Access West Palm Beach Warrant Records

West Palm Beach warrant records are managed through the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO) and the 15th Judicial Circuit Court. The city is the county seat of Palm Beach County with about 128,000 residents. The West Palm Beach Police Department handles local policing, but all warrants flow through the county system. You can search for active warrants through the free FDLE database or the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court's online case search, which highlights warrant entries in yellow for quick identification.

West Palm Beach Warrant Records at PBSO

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office handles all warrant records for West Palm Beach. PBSO processes arrest warrants, manages the county warrant database, and runs a fugitive unit. You can reach them at (561) 688-3000. The sheriff's office is the central point for all warrant activity in Palm Beach County, including cities that have their own police departments like West Palm Beach.

The West Palm Beach Police Department is at 600 Banyan Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Their phone number is (561) 822-1900. Officers patrol the city and can arrest people on active warrants during traffic stops, calls for service, and other contacts. But the warrant itself lives in the county system managed by PBSO. West Palm Beach PD does not keep a separate warrant database.

The West Palm Beach Police Department website has contact info, non-emergency resources, and details on local law enforcement services.

Officers from both PBSO and the West Palm Beach Police can serve warrants anywhere in Palm Beach County.

How to Search West Palm Beach Warrant Records

The FDLE Public Access System is the quickest starting point. Go to the Wanted Persons search page and enter a name. It is free. No account is required. The system pulls active warrants from all 67 Florida counties. Palm Beach County warrants affecting West Palm Beach residents appear here with the warrant type and issuing agency listed.

The Palm Beach County Clerk of Court has an online case search that is especially useful. Look up cases by party name or case number. The clerk's system uses yellow highlighting to flag warrant entries in the docket. This makes it easy to spot bench warrants, capias warrants, and failure to appear entries in West Palm Beach cases. You can also see charges, bond amounts, court dates, and the full case history.

PBSO's non-emergency line at (561) 688-3000 is another way to check. Staff can search the active warrant list and confirm whether someone has an outstanding warrant in Palm Beach County. This is a good backup when the online tools do not give you clear results. Warrants sometimes take a short time to show up in the FDLE statewide system, so PBSO may have newer entries.

The FDLE homepage also has criminal history lookups and sex offender searches. These are separate from warrant searches but can be useful for a broader background check on someone in West Palm Beach.

Types of Warrants in West Palm Beach

Arrest warrants make up the bulk of warrant records in West Palm Beach. Under Florida Statute 901.02, a judge signs an arrest warrant after reviewing a sworn affidavit that shows probable cause. The warrant must name the person or describe them enough to be identified. It tells all Florida sheriffs to arrest that individual. The warrant can be served at any hour of any day.

Bench warrants are very common in West Palm Beach courts. A judge issues one when someone fails to appear for a scheduled hearing. There is no notice first. The warrant goes straight into the Palm Beach County system. A capias is similar. The Clerk of Circuit Court can issue a capias for arrest in some situations. Both show up in the clerk's online case search with yellow highlighting for easy spotting.

Search warrants follow separate rules. Under Florida Statute 933.07, a search warrant expires after 14 days if not executed. These warrants allow officers to search a specific location for evidence of a crime. In West Palm Beach, they are often tied to narcotics investigations and financial fraud cases. The affidavit behind a search warrant is sealed until it is served.

Probation violation warrants go out when someone breaks their probation terms. A probation officer files an affidavit, the judge signs the warrant, and it enters the county system. Fugitive warrants from other states also pass through PBSO when the person may be in the West Palm Beach area.

Public Access to West Palm Beach Warrants

Warrant records in West Palm Beach are public. Florida Statute 119.07 says anyone can inspect and copy public records from a Florida government agency. This includes warrant records held by PBSO and the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court. No reason is needed. You do not have to be the person named on the warrant to look it up.

Some exemptions apply. Active criminal investigation files may be held back under Florida Statute 119.071. Search warrant affidavits stay sealed until served. Some warrants are carried by officers but not yet entered into public databases. These so-called pocket warrants will not show up in any online search. If you believe a warrant exists for someone in West Palm Beach but cannot find it, a defense attorney can inquire directly with the investigating agency.

Florida Statute 901.04 also lets officers arrest without a warrant when probable cause exists. These warrantless arrests still generate records in the Palm Beach County Clerk's system. Even when no warrant was issued beforehand, the arrest and case details show up in the online database for West Palm Beach.

What to Do About a West Palm Beach Warrant

Speak with a defense attorney first. Do not go to PBSO or the West Palm Beach Police without legal counsel. Under Florida law, turning yourself in on a warrant means going into custody before bail gets set. A lawyer in the West Palm Beach area can guide you through the process and may arrange a controlled surrender.

Under Florida Statute 901.07, if you are arrested on a West Palm Beach warrant while in a different county, the arresting officer must tell you about your right to bail. You can try to post bail in that county. If you cannot, you will be transported back to Palm Beach County. Under Florida Statute 901.16, the officer must state the reason for the arrest and that a warrant has been issued. The physical warrant does not have to be on the officer at the time, but the officer must produce it if you ask.

Warrants in West Palm Beach never expire. A warrant from many years ago is still active and can lead to arrest at any time. Handling an outstanding warrant as soon as you learn about it is the best course. Many defense lawyers in West Palm Beach offer free first consultations for warrant matters.

Palm Beach County Warrant Records

West Palm Beach is the county seat of Palm Beach County. All warrants go through PBSO and the 15th Judicial Circuit Court. Palm Beach County is one of the largest in Florida, serving over 1.5 million people across West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, and many other communities. For full county-level details on warrant resources and search tools, visit the Palm Beach County page.

View Palm Beach County Warrant Records

Nearby Florida Cities

These cities are near West Palm Beach and also have warrant records pages. Both are in Palm Beach County and share the same county warrant system.