Okaloosa County Warrant Records

Okaloosa County warrant records are kept by the sheriff's office in Shalimar and the Clerk of Courts in Crestview. The county sits in the Florida Panhandle and has close to 210,000 people. The sheriff's office runs a warrants unit that works with local and state law enforcement to track down people with open cases. You can search for active warrants in Okaloosa County through the FDLE statewide database or check court case files through the clerk's online portal. Both tools are free and open to the public under Florida's public records law.

Okaloosa Sheriff's Office Warrants

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement body in the county. Their office sits at 50 2nd Avenue in Shalimar. The phone number is (850) 651-7400. The warrants division handles all active arrest warrants, bench warrants, and capias orders in Okaloosa County. If someone has a warrant out for their arrest, this office is the one that tracks them down. They work with the FDLE and with other sheriffs across the state to find people who have open cases.

You can check for Okaloosa County warrant records through the FDLE Public Access System. This free tool pulls data from all 67 Florida counties. You type in a name and the system shows any active warrants on file. Under Florida Statute 901.04, warrants are sent to all sheriffs in the state. That means a warrant from Okaloosa County can be served anywhere in Florida.

The sheriff's site also has info on how to submit records requests and check on arrest activity. Walk-in visits to the main office are welcome during normal hours. Call ahead if you need to set up a time with the warrants division.

Note: Okaloosa County warrants may take time to show up on the FDLE system after they are first issued by a judge.

Okaloosa Clerk of Court Records

The Okaloosa County Clerk of Courts maintains all court case files in the county. When a judge signs a warrant, the clerk enters it into the case record. Bench warrants for failure to appear and capias orders from the State Attorney's Office show up in criminal case dockets. You can search these records online for free through the clerk's website.

The clerk's office is at 101 E. James Lee Blvd in Crestview. Their phone number is (850) 651-7200. If you need copies of court documents that contain warrant information, you can request them in person or by mail. Fees for copies follow the schedule set by Florida law. Most simple record copies cost a small amount per page.

Under Florida Statute 119.07, the public has a right to look at and copy most records held by the clerk. You do not need to give a reason for your search. Some limits apply to active investigations, but most warrant-related case data is open once it hits the court file.

How to Search Okaloosa Warrants

The fastest way to check for warrant records in Okaloosa County is through the FDLE database. Go to the Wanted Persons search page and type in the name. The system is free. No account is needed. Results show the warrant type and the agency that filed it. The FDLE updates this data every 24 hours from all sheriffs in Florida, so most active warrants in Okaloosa County will show up there.

You can also search through the clerk's online case portal. That system shows bench warrants and capias entries in case dockets. It is useful when you need details on a specific court case.

To search for warrants in Okaloosa County, you can use:

• FDLE Public Access System for statewide active warrants
• Okaloosa Clerk of Courts for bench warrants and capias in case dockets
• The sheriff's office warrants division at (850) 651-7400
• In-person visits to the clerk's office in Crestview

Warrant Types in Okaloosa County

Several kinds of warrants turn up in Okaloosa County records. An arrest warrant is the most common type. A judge signs it after finding probable cause under Florida Statute 901.02. Bench warrants come from a judge when someone fails to show up for a scheduled court date. A capias is similar and can be issued by the Clerk of Circuit Court or the State Attorney's Office. Violation of probation warrants are filed when someone breaks the terms of their probation in Okaloosa County.

Search warrants are a different type. Under Florida Statute 933.07, search warrants must be carried out within 14 days or they expire. Arrest warrants in Okaloosa County do not expire. They stay active until the person is found or a judge recalls the warrant.

Note: Not all warrant types show up on every search tool, so check both the FDLE system and the clerk's portal for a full picture.

Public Access to Okaloosa Warrants

Warrant records in Okaloosa County are public under Florida's Sunshine Law. Anyone can look at and copy public records held by state and local agencies. You do not need to be the person named on the warrant. You do not need to give a reason for your search. This right covers records at both the sheriff's office and the clerk of courts.

Some limits do apply. Active criminal intelligence and investigative info can be held back under Florida Statute 119.071. Search warrants and their affidavits may stay private until the warrant is served. If you think a warrant exists in Okaloosa County but cannot find it online, talk to a criminal defense attorney. They can check with the investigating agency on your behalf.

What to Do About a Warrant

If you find a warrant in your name in Okaloosa County, talk to a lawyer first. Do not go to the jail or a police station on your own without legal advice. Under Florida law, if you turn yourself in on a warrant, you must go into custody before you can post bond. A licensed bail bondsman can help you through the steps. Under Florida Statute 901.16, the officer making an arrest on a warrant must tell the person why they are being arrested and that a warrant has been issued.

Warrants in Okaloosa County do not expire. Even very old warrants can still lead to an arrest during a routine traffic stop or other contact with law enforcement. If you have questions about a specific warrant, contact a local attorney.

Nearby Counties

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