Tampa Warrant Records
Tampa warrant records are processed through the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Tampa is the county seat of Hillsborough County with about 414,000 residents. The Tampa Police Department handles local law enforcement, but all warrants go through the county sheriff. You can search for active warrants in Tampa through the FDLE statewide database or the Hillsborough County sheriff's warrant inquiry tool. The Hillsborough County Clerk of Court also keeps warrant activity in criminal case dockets that you can search online.
Tampa Quick Facts
Tampa Warrant Records at HCSO
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office handles all warrant records for Tampa. The sheriff has a Warrants Division that processes arrest warrants, maintains the active warrant database, and works with fugitive units. Tampa Police may make arrests on warrants, but the warrant itself is filed and tracked through the county system. This is true for all cities in Hillsborough County, not just Tampa.
The Tampa Police Department is located at 411 N. Franklin Street in downtown Tampa. You can reach them at (813) 276-3200 for non-emergency matters or (813) 231-6130 for general questions. If you need to check on a specific warrant in Tampa, the police department will direct you to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office or the FDLE statewide search.
The Tampa Police Department works closely with the sheriff's office on warrant service. Officers can serve warrants during routine patrols and traffic stops in Tampa.
| Tampa Police |
411 N. Franklin Street, Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: (813) 276-3200 Non-Emergency: (813) 231-6130 |
|---|---|
| HCSO |
2008 E. Eighth Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605 Phone: (813) 247-8200 |
| Clerk of Court |
800 E. Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: (813) 276-8100 |
How to Search Tampa Warrant Records
The best way to look up warrant records in Tampa is the FDLE Public Access System. Visit the Wanted Persons search page and enter the name you want to check. The search is free. No account is needed. The system shows active warrants from all 67 Florida counties including Hillsborough, which covers Tampa. Results include the warrant type and issuing agency.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office also has a warrant inquiry tool on their website. This lets you search specifically for warrants in the Hillsborough County system. It may show warrants that have not yet reached the FDLE database. This is a good second step after checking the statewide system for Tampa warrant records.
The Hillsborough County Clerk of Court has an online case search where you can find bench warrants and capias entries in criminal case dockets. Search by party name or case number. Warrant activity shows up in the docket once the clerk enters it. This is useful if you need details on a specific case in Tampa rather than just checking for active warrants.
Note: Tampa warrant records may show up on the county sheriff or clerk site before they appear on the statewide FDLE system.
Types of Warrants in Tampa
Tampa residents may deal with several types of warrants. Arrest warrants are the most common kind. A judge signs one after reviewing a sworn complaint and finding probable cause under Florida Statute 901.02. The warrant tells all sheriffs in the state to arrest the named person. It can be served any day, any time in Tampa or anywhere else in Florida.
Bench warrants come out when someone fails to appear for a court date in Tampa. A capias is similar and can be issued by the Clerk of Circuit Court. Violation of probation warrants go out when someone breaks the terms of their probation. Fugitive warrants apply when a person is wanted in another state. All of these types appear in Tampa and Hillsborough County warrant records over time.
Under Florida Statute 933.07, search warrants must be carried out within 14 days or they expire. Arrest warrants in Tampa do not expire at all. They stay active until the person is found or a judge recalls the warrant. Even very old warrants can still result in arrest during a traffic stop or other contact with law enforcement in Tampa.
Public Access to Tampa Warrants
Tampa warrant records are public under Florida's Sunshine Law. Florida Statute 119.07 gives anyone the right to look at and copy public records held by state and local agencies. This covers warrant records at the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and the Clerk of Court. You do not have to be the person named on the warrant to search for it in Tampa. You do not need to give a reason for your search.
Some records are held back. Active criminal intelligence and investigative info is exempt under Florida Statute 119.071. Search warrants and their affidavits stay private until served or until law enforcement says execution is not possible. Officers may also hold "pocket warrants" that are not yet in any public database for Tampa. If you suspect a warrant exists but cannot find it online, a criminal defense attorney can make inquiries with the investigating agency.
What to Do About a Tampa Warrant
If you find a warrant in your name in Tampa, get legal advice before doing anything. Do not go to a police station or jail without talking to a lawyer first. Under Florida law, if you turn yourself in, you must go into custody before you can post bond. A licensed bail bondsman in Tampa can walk you through the process.
Under Florida Statute 901.07, if you are arrested on a warrant in a different county, the arresting officer must inform you of your right to bail. If you can post bail right away, you may do so in that county. If not, the officer takes you before the judge who issued the warrant. Under Florida Statute 901.16, the officer must tell you why you are being arrested and that a warrant has been issued. The officer does not need to have the physical warrant at the time but must show it if you ask.
Note: Warrants in Tampa do not expire and can lead to arrest at any time, even years after they were issued.
Hillsborough County Warrant Records
Tampa is in Hillsborough County, and all warrants go through the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. The county handles warrant records for over 1.4 million residents across Tampa, Brandon, Riverview, Town 'n' Country, and many other communities. For more details on the county court system, sheriff contacts, and warrant resources, visit the Hillsborough County page.
Nearby Florida Cities
These cities are near Tampa and also have warrant records pages. All of them are served by their respective county sheriff's offices for warrant processing.