St. Petersburg Warrant Records

St. Petersburg warrant records are processed through the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. With about 267,000 residents, St. Petersburg is the largest city in Pinellas County and sits on the western side of Tampa Bay. The St. Petersburg Police Department handles day-to-day law enforcement, but all warrants go through the county sheriff's system. You can look up active warrants through the FDLE statewide database or contact the Pinellas County Sheriff directly. The Pinellas County Clerk of Court also tracks warrant entries in criminal case dockets that are searchable online.

St. Petersburg Warrants at PCSO

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office manages warrant records for St. Petersburg and the entire county. Their main number is (727) 582-6200. The sheriff runs a warrants unit that processes new warrants, tracks active ones, and coordinates with fugitive squads. When a judge in St. Petersburg signs an arrest warrant or bench warrant, the sheriff's office logs it into their system and submits it to the FDLE statewide database.

The St. Petersburg Police Department is at 1300 First Avenue N., St. Petersburg, FL 33705. Call (727) 893-7780 for non-emergency matters. St. Pete officers arrest people on active warrants during traffic stops, patrols, and calls for service. But the warrant record stays in the county system. The police department does not keep its own warrant database. They run warrant checks through the sheriff's system during encounters.

The St. Petersburg Police website has contact information and details about working with the Pinellas County Sheriff on warrant matters.

The PCSO also maintains a warrants page that links to the FDLE search tool for checking active warrants in Pinellas County. This page may also have information about local most-wanted lists and tips on how to report someone with an active warrant in St. Petersburg.

Searching St. Petersburg Warrants

Use the FDLE Public Access System first. The Wanted Persons search lets you check for active warrants from all 67 Florida counties. Enter a name and search. It is free. No sign-up needed. Pinellas County warrants that cover St. Petersburg show up once the sheriff submits them. The results show the warrant type and the agency that issued it.

The Pinellas County Clerk of Court has online case search tools. You can look up criminal cases by name or case number. Bench warrants and capias entries appear in case dockets for St. Petersburg cases. This is helpful if you want more detail about a specific case rather than just confirming a warrant exists. The clerk's office can also help over the phone or in person at the courthouse.

For direct questions about a St. Petersburg warrant, call the Pinellas County Sheriff at (727) 582-6200. They can check their local system, which may have records that have not yet reached the FDLE database.

Note: St. Petersburg warrant records may appear in the county system days before they show up on the FDLE statewide search.

Types of Warrants in St. Petersburg

Arrest warrants are the most common type in St. Petersburg. Under Florida Statute 901.02, a judge issues one after reviewing a sworn affidavit that establishes probable cause. The warrant goes to every sheriff in Florida. It can be served at any hour, any day, in St. Petersburg or elsewhere. Arrest warrants do not expire. An old warrant from years back is still valid and can lead to arrest during any law enforcement contact in St. Petersburg.

Bench warrants come from judges when a person misses a scheduled court date. A capias is a court order that works like an arrest warrant. Violation of probation warrants get issued when someone breaks probation rules set by a Pinellas County judge. Fugitive warrants cover people wanted in other states. Under Florida Statute 933.07, search warrants must be executed within 14 days or they expire. But arrest warrants in St. Petersburg have no time limit at all.

Public Access to St. Petersburg Warrants

Florida Statute 119.07 gives everyone the right to inspect public records held by government agencies. This includes warrant records at the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office and Clerk of Court. You do not need to be the person named on the warrant. No reason is needed for your search. The Sunshine Law makes St. Petersburg warrant records broadly accessible to the public.

Some records are exempt. Active criminal intelligence stays sealed. Search warrant affidavits are not released until the warrant is served or law enforcement says it cannot be carried out. Under Florida Statute 901.16, the officer who arrests someone on a warrant in St. Petersburg must state the reason for the arrest and confirm that a warrant exists. The officer does not need the physical warrant at the time of arrest but must show it upon request.

What to Do About a St. Petersburg Warrant

Contact a criminal defense attorney right away. If you have an active warrant in St. Petersburg, a lawyer can help you plan the safest way to resolve it. Turning yourself in means going into custody first, then posting bond. For bench warrants from missed court dates, an attorney may file a motion to quash the warrant and set a new hearing. This can save you from sitting in the Pinellas County Jail.

Under Florida Statute 901.04, officers must tell you why you are being arrested. If the arrest happens on a warrant in a different county from where it was issued, you still have the right to post bail if bail has been set. If no bail is set, the officer takes you before the issuing judge in Pinellas County. Warrants in St. Petersburg do not go away on their own. They stay active until the person is found or a judge recalls the warrant.

Note: A bench warrant from a missed court date in St. Petersburg is often the easiest type to resolve with an attorney's help.

Pinellas County Warrant Records

St. Petersburg is in Pinellas County. All warrants go through the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. The county has about 980,000 residents spread across St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, and other cities. For more details on the county court system and warrant search tools, visit the Pinellas County page.

View Pinellas County Warrant Records

Nearby Florida Cities

These cities are near St. Petersburg and have their own warrant records pages with local law enforcement details.