Find Escambia County Warrant Records

Escambia County warrant records are held by the sheriff's office and the Clerk of Courts in Pensacola. Located at the western tip of the Florida Panhandle, Escambia County has about 320,000 people and is part of the First Judicial Circuit. Active warrant searches start with the FDLE statewide system, which covers all Florida counties at no cost. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office runs a large operation out of Pensacola and handles everything from patrol to warrant enforcement. Court records through the clerk's office show bench warrants and capias orders from criminal case dockets. Under Florida's Sunshine Law, most of these warrant records are open to the public.

Escambia County Sheriff's Office Warrants

The Escambia County Sheriff's Office is headquartered at 1700 W. Leonard Street in Pensacola. Phone is (850) 436-9630. The sheriff handles all warrant enforcement for Escambia County. Deputies serve arrest warrants from local judges and also execute warrants from other Florida counties. Under Florida Statute 901.04, any sheriff in the state can serve a warrant issued anywhere in Florida. That means someone with an Escambia County warrant could be picked up in any county statewide.

The Escambia County Sheriff's Office homepage provides details on their departments and services, including how to reach the records division.

Escambia County is close to the Alabama state line, which adds another layer to warrant enforcement. The sheriff's office works with the U.S. Marshals Service and other federal task forces to track down fugitives who may cross state lines. The office also participates in FDLE's Florida Fugitive Task Force for statewide warrant operations.

The sheriff does not run an online warrant search tool. They point the public to the FDLE system for those lookups. You can also call during business hours to ask about a specific warrant.

Escambia Clerk of Courts Records

The Escambia County Clerk of Courts keeps all court files for the county, and warrant activity shows up in criminal case dockets. The clerk's main office is at 190 W. Government Street in Pensacola. Phone is (850) 595-4310. When a judge signs a bench warrant or capias in an Escambia County case, the clerk enters it into the system. You can search these records through the clerk's online portal.

The online case search lets you look up defendants by name or case number. Warrant entries appear in the docket once filed. If you need copies of specific court documents, you can request them at the courthouse or by mail. The clerk charges a per-page fee for copies. Staff can help you find the right records if you provide a name or case number.

Note: The Escambia County clerk's online system may show warrant entries before the FDLE database updates, since court records get entered locally first.

How to Search Escambia County Warrants

Go to the FDLE Public Access System for the quickest warrant check in Escambia County. The search is free. No sign-up required. Enter a name and the system will pull active warrants from all 67 Florida counties, including Escambia. Results list the warrant type, the issuing agency, and other details when available. This is the tool both the sheriff and the clerk point people to for warrant lookups.

For court-level details, use the Escambia County Clerk of Courts website. That search shows bench warrants and capias orders as they appear in criminal case dockets. It is a better option when you want to see the full case file, not just a yes-or-no on active warrants. You can also call the sheriff's office or the clerk's office to make a phone inquiry.

Ways to look up Escambia County warrants:

• FDLE Public Access System for statewide active warrants
• Escambia Clerk of Courts online case search for bench warrants and capias
• Call the sheriff at (850) 436-9630
• Visit the clerk at 190 W. Government Street in Pensacola

Warrant Types in Escambia County

The most common warrant in Escambia County is the arrest warrant. A judge issues it after reviewing probable cause, as defined in Florida Statute 901.02. Bench warrants are issued when someone does not show up for court. Capias warrants come from the clerk of circuit court and serve a similar purpose. Violation of probation warrants also make up a portion of Escambia County's active warrant cases.

Search warrants are separate from arrest warrants. Under Florida Statute 933.07, search warrants expire after 14 days if not carried out. Arrest warrants in Escambia County do not expire. They stay active in the system until the person is picked up or a judge recalls the warrant. An outstanding warrant from years ago will still trigger an arrest during a traffic stop or any other law enforcement contact in Pensacola or elsewhere in Florida.

Public Access to Escambia Warrants

Warrant records in Escambia County are public under Florida Statute 119.07. Anyone can request to view or copy these records. You do not need to be the person named on the warrant. You do not have to give a reason. The law applies to the sheriff's office and the clerk of courts alike.

Certain records are exempt. Active criminal investigations may be held back under Florida Statute 119.071. Search warrant affidavits stay under seal until the warrant is executed. Juvenile records have their own restrictions. But most arrest warrants, bench warrants, and capias orders in Escambia County are open to the public once they are on file with the court or in a law enforcement database. If you cannot find a warrant you believe exists, a defense attorney can reach out to the issuing agency directly.

Note: Escambia County's proximity to the Alabama border means some warrants involve multi-state coordination, which can affect how quickly records are updated.

What to Do About an Escambia County Warrant

Get a lawyer before you do anything. If there is a warrant in your name in Escambia County, showing up at the jail without legal advice is not a good idea. Under Florida law, turning yourself in on a warrant means going into custody first. After that, you can work on posting bond. A local bail bondsman can help you through the process.

Under Florida Statute 901.16, the arresting officer must tell you the reason for the arrest and that a warrant exists. The physical warrant does not need to be on the officer at the time, but they must produce it if asked. Escambia County warrants stay active until they are served or a judge pulls them. Old warrants can still lead to arrest during a routine stop or border checkpoint in the Pensacola area.

Nearby Counties

Escambia County sits at the far western end of the Florida Panhandle. Only one Florida county borders it to the east. Warrants are tied to the county where the case was filed.