Run a Free Leon County Warrant Search (Check Warrant Status)

Free Leon County Warrant Search
Find out if you or someone else has a warrant out for their arrest in Leon County, Florida, free of charge.

Run a free Leon County warrant search to conveniently access valuable information on anybody wanted locally.

The Sunshine Law in Florida determines that public records should be accessible to the people so that individuals can be well-informed and educated about their community.

This resource explains in detail how someone can conveniently retrieve information about all sorts of warrants in Leon County, Florida.

A Synopsis of Checking Free Warrant Information in Leon County Florida

Concerned citizens in Leon County are able to perform searches and find out if there’s an open warrant against them or someone they know. Chapter 199 of the Florida Statutes, also known as Public Records Law or the Sunshine Law, establishes what should be available to the public and how this information should be handled by local agencies.1

There are different kinds of warrants, and consequently, different ways to address them. Being able to readily access information is key for anyone who wants to make educated decisions.

Those in need of warrant information can work directly with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and use both their list of open court orders and the search tool. Those resources are helpful when dealing with first and second-degree felonies.

For all other types of warrants, people can work with the Leon County Clerk’s Office and their search engine. They can also work with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, especially when searching for warrants issued outside of Leon County.2

A screenshot displaying details of a wanted person, showing information such as name, nicknames, aliases, offense details, reporting agency, agency case number, date of warrant, warrant number, date of birth, race, sex, height and weight.
Source: Florida Crime Information Center, Department of Law Enforcement2

How to access those tools and make good use of them will be discussed in detail in this article, down below.

How To Conduct a Leon County Warrant Search

There are different tools that Floridians can access when looking up warrant information. One of them is a list of outstanding warrants provided by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.3, 4 This list includes open warrants for first and second-degree felony offenses and can be searched in two different ways.

A screenshot showing a warrant search results showing details such as photo, full name and date of birth, charges and more information with the clickable details icon from the Leon County Sheriff’s Office website.
Source: Leon County Sheriff’s Office3

Before going over those options, it’s important to mention that, in Florida, first-degree felonies are those that carry a sentence of up to 30 years in jail and $10,000 in fines. Second-degree felonies, on the other hand, carry up to 15 years in jail and the same amount in fines.

The Sheriff’s Office list will show, right on the face of it, the name and date of birth of the offender, as well as charges and a mugshot or picture (when that’s available). If the person of interest is found on the list, searchers can click on the details button and see more details, such as the offender’s physical characteristics, potential aliases, and all current warrants open against them (as it could be more than just one).

However, going over the full list may be unnecessary work when the name of the person the user wants to locate is known. For those instances, it’s also possible to search for warrants by name. This type of search will lead to the same information available on the full list.

The list of warrants is updated by the Sheriff’s Office frequently. However, it may not include all active warrants in the county since it focuses only on some felony offenses. When in need of support or clarification, concerned citizens can contact the Sheriff’s Office Warrant Department using the following information:

Leon County Sheriff’s Office
Warrants Department
2825 Municipal Way
Tallahassee, FL 32304

Phone: 850.606.3300

One important thing about the Sheriff’s Office list is that it includes warrants being handled and executed by the Tallahassee Police Department. When the list indicates that a particular warrant is with that law enforcement agency, it means that they’re responsible for executing it.

In those instances, it may be advisable to keep their contact information. This is how their Records Department can be contacted:

Tallahassee Police Department
Headquarters & Records Department
234 E 7th Ave
Tallahassee, FL 32303

Phone: 850.691.4221

Another useful resource for individuals searching for court orders against them or someone they know is available with the Leon County Clerk’s Office. They provide an avenue for citizens to search for warrants and record information in their jurisdiction through the Case Search System.5

A screenshot displaying a criminal name search results showing details such as party name, party type, date of birth, action code, file date, judge, case status, case balance and case number from the Leon County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
Source: Leon County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller5

The court’s search tool is free to use and allows for different searches to be performed and may look confusing at first. For warrant searches, users should look for the civil and criminal name search box and work on that area. The search button (that leads to the results after inputting the criteria) is closer to the bottom of the page.

Results will appear as a list of cases for people with the name that’s being searched. To narrow the search, people can add the individual of interest’s date of birth or make sure they have their full name (and not just the last name). The court records will show if a warrant is currently outstanding or if it has already been executed.

It’s possible that the searcher would need more information from the County Clerk’s Office.

A screenshot from the Leon County Clerk of Courts and Comptroller website showing an official records search results showing information such as grantor, grantee, document type, record date, comments and book or page.
Source: Leon County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller6

If that happens, they have three different addresses that concerned citizens can reach out to. This is their contact information:

Leon County Clerk’s Office
Leon County Courthouse
301 South Monroe Street – Ste. 100
Tallahassee, Florida 32301

Phone: 850.606.4000

Leon County Clerk’s Office – Northeast Branch
Metro 8 Building
1276 Metropolitan Blvd. – Room 101
Tallahassee, FL 32312

Leon County Clerk’s Office
Government Annex Building
315 Calhoun St – 7th Floor
Tallahassee, FL 32301

How To Verify Who Has a Warrant Throughout Florida

When the scope of the search exceeds Leon County, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement offers a convenient way for citizens to search for open court orders throughout the state.

The Wanted Persons Search tool is free to use and permits inquiries to be done by last name only when the full name of the potential offender isn’t known. However, as it’s known, it’s possible to obtain targeted results by adding the first name, date of birth, race, and gender of the individual being searched.

Results will appear as a list, and by clicking on the name of the offender, it’s possible to uncover all the details about the warrant that’s active against them (including the charges and the county handling the execution of it).

At the top of the details page, there will be the option to send a tip about that individual when the searcher has information about them. Those who believe they know the whereabouts of a wanted person can use that option or contact the local law enforcement agency responsible for executing the warrant.

It’s always advisable, though, not to try and engage with an offender that’s wanted or attempt to arrest them. Always rely on law enforcement to do those things since those people can be dangerous.

If any concerned citizens prefer to contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement directly, this is how they can do it:7

Florida Department of Law Enforcement
2331 Phillips Rd
Tallahassee, FL 32308

Phone: 850.410.7000

What Types of Warrants Are There & What Does Each Mean?

There are many different types of warrants that can be issued by a judge against a citizen. Most warrants are issued as part of a criminal case, but civil matters (including family cases) can lead to court orders being issued.

Those are the most common warrants in Florida:

  • Extradition Warrants – those are a type of arrest warrant that’s issued in another state, in order to have an offender currently at large be brought back to the place where his offense was committed. Those individuals would be arrested in Florida but taken to the place where their case is being tried.
  • Failure To Appear Warrants – are issued when someone has an ongoing court case and misses a court proceeding. When that happens, the judge may issue a warrant to have them arrested and forced to appear.
  • Felony Arrest Warrants – those are warrants issued for crimes committed in Florida. Most of the tools presented in this article show how to find those warrants. After being arrested on a felony warrant, people may be (depending on their case) released on bail, on their own recognizance, or be kept in jail during the trial.
  • Violation of Probation Warrants – individuals on probation must always comply with the terms of their release, such as reporting regularly to their officer and paying fines, among other things. When these people fail to comply, a judge may issue an arrest warrant against them, so they’re brought in to explain themselves and potentially have the terms of their release changed or adjusted.

How To Get a Warrant Dropped or Resolved in Leon County

When faced with an outstanding warrant, there are some things citizens can do about it to try and resolve their problem. One way to handle a warrant is to contact law enforcement directly and ask them for help. That, however, may lead to an individual’s arrest since it’s the law enforcement’s job to execute the warrant.

There are options but if contacting law enforcement or turning themselves in is the chosen course of action, this is the contact information of the Sheriff’s Office Warrants Department and the Tallahassee Police Department.8

Leon County Sheriff’s Office
Warrants Department
2825 Municipal Way
Tallahassee, FL 32304

Phone: 850.606.3300

Tallahassee Police Department
Headquarters and Records Department
234 E 7th Ave
Tallahassee, FL 32303

Phone: 850.691.4221

For individuals who have information about wanted offenders, it’s possible to submit a tip using the Leon County Sheriff’s Office online form.9 It’s also possible to submit information at the state level, when the warrant or incident is connected to other counties, through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement tip line.

Another way to approach an open warrant is to be proactive about it and seek competent help. Anyone who has reason to believe they might be in trouble should retain an experienced attorney who can both contact law enforcement on their client’s behalf and provide sensible counsel on how to address the active warrant at hand.

If, after consulting with an attorney, turning themselves in remains the best possible action to take, this is what it’s suggested:

  • Before heading to the law enforcement’s office, people should contact their support net and let family or friends know about what will happen to them. It’s also important to let them know how they can support and help in this difficult time.
  • Also, they should find a bondsman and make arrangements for their bail to be posted as soon as possible.

Anytime a concern arises for themselves or someone they care about, citizens can perform a Leon County warrant search and find out if they need to take action on an open court order. Being able to readily find information when it’s needed is priceless, and no one should take for granted the privilege of accessing public records information and uncovering information that can help make an educated decision.


References

1Office of the Attorney General State of Florida. (n.d). The “Sunshine” Law. Retrieved January 15, 2024, from <https://www.myfloridalegal.com/open-government/the-quotsunshinequot-law>

2Florida Crime Information Center, Department of Law Enforcement. (n.d). Public Access System (PAS) – Wanted Persons Search. Retrieved January 15, 2024, from <http://pas.fdle.state.fl.us/pas/restricted/PAS/person/WantedPersons.jsf>

3Leon County Sheriff’s Office. (n.d). Warrant Search. Retrieved January 15, 2024, from <https://www.leoncountyso.com/departments/judicial-services/warrant-search>

4Leon County Sheriff’s Office. (n.d). Warrants Unit. Retrieved January 15, 2024, from <https://www.leoncountyso.com/departments/judicial-services/warrants-unit>

5Leon County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller. (n.d). Courts Search. Retrieved January 15, 2024, from <https://cvweb.leonclerk.com/public/online_services/search_courts/search_by_name.asp?case_search_type=criminal>

6Leon County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller. (n.d). Official Records Search. Retrieved January 15, 2024, from <https://cvweb.leonclerk.com/public/clerk_services/official_records/index.asp>

7Florida Department of Law Enforcement. (n.d). Contacts. Retrieved January 15, 2024, from <https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/Contacts.aspx>

8Tallahassee Police Department. (n.d). About Us. Retrieved January 15, 2024, from <https://www.talgov.com/publicsafety/tpd-departments>

9Leon County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller. (n.d). Submit a crime tip. Retrieved January 15, 2024, from <https://www.leoncountyso.com/citizen-center/submit-a-crime-tip>