Find Clearwater Warrant Records
Clearwater warrant records are processed through the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office and the county court system. Clearwater is the county seat of Pinellas County with about 117,000 residents. The Clearwater Police Department handles local law enforcement, but all warrant records go through the county sheriff for tracking and execution. You can search for active warrants in Clearwater using the FDLE statewide database, the Pinellas County Sheriff's warrants page, or the Pinellas County Clerk of Court case search. All three sources are free to use and available online.
Clearwater Quick Facts
Clearwater Warrants at Pinellas Sheriff
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office handles warrant records for Clearwater and the rest of Pinellas County. The sheriff has a dedicated warrants page that links to the FDLE Wanted Persons search. This page is the starting point for anyone looking up active warrants that may affect Clearwater residents. The PCSO notes on their site that the FDLE search covers statewide warrants but does not search local Pinellas County matters like parking tickets or minor infractions.
The Clearwater Police Department is at 645 Pierce Street in downtown Clearwater. You can call them at (727) 562-4242. Officers patrol the city and serve warrants, but the warrants themselves are filed and tracked at the county level. If you contact Clearwater PD about a warrant, they will direct you to the Pinellas County Sheriff or the FDLE database.
The Pinellas County Sheriff's warrants page directs the public to the FDLE Wanted Persons search for checking active warrants in Clearwater.
The PCSO warrants page also includes Crime Stoppers contact information for anonymous tips about wanted persons in the Clearwater area.
| Clearwater Police |
645 Pierce Street, Clearwater, FL 33756 Phone: (727) 562-4242 |
|---|---|
| Pinellas Sheriff |
10750 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33778 Phone: (727) 582-6200 |
| Pinellas Clerk |
315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756 Phone: (727) 464-7000 |
How to Search Clearwater Warrants
Start with the FDLE Wanted Persons search. This is the same resource the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office links to on their warrants page. Enter a name and check the results. It is free. No account needed. The system shows active warrants from all 67 Florida counties, including Pinellas which covers Clearwater. Results show the warrant type and the agency that issued it. The FDLE database updates every 24 hours.
The Pinellas County Clerk of Court has an online case search for criminal case dockets. You can search by name or case number. Bench warrants and capias entries show up in the docket. This is the best place to go for details on a specific Clearwater criminal case, including bond amounts and hearing dates. The clerk's office is located right in Clearwater at 315 Court Street since Clearwater is the county seat.
Crime Stoppers of Pinellas County also accepts anonymous tips. You can call TIPS (8477) or use the P3 Tips mobile app. If you have information about someone with an active warrant in Clearwater, this is one way to share it safely.
Note: Clearwater warrant records may show up on the clerk or sheriff site before they appear on the FDLE statewide system.
Types of Warrants in Clearwater
Arrest warrants are the most common type affecting Clearwater residents. A judge signs one after finding probable cause under Florida Statute 901.02. The warrant goes out to all sheriffs in the state. It can be served any day, any time. Arrest warrants in Clearwater do not expire. They stay active until the person is found or a judge recalls the order. An old warrant from years ago can still lead to an arrest during a traffic stop or any other contact with law enforcement in Clearwater.
Bench warrants and capias warrants come from the court when someone misses a hearing date. These are common in Clearwater, especially for traffic-related cases. Violation of probation warrants are issued when someone breaks the terms of probation. Fugitive warrants apply when a person wanted in another state is found in Pinellas County.
Search warrants have expiration dates. Under Florida Statute 933.07, a search warrant must be served within 14 days. These authorize officers to search a specific location in Clearwater for evidence linked to a criminal investigation.
Public Access to Clearwater Warrants
Clearwater warrant records are public under Florida's Sunshine Law. Florida Statute 119.07 gives every person the right to inspect and copy public records held by state and local agencies. This includes warrant records at the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office and the Clerk of Court. You do not need to be the person named on the warrant to look it up. You do not need to explain your reason for searching.
Some exceptions apply. Active criminal investigations are exempt under Florida Statute 119.071. Search warrants and their affidavits stay sealed until served or until law enforcement says they cannot be carried out. Officers may also have "pocket warrants" that are not in any public database yet. If you suspect a warrant exists in Clearwater but cannot find it online, talk to a criminal defense lawyer who can contact the investigating agency.
Responding to a Clearwater Warrant
If you find a warrant in your name in Clearwater, get legal advice before doing anything else. Do not walk into a police station or the Pinellas County Jail without first speaking to a lawyer. Under Florida law, turning yourself in on a warrant means going into custody before posting bond. A licensed bail bondsman in Clearwater can help you understand the process and get through it as smoothly as possible.
Under Florida Statute 901.07, if you are arrested on a warrant in a county other than Pinellas, the arresting officer must tell you about your right to bail. If you post bail immediately, you can do so in that county. Otherwise, the officer takes you to the judge who issued the warrant. Under Florida Statute 901.16, the officer must explain the reason for the arrest and confirm that a warrant exists. The officer does not need to have the physical warrant at the time, but must show it to you if asked.
Note: Clearwater warrants do not expire and can lead to arrest at any time, including during travel or at a routine traffic stop.
Pinellas County Warrant Records
Clearwater is in Pinellas County and serves as the county seat. All warrants go through the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office and the 6th Judicial Circuit. The county has about 960,000 residents across Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Largo, and many other communities. For more details on the county court system, sheriff contacts, and warrant resources, visit the Pinellas County page.
Nearby Florida Cities
These cities are near Clearwater and also have warrant records pages. Each is served by its county sheriff's office for warrant processing and execution.