Access Free Escambia County Warrant Search Tools (Resource)

Conduct a free Escambia County warrant search on anyone today.

Look up public records to see if you or someone you know has an outstanding warrant or to see who is wanted within the county.

You can search for warrants for any reason, as the Florida Sunshine Law requires that this information is made available. However, you must know where to look for warrant data.

This streamlined resource provides record custodian contact information and the tools you need to efficiently perform a warrant search in Escambia County, Florida.

This resource was written by Attorney Robert Bailey Jr, who holds a Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law.

Navigating Escambia County Warrant Searches (An Overview)

As you prepare to conduct a search, you are best served by having a firm understanding of your level of access to warrants in Escambia, what types there are and the information you will need to conduct an effective search.

The Florida Sunshine Law provides a broad right to request and access public records, such as information on warrants a person may have.¹ While this is a broad right, it does not provide unrestricted access. There are exceptions to agencies making this information available to the public.

One pertinent example is when the disclosure of warrant information would hinder an ongoing law enforcement matter.

There are various types of warrants in Escambia County. A later section will talk about the different types of warrants in Escambia County. However, it is important to know that some types (e.g., search warrants) are more likely to be restricted from public access until they are fully executed.

These different warrants can be found through various means. Warrant information can be obtained through online searches, formal requests and going in person. You may also submit requests for warrant data through email, mail, and phone.

Whatever method you choose to access warrant information, you must have some basic information before you begin. Unless you have the case or warrant number, at a minimum, you will need to know the person’s complete name. To ensure you are looking with the correct government agency, you will also want to know what county issued the warrant and where the offender lives.

Other information can be useful in your search, such as identifying information about the individual (e.g., appearance, date of birth, etc.). You may also be able to narrow down a difficult search if you know the agency that issued the warrant or the basis for why it was issued.

Depending on the county (and state), different custodians may be responsible for handling and making available warrant information. In Escambia County, the County Clerk is the record custodian for warrant information through their criminal records.

Often, you can also access warrant information at the municipal (city or town) level. The cities and towns in Escambia County do not issue their own warrants or provide access to this information.

How To Tell if Someone Has a Warrant in Escambia County Florida

If you want to determine if someone has a warrant, one option is to perform a search using the Escambia County Clerk of Court Case Search Tool.² To find warrant information you must conduct a criminal case records search.

To begin your search, under court types, only select criminal courts. There are several options to choose from, such as criminal traffic and felony. Unless you have the case number, you will then want to select the “name” option and enter the information you have.

You can also set a date range for when the criminal case was filed or closed.

Once you get to the search results page, you can view matching names along with the case number and status. You can then click on the case number to view the complete online criminal record.

Once you open the complete criminal record, you can view the “Events” and “Docket” sections for warrant information. Both sections have a list of the events and court orders issued for a particular criminal case. It’s in these sections you can see when a warrant was issued and any related information.

Under the Docket, if you want to access the complete warrant, you can click on the “Request” button on the left-hand side. You can then enter your email address to request the document.

If you have any questions about accessing warrant information, you can reach out to the Escambia County Clerk by phone at 850-595-4310 anytime between Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (4:00 PM on Friday).⁴ Or you can go in person to conduct a search at the address below:

Escambia County Clerk
190 W. Government St.
Pensacola, Florida 32502

If you are still looking for information, you may want to reach out to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, whose warrant unit is responsible for handling their execution. You can call them at 850-436-9620 or by going to the address below:

Escambia County Sheriff’s Office
1700 W. Leonard Street
Pensacola, FL 32501

While some cities and towns issue and provide access to their own warrant information, that is not the case in Escambia County. You can find information at the county level, as described already, or through state resources, which will be discussed next.

How To Retrieve Information on Any Florida Warrants

You may determine that you want to expand your search to look for warrants throughout Florida. While you have the option to conduct searches with various Florida counties, there is a quicker option.

A citizen can conduct a statewide search of wanted persons using the Florida Crime Information Center’s Online Search Tool.⁵ You can use this search tool to find wanted persons throughout Florida by their name. You can also enter additional identifying information such as race, sex, or date of birth.

Once you complete a search, you will see any matching results with the person(s) name, date of birth, race, sex, and reporting agency. You can then click on their name to get additional information.

Here, you can see the date the warrant was issued, the number, and the reason for its issuance. You can also see other data about the person, including a mugshot.

For additional questions, you can contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement by phone at 850-410-7000 or by going to the address below:⁶

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

Warrant Types & What They Mean

As you’re conducting your search, you may find various types of warrant information. In Escambia County, there are several different types of warrants. Understanding the purpose of each and how they are issued can help you determine what type of information you want to search for.

In Escambia County, you may run into the following types of warrants:

Arrest Warrant: Generally speaking, an arrest warrant is issued when law enforcement presents a judge with probable cause that a person committed a particular crime in violation of Florida statutes. The warrant issued by the judge authorizes law enforcement to take that person into custody.

Under the larger umbrella of arrest warrants are specific types. A felony arrest warrant is issued when a person commits certain types of serious crimes in Escambia County. A violation of probation warrant is issued when a person does not follow certain sentencing terms that allow them to stay out of prison.

An extradition warrant calls for the arrest of a person who is wanted in another state. You can also receive a warrant for your arrest for failure to pay child support. In certain situations involving traffic violations, a warrant may be issued if a party fails to timely resolve the matter.

Bench Warrant: Similar to an arrest, a bench warrant allows for a person to be taken into custody. Unlike the arrest warrant, it does not stem from the submission of evidence of a crime. Rather, it is issued directly by a judge when a person fails to show up for a required court hearing or otherwise disobeys some type of court order.

Search Warrant: This type of warrant allows law enforcement to search a defined area for evidence of a specific crime. Similar to an arrest warrant, a judge issues this upon the establishment of probable cause provided by law enforcement.

How To Get Rid of an Outstanding Warrant in Escambia County Florida

After you conduct a search and find the information you are looking for, the process does not end there. Now, depending on what you found, you will have to determine what to do with that information. You may have found out that a family member or even you have an outstanding warrant in Escambia County.

If you have a warrant out for your arrest, you must take immediate action. That does not mean turning yourself into jail right away. However, you should immediately seek an appointment with a licensed attorney that specializes in criminal law.

They will outline for you what things you should and should not do and your next steps.

One of those next steps is likely to contact a bail bondsman. The reason is that you will want to have everything set up if there is an opportunity to post bail after turning yourself in. The other thing you will want to do is notify your family so they are aware of your situation.

Of course, you may find out that the matter is not as serious as you thought. For certain warrants, you may be able to have it removed by rescheduling a court date or paying an outstanding fine.

Now, if you find out that someone else you know has an active warrant, consider what your best options are. For minor matters and if you know the person well, you can just let them know directly. However, if you do not know them well, then you might just want to tell a mutual friend or family member.

If the matter is serious, you may want to inform law enforcement directly. For instance, you can provide information that you have on an outstanding warrant directly to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 850-433-7867.

With the information above, you should now have a good understanding of what to do with anything you find while conducting an Escambia County warrant search; use the tools and resources provided throughout this article to assist you.