspect's personal identifying information (e.g., a social security number) and copies of unexecuted arrest and search warrants. Also, warrants issued under seal are prohibited from being accessed by the public.

Types of Warrants in Polk County

Warrants in Polk County can be issued for different purposes, but most often to:

• Search and seize properties or items alleged to be tied to criminal activity
• Apprehend individuals suspected of crimes and present them before judges

Thus, the county's most popular warrants are search and arrest warrants. Notably, arrest warrants can bear different names, depending on why they were issued or the method of execution. Examples include bench and extradition warrants.

Do I Have a Warrant in Polk County?

Individuals can find out if they or someone they know has an active warrant using resources provided by local and state authorities, including the Polk County Sheriff's Office and Florida Department of Law Enforcement. In many cases, government agencies allow members of the public to see lists of warrant subjects online. However, individuals can also contact them directly to verify warrant information.

Other options for warrant searches include requesting records from the county's Clerk of Courts and Comptroller's Office and accessing websites of third-party public records vendors.

Active Warrant Search in Polk

Polk County active warrants include all warrants yet to be executed. The procedure for finding these records may differ according to the type of warrant, and certain restrictions may apply. For example, a requester may be unable to obtain copies of unexecuted arrest and search warrants but may be able to determine if someone has a warrant out for their arrest.

Arrest Warrant Search

Active arrest warrants are generally directed to law enforcement agencies to apprehend accused individuals. The names of such individuals are published on the Polk County Sheriff's Office Warrant Inquiry webpage. Members of the public can access this database using the name of a warrant subject. Searches can also be filtered by selecting a city, entering a ZIP code, or choosing the subject's gender.

Warrant results from the Sheriff's portal include the warrant number, issue date, PCSO number, subject's personal information (date of birth, height, weight, race, and sex), subject's address, and alleged offense(s).

However, the Sheriff's Office advises members of the public to refrain from relying solely on information they find on the website. Instead, one can contact the Warrants Unit at (863) 298-6499 to confirm any name published on the site.

Additionally, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement uploads information about persons with active warrants from all courts across the state on its Public Access System. The site shows the alleged offenses, reporting agencies, warrant dates, and warrant numbers. Users can also view information about the subject of the warrant, such as their name, weight, height, eye color, occupation, address, sex, and race. The Public Access System is searchable with a person's first and last name, but additional filters like a middle name, nickname, race, sex, date of birth, and age exist.

Additionally, one can contact the Clerk of Courts and Comptroller of Polk County to inquire about outstanding arrest warrants.

Bench Warrant Lookup

Bench warrants are legal orders issued by judges to arrest individuals who disobey certain judicial orders. Offenses that necessitate such warrants include failure to pay court fines, appear for court hearings, or obey parole conditions.

Law enforcement departments, including the Polk County Sheriff's Office, are issued Bench warrants. To look up these orders, one can search the Sheriff's Warrant Inquiry portal or access the FDLE's Wanted Persons database. Another way to look up these orders is to contact the county clerk's office.

Free Warrant Search

Individuals can view Polk County warrant information online at no cost by accessing online databases maintained by government departments, including the FDLE and Polk County Sheriff's Office. One can also call or visit the local Sheriff's Office to confirm details about arrest warrants for free, and viewing court records that contain warrant data attracts no charges.

However, inquirers may need to cover the costs of reproducing or mailing copies of executed arrest and search warrants.

Can You Check Warrants Online?

Yes. People seeking Polk County warrants can search on third-party public records websites. These websites are operated by private businesses that often charge a fee for warrant search results.

Information hosted on third-party websites is sourced from various law enforcement agencies and courts. That means intending customers can review warrant information beyond Polk County's jurisdiction in one place.

That said, third-party data may be subject to some inaccuracies.

Do Warrants Expire?

Only in some cases. Arrest warrants generally do not expire until the subject is apprehended and brought before a judge. However, these warrants can also be cleared if subjects turn themselves in, fulfill their required legal obligations, or successfully ask the court to recall a warrant.

On the other hand, search, inspection, and agricultural warrants are limited to the following execution periods:

• Search warrants: 10 days (F.S. 993.05)
• Inspection warrants: 14 days (F.S. 993.25)
• Agricultural warrants: 60 days (F.S. 993.40). Admittedly, issuing authorities can renew or extend agricultural warrants.

How to Clear a Warrant Without Going to Jail

If a Polk County warrant were issued because an individual failed to pay fines or other court costs, satisfying those monetary obligations would be enough to clear the warrant (see the clerk's Court Payments, Payment Plans & Compliance page for payment instructions.)

A warrant subject may also have the following options:

• Submit a motion to quash a warrant that may have been issued improperly.
• If the subject can prove they could not appear in court due to unforeseen circumstances, they can submit a motion to withdraw a warrant.
• Surrender to law enforcement, appear in court, and fulfill bond obligations.