Access Monroe County Warrant Records

Monroe County warrant records are managed by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office and the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Key West. The county has about 80,000 residents and stretches from the southern tip of mainland Florida all the way down through the Florida Keys to Key West. Monroe County is the only county in the 16th Judicial Circuit, which means it has its own dedicated circuit court. Warrant records here are public under Florida law and searchable through the FDLE statewide system.

Monroe County Sheriff's Office Warrants

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office is responsible for law enforcement across the entire Florida Keys chain. Their main office is at 5525 College Road in Key West. You can reach them at (305) 292-7000. The agency handles patrol, criminal investigations, detention, and warrant service for all of Monroe County.

The unique geography of Monroe County creates challenges for warrant enforcement that most Florida counties do not face. The Keys stretch over 100 miles from Key Largo to Key West, connected by a single highway (US-1). If someone with an active warrant is pulled over on the Overseas Highway, Monroe County deputies can make the arrest right there. The sheriff also has marine units that patrol the waters around the Keys.

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office website has information about law enforcement services and how to contact various divisions.

Under Florida Statute 901.04, all warrants in Florida are directed to every sheriff statewide. A Monroe County warrant can result in an arrest anywhere in the state. Officers from other counties who stop someone with a Monroe County warrant will hold them for pickup or transfer.

Note: Monroe County is the only county in the 16th Judicial Circuit, so all circuit court business goes through one court system based in Key West.

Monroe County Clerk of the Circuit Court

The Monroe County Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains all court records for the 16th Judicial Circuit. The main office is at 500 Whitehead Street in Key West. Phone: (305) 295-3650. When a judge issues a bench warrant or capias in a Monroe County case, the clerk enters it into the case record.

The Monroe County Clerk's website provides access to court records and case information.

You can look up criminal cases by name or case number. Bench warrants and capias entries appear in the docket when they are issued. The clerk also has satellite offices in Marathon and Plantation Key for residents in the upper and middle Keys who cannot make it down to Key West.

How to Search Warrants in Monroe County

The FDLE Public Access System is the fastest way to check for active warrants in Monroe County. Go to the Wanted Persons search page and enter a name. It is free. No registration needed. The results show active warrants from all 67 Florida counties, including Monroe.

You can also search through the Monroe County Clerk's online case records. Go to the clerk's website and use their case search tool. This is especially useful for finding bench warrants and capias orders that might not have been entered into the FDLE database yet. Court case dockets in Monroe County show when a warrant was issued, what type it is, and whether it has been served.

For phone inquiries, call the sheriff's office at (305) 292-7000 or the clerk at (305) 295-3650. Under Florida Statute 119.07, both agencies must provide access to public records on request. You can ask by phone, in writing, or in person. Copy fees may apply.

Types of Warrants in Monroe County

Arrest warrants are the most common type issued in Monroe County. Under Florida Statute 901.02, a judge signs an arrest warrant after law enforcement shows probable cause. The warrant must name the person and state the offense. Arrest warrants in Florida have no expiration date. They stay in the system until the person is found or the judge recalls them.

Bench warrants come from the judge when a defendant misses court. This happens more often than you might think in Monroe County, partly because of the geography. People who live in the upper Keys might have court in Key West, over 100 miles away by road. Missing a date for any reason triggers a bench warrant. A capias works the same way and can come from either the judge or the clerk.

Search warrants allow law enforcement to search a specific location. Florida Statute 933.07 requires search warrants to be executed within 14 days. If not, they expire. Search warrant records in Monroe County become public after the warrant is served. Arrest warrants and bench warrants have no time limit and stay active until resolved.

Note: The Keys attract a large transient population, which means Monroe County sometimes deals with warrants for people whose last known address is a boat or a temporary rental.

Public Access to Monroe County Warrants

Warrant records in Monroe County are public. Florida's Sunshine Law makes this clear. Under Florida Statute 119.07, anyone has the right to inspect and copy public records held by government agencies. You do not have to explain why you want the records. You do not have to live in Monroe County. The law covers both the sheriff and the clerk.

Some exemptions exist. Active criminal investigation files may be withheld. Search warrant affidavits stay sealed until the warrant is served or abandoned. Certain juvenile and sealed records are off-limits. But once a warrant is served, the records open up to public inspection. This includes the warrant itself, the arrest report, and booking information.

Under Florida Statute 901.07, a person arrested on a warrant must be brought before a judge without unnecessary delay. In Monroe County, this typically means within 24 hours. The initial court appearance sets the stage for bond and further proceedings.

What to Do About a Monroe County Warrant

Get a lawyer. That is the most important first step. A criminal defense attorney can look up the warrant, check the charges, and advise you on the best approach. Do not try to handle it on your own by walking into the Monroe County Detention Center. Under Florida Statute 901.16, the arresting officer must tell you about the warrant and state the reason for the arrest. The officer does not need the paper warrant at the time.

If you turn yourself in, you go into custody. Bond is set after booking. A bail bondsman can help speed up the release. Some warrants have no bond, particularly violation of probation warrants. In those cases, you stay in until a judge holds a hearing.

Monroe County's geography makes avoiding a warrant harder than people think. US-1 is the only road in and out of the Keys. Law enforcement checks are common. The sheriff's office runs DUI checkpoints and traffic enforcement operations along the Overseas Highway. An outstanding warrant can turn a routine drive into an arrest. The Florida Sheriffs Association website has contact info for all Florida sheriff offices if you need to reach an agency outside Monroe County.

Nearby Counties

Monroe County connects to the Florida mainland through two neighboring counties. If you are not sure where a warrant was filed, check which county has jurisdiction over the location where the offense happened.