Miami Beach Warrant Records

Miami Beach warrant records are managed through the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office. The city sits on a barrier island in Miami-Dade County with a population of about 83,000. Local officers at the Miami Beach Police Department respond to calls and make arrests, but all warrants flow through the county sheriff system. You can check for active warrants using the FDLE statewide database at no cost. The Miami-Dade Clerk of Court keeps criminal dockets where warrant entries show up as well. Reaching the Warrants Bureau at (305) 471-1700 is another way to ask about active cases.

Miami Beach Warrant Processing

The Miami Beach Police Department is the main law enforcement body for the city. The department is at 1100 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139. You can call them at (305) 673-7900 for non-emergency matters. Officers handle patrol, investigations, and arrests. But the warrant records themselves are filed and tracked through the county system. Miami Beach police can arrest someone on an active warrant, though the record stays with the sheriff.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office runs the Warrants Bureau for the whole county. That includes Miami Beach. The bureau handles all types of warrants, from arrest warrants to bench warrants to capias. If someone has an active warrant tied to a Miami Beach case, it sits in the county database until that person is found or a judge recalls it. You can reach the Warrants Bureau at (305) 471-1700.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office website has information about warrant searches and how to check if you have an active warrant in the county system.

This is the main portal for the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, which handles all warrant records for Miami Beach and other cities in the county.

How to Search Miami Beach Warrants

Start with the FDLE Public Access System. The Wanted Persons search page lets you look up active warrants from all 67 Florida counties. That includes Miami-Dade, which covers Miami Beach. The search is free. You just need a first and last name. Results show the warrant type, the issuing agency, and some details about the person. The FDLE system updates daily, but there can be a short lag between when a warrant is issued in Miami Beach and when it shows up in the statewide database.

You can also check with the Miami-Dade Clerk of Court. The clerk keeps criminal case dockets online. Bench warrants and capias entries show up in those dockets when a judge issues them. Search by the person's name or by case number. This is helpful if you need to track a specific Miami Beach case rather than just looking for active warrants.

Note: Miami Beach warrants may appear on the county clerk or sheriff site before they reach the FDLE statewide system.

Warrant Types in Miami Beach

Arrest warrants are the most common type in Miami Beach. A judge issues one after a law enforcement officer files a sworn complaint showing probable cause under Florida Statute 901.02. The warrant goes out to all sheriffs in the state. It can be served at any hour, on any day. Officers in Miami Beach or any other Florida city can make the arrest once the warrant is active.

Bench warrants come from a judge when someone misses a court date. A capias works in a similar way and may be issued by the Clerk of Circuit Court. Violation of probation warrants go out if someone breaks probation terms. Fugitive warrants cover people wanted in other states. All of these can show up in Miami Beach warrant records if the person lives in or was charged in the area.

Search warrants are different. Under Florida Statute 933.07, a search warrant has to be carried out within 14 days or it expires. Arrest warrants in Miami Beach do not expire. They stay in the system until the person is caught or a judge pulls the warrant back.

Public Access to Warrant Records

Warrant records in Miami Beach are public under Florida's Sunshine Law. Florida Statute 119.07 says anyone can inspect and copy public records held by state or local agencies. You do not have to be the person named on the warrant. You do not need to give a reason for your search. This applies to warrant records at the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office and the Clerk of Court.

Some exceptions exist. Active criminal investigative info is exempt under Florida Statute 119.071. That means some warrants tied to ongoing investigations may not be visible yet. Officers can also hold what are called "pocket warrants" that have not been entered into any public database. If you think a warrant exists in Miami Beach but cannot find it through online tools, a criminal defense attorney can reach out to the investigating agency on your behalf.

What to Do About a Warrant

If you find out you have a warrant in Miami Beach, talk to a lawyer before you do anything else. Do not just walk into a police station. Under Florida law, you have to go into custody when you turn yourself in on a warrant. Only after that can you post bond. A bail bondsman or attorney can help you plan the process so it goes as fast as possible.

Under Florida Statute 901.16, the arresting officer must tell you why you are being arrested and that a warrant exists. The officer does not need the physical warrant at the time of arrest but must show it to you if you ask. If the arrest happens in a different county, Florida Statute 901.07 says you must be told about your right to bail.

Note: Warrants in Miami Beach do not expire and can result in arrest during any contact with law enforcement.

Miami-Dade County Warrants

Miami Beach is part of Miami-Dade County. All warrant records for the city go through the county sheriff and clerk systems. Miami-Dade is the most populous county in Florida, with over 2.7 million residents. The county handles warrant records for dozens of cities and unincorporated areas. For full details on the county court system, sheriff contacts, and search tools, visit the county page.

View Miami-Dade County Warrant Records

Nearby Florida Cities

These cities are near Miami Beach and also have warrant records pages with local police and county sheriff information.