How to Find Out if Someone Has a Warrant: Your Complete Guide

Cindy Ellis - February 5, 2023

Finding out if someone has a warrant is an important part of verifying someone’s identity, making sure an individual is safe to be hired, or double-checking a person’s history before you decide to form any kind of relationship with them. It can initially seem confusing to try and find out if someone has a warrant, but this process doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

Our article helps you understand what a warrant is and how to find out if someone has an active warrant or a history of arrests. Read on for all you need to know.

What Is a Warrant?

A warrant is a document issued by a court system or judge that authorizes certain acts against the person named in the warrant that would otherwise be against personal rights and freedoms. There are several different types of warrants, including arrest warrants, which permit an individual to be detained, and search warrants, which permit law enforcement officers to enter and search property.

In most cases, if you are trying to figure out if someone has a warrant, you are trying to determine if they have a warrant out for their arrest or a bench warrant, which means they must make an appearance in court.

It’s important to note that not all warrants indicate a person has committed criminal acts and needs to spend time in jail. For example, many warrants are issued due to a failure to appear in court for traffic violations, speeding issues, and other minor infractions. In these cases, a law enforcement officer will remind someone with the warrant to report to their jurisdiction’s courthouse to handle any fees, fines, or cases against them.

If a law enforcement officer encounters someone with an arrest warrant or someone who has committed minor infractions but has repeatedly failed to show up in court, they may be detained. But, of course, this varies on individual situations and specific state laws.

Are Warrants Public Records?

Yes, most warrants, including arrest warrants, are public records. Additionally, any supporting materials and documents accompanying the warrant are also available as public records in most states.

For a warrant or arrest record to be held from public record, the court must first decide that it is in law enforcement’s or the public’s best interest. Usually, these records or only held until a specific date or event (like after a co-conspirator has been detained). You will need to check with state and federal laws to determine when a specific warrant might be available to view as a public record.

How to Find Out if Someone Has a Warrant

There are several ways to find out if someone has a warrant. We list these search methods below; remember to try each method before giving up, as you never know which one will pull up the information you need.

1) Search Public Records

Searching public records is one of the best ways to determine if a warrant has been issued for someone. Of course, the warrant in question will need to be released to public record by a judge or court system in most cases.

If there are circumstances surrounding the warrant, like an active investigation, you might not be able to access it through public record until the individual in question is arrested or an event associated with the warrant has been completed (such as a property search).

The best way to check public records for a warrant is to visit your County Clerk’s office or town courthouse. The records offices in these areas will often hold warrants, and you can speak with someone to help point you in the right direction of the one you want to find.

If you are investigating someone who has lived in other states or counties, you may want to check with records offices in those jurisdictions, too, as warrants are issued individually by region.

2) Contact Law Enforcement

Contacting local law enforcement is another simple way to determine if someone has a warrant for their arrest. For this method, you can call police precincts via a non-emergency line and speak to an officer to inquire about warrants for a certain individual. They may be able to point you in the right direction depending on if the warrant is public record and your state’s specific privacy laws. In most cases, you will need to have the individual’s full name and maybe their social security number to find a warrant.

Keep in mind that you may need to call several police precincts and even law enforcement offices out of state based on where an individual lived previously, as sometimes data is not accurately shared between precincts in other counties or states.

3) Conduct a Background Check

Background checks are a great way to easily find out if someone has an active warrant or to see if someone has a history of arrests and criminal convictions. Most basic background checks can be completed online with a background check search tool.

All you need to do for this search method is type in the name and location of the person you are researching and run the search. A report on the person’s background history will be returned to you along with any warrants and criminal records.

It’s important to note that if you are trying to background check someone for hiring purposes, you must gain prior written permission from the individual and notify them that their criminal records will be viewed. Check with your state’s disclosure and hiring practices for more specific information on this process.

4) Speak With a Bail Bond Agent

A bail bond agent or bond dealer provides bail bonds to individuals who might not otherwise have the money to post bail after being arrested. Most agents have access to systems that let them see who has been arrested or who has an active warrant, similar to systems that police officers use.

By contacting local companies, you can inquire if someone has recently been arrested or has a warrant out for them. Use the individual’s full name that you are searching for; this method will only work if you have the accurate legal name of the person you are searching for (meaning they haven’t given you a fake name). However, depending on state privacy laws, the bond agent may deny to give you any information.

What if Someone Has an Outstanding Warrant?

If you discover that the person you are researching has an outstanding warrant, you have some decisions to make. First, you should look at what the warrant is for. For example, it might be for a basic traffic violation or failure to appear in court, both of which are considered minor offenses. In this case, it might not be a problem to continue forming a relationship with them or hire them.

However, if the warrant is due to criminal activities or the person has a history of arrests for serious criminal offenses, you may want to reevaluate your relationship and your comfort with this part of their history. Every situation is unique, and only you can decide what to do with this information.

If you need more clarification on a minor warrant, it may be necessary to have a frank conversation with them about it. They might not even know they have a warrant out, as this often happens with traffic violations. However, be wary about discussing it if it is a warrant for arrest due to criminal offenses, as you never know when someone will react poorly.

Always keep your safety in mind when dealing with someone with outstanding warrants, and carefully consider your specific situation before making any decisions or taking the next step.

Finding Someone’s Criminal Records

When trying to find out if someone has a warrant, you might be a little bit overwhelmed with where to start. Fortunately, there are plenty of search methods to find out this information. Review the steps in our article and try each method to determine if someone has a warrant. Once you figure this out, you can think about taking your next steps while being fully informed.