It may seem odd for someone to wonder how to find out if you have a warrant, but this type of search is used for a variety of background checks.
And…it is entirely possible to have a warrant and not know about it.
A warrant may be granted by the courts for offenses ranging greatly in severity. While it is unlikely that the suspect in a serious crime would be unaware of an outstanding warrant, someone with a warrant for unpaid parking tickets or an overlooked fine could be, and knowing how to find out if you have a warrant is crucial.
The first (and simplest way) is to conduct a background check on yourself, because most people want to know, can warrants affect your background check results. This will often show a number of warrants, and then benefit is that if you don’t see it there, it’s likely no one else will.
However, some warrants don’t show up, so the following step-by-step guide explains exactly how to search for federal, state and local warrants using three easy steps.
What Is a Warrant?
A warrant is a court order which allows law enforcement officers to take action that is otherwise not allowed. For example, police officers are required to have a search warrant to search an individual’s property. Likewise, a warrant is required for the arrest of a specified individual. The warrant allows and instructs law enforcement to find, apprehend, and detain the person specified in the document.27
Warrants may be issued for various reasons, but are most often the result of a grand jury indictment, a judge’s finding of probable cause, or failure to show up in court.21,23
Warrants may also be issued due to failure to meet court orders such as:
- Child support payment
- Probation terms
- Payment of fines and tickets
When an officer makes a request for a warrant, the officer must submit an affidavit, presenting the facts of the case and demonstrating probable cause to suspect the individual in question, this is why many people wonder if warrants appear in background investigations. The warrant usually takes one or two days to process.16
The warrant document must include the name or description of the person of interest, the charges and victim’s rights (when applicable), and the signature of the judge or magistrate.21
Sometimes, warrants also stipulate conditions for the arrest, such as times or locations where the arrest may occur. A recommended pre-trial bond amount may also be included.16,21
What Are the Different Types of Warrants?
There are several types of warrants issued by the courts, and among the most common are:23
- Search Warrants
- Arrest Warrants
- Bench Warrants
A search warrant is an order from a judge permitting law enforcement officers to search and seize property of an individual which may serve as valuable evidence in a criminal case.
An arrest warrant is an order from a judge which permits police officers to apprehend and detain individuals suspected of a crime. Arrest warrants are sometimes referred to as criminal warrants. They are typically required to arrest individuals suspected of a misdemeanor violation but may not be required to apprehend suspected felony violators.18
A bench warrant is a type of arrest warrant. However, a bench warrant often results from a person’s violation of a court order, such as failure to appear for a court date or failure to adhere to probationary terms.13
An arrest warrant is often issued at the request of a police officer, following submission of an affidavit demonstrating probable cause, whereas a bench warrant is generally initiated directly by the judge and does not require an affidavit.13,23
How To Find Out If You Have a Warrant Out for Your Arrest? (How To Check If You Have a Warrant Out)
No one wants to be arrested unexpectedly, and that is why it is so crucial for individuals to know how to find out if you have a warrant for arrest. The easiest and quickest way to get this information is by using a credible background check service to run a personal background check. Learn how to conduct your background check in minutes. This method is recommended for individuals who:
- Have limited time to conduct research
- Live in a state which does not have a public database of arrest warrants
- Do not want the risk of an in-person visit to a local sheriff’s office or courthouse
Order a background check today to get information about active warrants.
How To Find Out If You Have a Warrant Online
For anyone wondering how to find out if you have a warrant online, there are several avenues to explore. As mentioned above, using a trusted background check service is the most convenient way to get this information in fast fashion. However, it is not the only route available to curious individuals. Other online routes include:
- Conducting a federal warrant search
- Conducting a state warrant search
- Conducting a local warrant search
The following sections explore how to conduct these online warrant searches at the federal, state, and local levels. While some of the options investigated in this article are free of charge, many pathways have an associated fee.16
Step-By-Step Federal Warrant Search (Warrant Search Gov)
Warrants can be issued at various levels of government, and a federal warrant is issued by the federal magistrate judge and usually executed by the U.S. Marshals. The U.S. Marshals’ Warrant Information System (WIN) tracks all federal warrants, but is not accessible to the public.26 So how can someone obtain federal warrant information?
The most extensive background check will usually be one conducted through a government agency, but ordering a background check from a trusted provider is possibly the easiest way to get warrant information. However, there is another avenue available. Follow these steps to conduct an inquiry into a federal warrant database today.
Step 1: Visit the United States Courts Official Government Website
This website serves as a repository of federal warrant information and contact information for federal courts.
Individuals wishing to directly contact the federal court which issued the warrant should proceed to Step 2.
Step 2: Use the Federal Court Finder Option To Locate the Relevant Court
The federal court finder is located in the upper right hand corner of the U.S. Courts webpage. Search for a court by location (address, city, state, ZIP code) or by court name. This generates a list of results that can be accessed to find contact information for the relevant court. Call or visit the relevant court for warrant information (NOTE that this option is not without risk. Individuals may be detained.)
Individuals wishing to conduct an online federal warrant search should proceed to Step 3.
Step 3: Visit the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) Website24
Pacer can be accessed via the link provided here or by choosing “Court Records” from the Menu on the U.S. Courts website.
Users are required to create a PACER account or login if there is already an active account. From there, individuals can search for federal case information for a small fee. NOTE that PACER is a federally regulated and monitored website.
Federally issued warrants can be uncovered through this process. Continue reading to learn how to find out if you have a warrant at the state or local level.
How To See If You Have a Warrant in All 50 States
Unfortunately, there is not a universal system for warrant searches across all 50 states. State laws vary significantly, and warrants are considered public records in some states and not in others. Therefore, the method for a state warrant search depends on the individual state. There are a few approaches examined in this section, such as:23
- Searching the internet for official state warrant databases or active warrant lists (see table below).
- Contacting the Department of Public Safety for the relevant state.
- Ordering a government background check through the state’s website (often DPS).
NOTE that government background checks usually cost money.
Conduct an Online Warrant Search in All 50 States (Step-By-Step Guide)
To conduct an online warrant search by state, enter the state name and warrant search or database into the browser or use the table below for quick links to state resources. In this section, see a few state examples with a guided process.
Example 1: Arizona Warrant Search
To do an online warrant search for the state of Arizona:
- Follow the link in the table below to access the Arizona Judicial Branch Public Access Case Search.30
- Type in the verification characters and submit to proceed.
- Search cases by entering in the last name of the person (required). First name, date of birth, and court of interest may also be specified when known.
- Click “Search” and view results.
Example 2: Indiana Warrant Search
To do an online warrant search for the state of Indiana:
- Follow the link in the table below to access the Indiana Public Records Search.36
- Enter the person’s last name and any other known information to limit the search.
- Click “Search” and view results.
Example 3: South Dakota Warrant Search
To do an online warrant search for the state of South Dakota:
- Follow the link in the table below to access the South Dakota Record Search.32
- Click “Perform a UJS Public Record Search (PARS)”
- Login or register to create an account or conduct a guest search.
- Enter in search and contact information.
NOTE that this search charges a $20 fee regardless of whether it returns results.
Find links to state government warrant searches or background check services in the following table.
* No statewide easy-access warrant search database available. Link routes to printable form and/or instructions for mail-in or in-person records request.
** No statewide easy-access warrant search database available. Link routes to background check/criminal record check information.
*** Only some warrant information is available.
- NOTE that several state government websites require registered accounts to conduct a search. Follow website guidelines to create an account.
- NOTE that most government background checks have an associated fee and depending on the state, may not disclose warrant information.
- To find warrants in states without a free lookup system, consult the following sections on local and federal warrant lookup.
How To Find Out If You Have a Warrant for Free
Government background checks cost money, oftentimes a substantial amount. So it’s no surprise that people are asking how to find out if you have a warrant for free. In most cases, it is possible to find warrant information for free. Supposing that the federal and state options discussed in previous sections did not yield the desired results, individuals can turn to local resources for warrant information.
There are various ways to approach getting information from local resources, including:16,27
- Conducting an internet search for warrant information by county
- Calling the county sheriff’s office or county courthouse for information
- Visiting the county sheriff’s office or county courthouse in person
- Asking a friend to visit county sheriff’s office or courthouse and inquire
Follow the step-by-step guide in the next section for easy navigation of this process.
Conduct a Free Warrant Check In All 50 States (Step-By-Step Guide)
So, how can someone get a free warrant check in every state? If the federal and state searches didn’t turn up anything useful, people should look to the county or district level for more information. Follow these steps to get warrant information in any area.19
Step 1: Conduct an Internet Search Using the County Name
Many local government and law enforcement websites (county clerks, sheriff’s office, etc.) maintain online information about active warrants. Begin the free warrant search by entering the county name and “warrant search” into the browser.
Example: To find warrant information in Benton County, Arkansas, enter the search terms “Benton County Arkansas warrant search.” One of the first few results links to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.31 Go to the website, scroll to the bottom of the webpage, and click “Warrants.” This pulls up an alphabetized active warrants list which can be scanned for names of interest.
Step 2: Access the Court Directories (Tabled Below) To Find Contact Information for County Courts
Some local jurisdictions will not have readily available databases online. In this situation, use the resources in the table below to find the contact information for the relevant office.
Example: To find warrant information in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, find the Alabama Courts Directory in the table below and click on it.33 This link pulls up Alabama’s courts website and an interactive map of Alabama’s judicial circuits. Find Tuscaloosa on the map and click on it. This reroutes to the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court of Alabama website. From here, find the address,34 phone number and office hours at the bottom of the page.
Step 3: Contact the Local Courthouse or Court Clerk to Inquire
If there is not an accessible county warrant database, use the contact information from the directory.
Example: For the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse, the phone number is (205) 349-3870.
Step 4: Look Up County Sheriff’s Office Contact Information
Sometimes, the county sheriff’s office will have an online database. To access it, type the county name and sheriff’s office into the web browser.
Example: Enter the search terms “Tuscaloosa County Alabama sheriff’s office.” The first search result links to the sheriff’s website.20 Click the “Solve Crime” tab at the top of the page. Click the “Warrants” secondary tab. Enter the full name of the person of interest and click “Search.”
Step 5: Contact the County Sheriff’s Office To Inquire
Sometimes, an internet search or courthouse contact may not yield the information needed. In this instance, the next step is to call the sheriff’s office to inquire.19
Example: Follow the instructions from the previous step to get to the county sheriff’s website. Scroll to the bottom of the webpage for contact information. For Tuscaloosa County, the contact number is (205) 752-0616.20
Step 6: Visit the Local Courthouse or Sheriff’s Office in Person
Local authorities may require that requests for records and warrant information be made in-person. In this situation, it is useful to have the addresses for the relevant locations, which can be found during the previous steps.
Example: The address for the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse is 714 Greensboro Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401.
The address for the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s 714 ½ Greensboro Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401.20
- NOTE that if there is an outstanding warrant, individuals run the risk of being arrested or detained on the spot with an in-person visit to the courthouse or sheriff’s office.16,21
- NOTE that county courthouses may charge a small fee for records requests.
View the local courts directories for each of the fifty states in the following table.
* Local courts may be organized differently depending on the state.
Do Warrants Show Up on Background Checks?
What types of information show up in background checks is a frequently queried topic, and ‘do warrants appear on background investigations‘ comes in at a close second. After exploring how to find out if you have a warrant via several different routes, some curious individuals may be wondering if warrants show up on background checks. While the answer to this question is not 100% straightforward, the gist of it is that warrants usually do show up on background checks, and it all depends on the type of background check and the type of warrant.5
Warrants may not always show on criminal records, but they almost always appear in public records. Thus, any background check which looks at court records is likely to find an active warrant.5
This can vary from state to state, but in general bench warrants and arrest warrants are likely to show up on background checks, while search warrants will not.5,15
There are many reasons why a person may have a warrant out for their arrest. In some cases, the individual may not even be aware that there is an active warrant, potentially leading to some uncomfortable situations. Follow the easy steps outlined in this article on how to find out if you have a warrant to get information and resolutions today.
Frequently Asked Questions About How To Find Out If You Have a Warrant
