How to Find Out if Someone Has a Warrant

A warrant is a court order. An arrest warrant tells law enforcement to arrest a person because a judge found probable cause of a crime. A bench warrant is issued from the bench when a person misses a court date, ignores a subpoena or does not pay a fine as ordered. Probation and parole warrants follow an alleged violation of supervision.

A warrant is not a conviction. It starts or resumes a case. It says nothing final about guilt.

Many county sheriffs publish active warrants online, as a searchable list or a document updated on a schedule. Search the website of the sheriff for warrants or wanted persons. Lists usually show the name, the age, the charge and the type of warrant.

These lists are often incomplete. Some counties publish only felony warrants, some only a most wanted selection, and some publish nothing. A name that is missing from the list does not mean there is no warrant.

The court record is the most reliable public source. Search the name in the case search of the clerk of court for the county. Open each case and read the docket. A warrant shows as an entry such as warrant issued, capias issued or bench warrant ordered, with a date. A later entry such as warrant recalled, warrant served or warrant quashed means it is no longer active.

The Source Directory links to the statewide court portal of each state, where one exists, and to the clerk search for the counties we cover. See also court case lookup.

A few states run a statewide search for warrants or wanted persons through the state police or the court system, and some large cities publish municipal court warrants for traffic and ordinance cases. Search the name of the state with the words warrant search and look for an official government site.

Clerks answer questions about public case records. Call the criminal division of the clerk of court, give the full name and the date of birth, and ask whether there is an active warrant in any case. If the warrant might be yours, you can ask a lawyer to make the call for you.

• Sealed warrants. A judge can seal an arrest warrant until it is served.
• Federal warrants. They are not searchable by the public. The U.S. Marshals Service publishes only selected fugitives.
• The national police database. Officers check warrants through a national file that is closed to the public.
• Juvenile matters, which are confidential.

Do not wait to be arrested at a traffic stop or at home. Contact a criminal defense attorney or the public defender's office of the county. A lawyer can confirm the warrant, find out the bond, and often arrange a walk-in or a new court date. For a bench warrant over a missed hearing, many courts recall the warrant when the person appears voluntarily. Bring ID and any paperwork from the case.

Do not confront the person and do not try to detain them. If you believe they are a danger, give the information to the agency that holds the warrant. If the person is a relative, the most useful help is a lawyer and a ride to the courthouse.

Remember what a warrant is and is not. An arrest is not a conviction. Charges may have been dropped, dismissed or resulted in acquittal.

When you do not know the county, MugshotLookup starts from a name and a state and lists the sheriff and court sources that cover the jurisdiction. The full report shows the arrest and court records it finds, each with its source and date, including cases where the record notes a warrant. Start on the warrant search page.

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