Access Highlands County Warrant Records

Highlands County warrant records are managed by the Sheriff's Office and the Clerk of Court in Sebring, Florida. This central Florida county has a population of about 105,000 and sits in the state's heartland region. The sheriff's office handles all warrant service and enforcement. You can search for Highlands County warrants through the statewide FDLE database at no cost. The Clerk of Court keeps court case files where bench warrants and capias orders appear in criminal dockets. Both offices serve as primary points of contact for warrant record inquiries in Highlands County.

Highlands County Sheriff's Office Warrants

The Highlands County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for warrant records in the county. Their office is at 434 Fernleaf Avenue in Sebring. You can call (863) 402-7200. The sheriff handles all arrest warrants, bench warrants, and capias orders that come through the Highlands County court system. They also serve warrants from other counties when a wanted person is located in Highlands County.

The Highlands County Sheriff's Office website has information about the agency and its services.

For active warrant searches, the best tool is the FDLE Public Access System. This free statewide database pulls warrant data from all 67 Florida counties. You search by name and can filter by date of birth, race, or sex. Results from Highlands County will show the warrant type and the issuing agency. The system is updated regularly but may not show warrants that were just issued.

Under F.S. 901.04, warrants go to all sheriffs in the state. A Highlands County warrant can be served anywhere in Florida. Likewise, warrants from other counties can be served by the Highlands County Sheriff. This is a key point for people who travel between counties in central Florida.

Highlands County Clerk of Court

The Highlands County Clerk of Court maintains all court case records in the county. When a judge signs a warrant in Highlands County, it gets entered into the case file. Bench warrants and capias orders show up in criminal dockets. The clerk's office is at 590 S. Commerce Avenue in Sebring. Call (863) 402-6565 for questions about court records.

Court records in Highlands County are public under F.S. 119.07. Anyone can request to see case files that include warrant activity. You do not need to be named in the case and you do not need to give a reason for your request. The clerk can provide copies of documents for a per-page fee. In-person visits to the Sebring courthouse are the most direct way to access these records.

Note: The Highlands County Clerk of Court website may offer online case search tools that show warrant activity in criminal dockets.

How to Search Warrants in Highlands County

The fastest way to search for Highlands County warrant records is through the FDLE Public Access System. Go to the Wanted Persons search page and enter the name you want to check. It is free. No account is needed. Results from all 67 Florida counties appear if there is a match, including any active warrants in Highlands County.

You can also call the sheriff's office in Sebring for warrant inquiries. In-person visits are accepted during business hours. The clerk of court office is another option for looking at court case files that show bench warrants and capias entries. Between these three options, you can get a full picture of warrant activity in Highlands County.

Warrant Types in Highlands County

Several types of warrants go through the Highlands County court system. Arrest warrants are the most common. Under F.S. 901.02, a judge needs probable cause before signing an arrest warrant. Bench warrants come when someone fails to appear in court. The judge issues them right from the bench. A capias is similar and can be filed by the Clerk of Circuit Court.

Highlands County also handles violation of probation warrants and fugitive warrants for people wanted in other states. Search warrants are a separate type. Under F.S. 933.07, search warrants must be executed within 10 days or they expire. Arrest warrants in Highlands County do not expire. They stay in the system until the person is arrested or a judge recalls them. Even warrants that are years old can still lead to an arrest during a traffic stop or other contact with law enforcement.

What to Do About a Highlands County Warrant

If you discover a warrant in your name in Highlands County, talk to a lawyer first. Do not go to the sheriff's office or jail on your own. Under Florida law, you must go into custody when turning yourself in on a warrant before you can post bond. A bail bondsman can help speed up the process. Some people hire an attorney to handle the surrender.

Under F.S. 901.16, the arresting officer must tell you why you are being arrested and that a warrant exists. The officer does not need to hold the physical paper at the time of arrest. If you ask to see the warrant, they must show it as soon as they can. Warrants in Highlands County do not expire and can lead to arrest at any time.

Note: Highlands County is in the 10th Judicial Circuit along with Hardee and Polk counties, so warrant activity sometimes involves coordination between these neighboring jurisdictions.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Highlands County in central Florida. Warrants are filed in the county where the offense took place. If you are not sure which county to check, look at the address tied to the case.