Broward County Warrant Records

Broward County warrant records are managed by the Broward Sheriff's Office and the Clerk of Courts in Fort Lauderdale. Home to about 1.9 million people, Broward is the second most populous county in Florida. The sheriff's office runs a dedicated Warrants Division that processes felony and misdemeanor warrants, traffic capias, juvenile pick-up orders, and writs of bodily attachment. You can search for active warrants through the free FDLE statewide database or check the clerk's online portal for bench warrants and capias entries in court case dockets. Most of this data is public under Florida law.

Broward Sheriff's Office Warrants

The Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) handles all warrant records in the county. BSO is one of the largest sheriff's offices in the country and provides law enforcement services to many of the cities in Broward County. The main office is at 2601 W. Broward Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. The general number is (954) 831-8901, and the non-emergency line is (954) 764-4357. BSO's Warrants Division is specifically tasked with processing and serving warrants across the county.

The BSO website has details on records requests and how warrant enforcement works in Broward County.

The Warrants Division at BSO processes felony warrants, misdemeanor warrants, traffic capias, juvenile pick-up orders, and writs of bodily attachment. They also confirm warrants for other agencies and coordinate with the fugitive squad when someone cannot be found locally. This division works around the clock to handle warrant verification requests from law enforcement across the country.

Under Florida Statute 901.04, warrants from Broward County are directed to all sheriffs in Florida. A person wanted in Broward can be arrested in any county in the state. BSO also works with federal agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service, to track down fugitives who leave the area.

Note: BSO provides law enforcement to unincorporated areas and several contract cities in Broward County, so their warrant records cover a large portion of the population.

Broward Clerk of Courts Records

The Broward County Clerk of Courts keeps all court case files, including records with warrant activity. When a judge in the 17th Judicial Circuit issues a bench warrant or capias in Broward County, the clerk enters it into the case docket. The clerk's main office is at 201 SE 6th Street in Fort Lauderdale. Phone is (954) 831-6565. You can search court records online through the clerk's website for free.

The Broward County Clerk's online case search lets you look up records by defendant name, case number, or citation number.

Warrant entries show up in the docket section of criminal cases. You can see when a bench warrant was issued, what it was for, and whether it has been resolved. The clerk handles a massive volume of cases since Broward County is the second largest in Florida by population. Copies of documents can be requested in person, by mail, or through the clerk's online system.

How to Search Broward County Warrants

Start with the FDLE Public Access System to check for active warrants in Broward County. The tool is free and does not need a login. Enter a name and the system will return results from all 67 Florida counties, including Broward. You will see the warrant type and the issuing agency. This is the fastest way to check if someone has an active warrant.

The Broward County Clerk's online portal is another strong option for searching warrant records. It is more detailed than the FDLE system for Broward-specific cases. You can see the full case docket, including bench warrant entries, capias orders, and their current status. For direct help, call BSO at (954) 831-8901 or the clerk at (954) 831-6565. Both offices handle public records requests for Broward County warrant data.

Options for searching Broward County warrants include:

• FDLE Public Access System for statewide active warrants
• Broward Clerk of Courts online case search for docket-level detail
• BSO non-emergency line at (954) 764-4357
• In-person records request at BSO or the clerk's office in Fort Lauderdale

Warrant Types in Broward County

Broward County handles a wide range of warrant types. Arrest warrants are issued after a judge finds probable cause under Florida Statute 901.02. Bench warrants come from judges when defendants miss court dates or ignore court orders. Capias warrants are issued by the clerk and often relate to failures to appear. The BSO Warrants Division also handles traffic capias, juvenile pick-up orders, and writs of bodily attachment, which are civil warrants ordering someone to appear before a judge.

Search warrants in Broward County follow their own rules. Under Florida Statute 933.07, search warrants expire 14 days after they are signed. Arrest warrants have no expiration. They stay active in the Broward County system until the person is arrested or the judge recalls the warrant. Even warrants that are many years old remain enforceable.

Note: Broward County's Warrants Division coordinates with a fugitive squad for high-priority cases, which means some warrants may be served more aggressively than others.

Public Access to Broward Warrants

Warrant records in Broward County are public under Florida Statute 119.07. Florida's Sunshine Law gives anyone the right to inspect and copy public records held by government agencies. You do not need to be the person named on the warrant. No reason for the search is required. This law applies to BSO and the Broward County Clerk of Courts.

Certain limits exist. Active criminal investigations may have sealed components. Search warrant affidavits can be kept confidential until the warrant is executed or the agency determines it will not be. Under Florida Statute 901.16, an officer making an arrest on a warrant must tell the person why they are being detained and that a warrant was issued. They do not need the physical warrant at the time of arrest, but they must show it if asked.

What to Do About a Warrant

If there is a warrant for you in Broward County, contact a criminal defense attorney before taking any action. Do not go to the main jail in Fort Lauderdale on your own. When you surrender on a warrant, you must be booked into custody before you can post bond. A lawyer can sometimes get a bond set in advance, which shortens the time you spend in jail. Bail bondsmen in the Fort Lauderdale area can help with the bond process once an amount is determined.

Warrants in Broward County do not expire. They stay active for as long as it takes for the person to be found. A routine traffic stop, a background check, or even a call for service can bring an outstanding warrant to light. Dealing with it early puts you in a better position than waiting for an unexpected arrest.

Cities in Broward County

Broward County includes over 30 cities and towns. Some have their own police departments, while others contract with BSO for law enforcement. All warrant records in the county go through the Broward Sheriff's Office and the 17th Judicial Circuit courts.

Other communities in Broward County include Coconut Creek, Margate, Weston, and Lauderdale Lakes. All of these file warrant cases through the Broward County court system.

Nearby Counties

Broward County sits between Miami-Dade to the south and Palm Beach to the north. If you are not sure which county a warrant was filed in, check the address where the offense happened. Warrants are filed in the county where the case was opened.