How to Find Out If You Have a Warrant

It's understandable that you might want to know if the cops are looking for you — and more specifically, whether the authorities have issued a warrant for your arrest. Short of strolling into the local police station and asking them about said warrant, there are a number of ways to figure out if there's an active warrant in your name.

Warrants don't just appear out of thin air. A judge issues an arrest warrant (a form authorizing the police to arrest you and present you before the court) upon probable cause. Probable cause means that a law enforcement officer believes that he or she has enough information regarding a crime to make a legitimate arrest [source: FindLaw].

There are two kinds of warrants: arrest and bench. Arrest warrants occur if you've committed criminal activity and the police actively come looking for you. Bench warrants are issued by judges (from the "bench") when you fail to follow the rules of the court, for instance, you missed a trial date or didn't pay a traffic ticket. In those cases, the police won't come looking for you, but if you're stopped for something like speeding and they find a bench warrant was issued against you in the state's computer, you could be taken to jail [sources: Lawson & Berry, Flanagan & Associates]. In those circumstances, you may not have a clue that a warrant's been issued against you.

Here are some ways you can find out if you have an outstanding warrant [source: Hernandez]:

  1. State By State Information on Searching for an Outstanding Warrant
  2. What to Do if You Have an Outstanding Warrant

State By State Information on Searching for an Outstanding Warrant

Some states have one database you can use to find out about any arrest warrants in their state, while others require you to search county by county. We have provided links for those states with a central depository for arrest warrants. For states that don't have an online warranty database, you have to search individual county websites or use a private company that may charge to conduct the warrant search for you.

What to Do if You Have an Outstanding Warrant

If you have the slightest reason to believe that you might have an outstanding arrest warrant, it's generally best to prevent the situation from escalating further. Here's what you should NOT do if a warrant's been issued for your arrest [source: McCollum].

Here's what you should do [sources: Spencer, McCollum]:

Note: This article does not constitute legal advice for your specific situation.

Warrant FAQs

Where can I check to see if I have a warrant for free?

Look up the local records website for your county court or sheriff's department. In a small town, though, these records may not be online. You can also try contacting an attorney. Attorneys have access to databases that are not available to the general public

Can you go to jail for a warrant?

If there is an arrest warrant out for you, the police will come looking for you to put in jail. If it is a bench warrant, police won't come looking for you but if you're stopped for another offence (like a traffic violation) and they find you have a bench warrant then you could end up in jail.

What is the difference between a bench warrant and an arrest warrant?

A bench warrant is issues issued to individuals who fail to follow the rules of the court, for instance not showing up to trial. An arrest warrant is issued to someone when enough evidence has been gathered about criminal activity or probable cause has been established.

What happens if you fail to attend court?

Failure to appear in court can result in fines or jail sentences. It is possible to be charged with contempt of court or a separate crime for missing your court hearing and face hefty punishments if convicted.

What is a warrant fee?

A warrant fee covers the administrative costs municipal courts and the police personnel incur when issue issuing warrants for defendants who fail to comply with the conditions of their release agreements.

Lots More Information

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