Madison County Warrant Records

Madison County warrant records are kept by the Madison County Sheriff's Office and the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the city of Madison. This rural county in north Florida has about 18,000 residents. The sheriff's office handles all warrant service for the area. You can check for active warrants through the FDLE statewide database at no charge or call the sheriff's office to ask about a specific warrant. The clerk maintains court case files with bench warrant and capias entries. Most warrant records here are public under Florida law, and both phone and in-person options are available for anyone looking to search records in Madison County.

Madison County Sheriff's Office Warrants

The Madison County Sheriff's Office handles all warrant activity in the county. The office is at 236 SW Pinckney Street in Madison. You can call (850) 973-4151 for questions about warrants or records requests. Deputies serve both felony and misdemeanor warrants issued by judges in the 3rd Judicial Circuit. The sheriff's office is the only law enforcement agency in the county with jurisdiction over warrant service.

The sheriff's website for Madison County provides contact information and details about the office.

The office does not run an online warrant search tool. For warrant lookups, they send people to the FDLE Public Access System, which is free and covers all 67 Florida counties. In a small county like Madison, calling the sheriff's office by phone can be just as fast as checking the database. Deputies can often tell you right away whether a warrant exists for a specific person.

Under Florida Statute 901.04, warrants are directed to all sheriffs in the state. A warrant from Madison County can be served anywhere in Florida by any law enforcement officer.

Madison County Clerk of Court Records

The Madison County Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains all court case files that include warrant activity. The clerk's office is at 224 SE Court Street in Madison. Call (850) 973-1500 for help with records. When a judge signs a bench warrant or capias in Madison County, the clerk logs it in the case docket. You can request to view or copy these records by calling or visiting the office.

The 3rd Judicial Circuit covers Madison County along with Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Suwannee, and Taylor counties. Court records from Madison County are part of this circuit. If you need copies of court documents tied to a warrant, the clerk can process your request in person or by mail.

Note: Madison County processes a small number of warrant cases each year, so records requests are usually handled within a day or two.

How to Search Madison County Warrants

Start with the FDLE Public Access System to check for warrants in Madison County. Go to the wanted persons page and type in the name. The tool is free. No sign-up is needed. It shows active warrants from all 67 Florida counties. Results list the warrant type and which agency filed it. This is the same system that law enforcement uses statewide.

Calling the sheriff's office at (850) 973-4151 is another solid option. In a county this size, staff can check their records by phone without much delay. The clerk's office at (850) 973-1500 can help with bench warrants and capias entries tied to court cases. Here are the ways to search:

• FDLE Public Access System for statewide active warrants
• Madison County Sheriff's Office by phone at (850) 973-4151
• Clerk of Courts at (850) 973-1500 for bench warrants and court case records
• In-person visit to the clerk at 224 SE Court Street in Madison

Warrant Types in Madison County

Madison County records include the same warrant types found across Florida. Arrest warrants are signed by a judge after probable cause is shown under Florida Statute 901.02. Bench warrants come when a person fails to appear in court. A capias is issued by the clerk and serves a similar purpose. Violation of probation warrants are also filed through the 3rd Judicial Circuit probation office.

Search warrants are a separate matter. Under Florida Statute 933.07, a search warrant must be executed within 14 days or it becomes void. Arrest warrants in Madison County do not expire. They stay on the books until the person is found or the warrant is recalled by a judge. Even old warrants can lead to an arrest during a routine traffic stop in the county.

Public Access to Madison County Warrants

Warrant records in Madison County are public under Florida's Sunshine Law. Florida Statute 119.07 gives anyone the right to inspect and copy public records held by state and local agencies. You do not need to be named on the warrant. You do not have to give a reason for the request. The sheriff's office and the clerk of courts in Madison County both follow this law.

Some exceptions apply. Active criminal intelligence and investigative data can be held back. Search warrant affidavits may remain sealed until the warrant is served. Under Florida Statute 901.16, an officer arresting someone on a warrant must inform the person of the reason and that a warrant exists. The officer does not need to have the physical warrant at the time of arrest but must show it if the person asks.

Note: Public records requests in Madison County are typically processed faster than in large urban counties due to lower case volume.

What to Do About a Warrant

If you learn there is a warrant in your name in Madison County, get legal advice right away. Do not walk into the sheriff's office or jail on your own. When you turn yourself in on a warrant, you go into custody before you can post bond. A bail bondsman can help you work through the steps. In Madison County, the courthouse and jail are close together in the town of Madison, which can make the process move quicker.

Warrants in Madison County do not expire. A warrant from many years ago can still be enforced. Even a routine traffic stop can bring an old warrant to the surface. The sooner you deal with it, the more control you have over how things go.

Cities in Madison County

Madison County includes the city of Madison, Greenville, and Lee. All warrant records in the county go through the Madison County Sheriff's Office and the 3rd Judicial Circuit courts. None of these communities meet the population threshold for their own page, but all warrant cases are processed at the county level.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Madison County. If you are not sure which county handles a warrant, check where the offense took place. Warrants are filed in the county where the case was opened.