Search Pasco County Warrant Records

Pasco County warrant records are held by the Pasco County Sheriff's Office and the Clerk of the Circuit Court. The county has about 560,000 residents and sits just north of Tampa in the 6th Judicial Circuit. Pasco County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Florida, and the sheriff's office here stands out because it maintains a dedicated Active Warrants page on its website. Between the sheriff's warrant page, the clerk's case search, and the FDLE statewide system, there are multiple ways to look up warrant records in this county.

Pasco County Sheriff's Office Warrants

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office is a large agency that serves the entire county. The main office is at 8700 Citizen Drive in New Port Richey. Call (727) 847-5878 for general inquiries. The sheriff's office handles patrol, criminal investigations, detention, and warrant service. With over half a million people in the county, the agency processes a high volume of warrants each year.

What sets Pasco County apart from many other Florida counties is the sheriff's Active Warrants page. This page provides direct access to information about outstanding warrants in the county.

As the sheriff's website notes: "The Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement provides a public access system that allows a search of wanted subjects for all jurisdictions in the State of Florida." The Pasco Sheriff uses this FDLE connection and also provides its own local resources for checking warrants.

Under Florida Statute 901.04, warrants in Florida are directed to all sheriffs statewide. A Pasco County warrant can be served by law enforcement in any Florida county, and Pasco deputies can serve warrants from anywhere in the state. The 6th Judicial Circuit also includes Pinellas County, so the two counties share the same circuit court system.

Pasco County Clerk of the Circuit Court

The Pasco County Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains all court records in the county. The main office is at 38053 Live Oak Avenue in Dade City. Call (352) 521-4474 for questions. The clerk handles records for the 6th Judicial Circuit's Pasco County division, including criminal cases where warrants are issued.

The Pasco County Clerk has an online case search tool on their website.

You can search for criminal cases by name or case number. Open the case record and check the docket for bench warrants, capias orders, and other warrant entries. This tool picks up warrants that might not show on the FDLE system yet, especially bench warrants from missed court dates.

The clerk also has offices in New Port Richey and Land O' Lakes for residents in the western and central parts of the county. All locations can help with court records and case lookups.

Note: Pasco County has multiple courthouse locations, so check the clerk's website for the office nearest to you.

How to Search Warrants in Pasco County

Pasco County gives you more ways to search for warrants than most Florida counties. Start with the Pasco Sheriff's Active Warrants page. It links to FDLE and provides local warrant information. Then check the FDLE Public Access System. Go to the Wanted Persons search page and enter a name. The search is free. No account needed.

For court-level data, use the Pasco Clerk's online system. Search for criminal cases by name. Look at the docket for warrant entries. This system shows bench warrants and capias orders that may not be on the FDLE database. The clerk's system is free to use for basic searches.

Under Florida Statute 119.07, both the sheriff and the clerk must provide access to public records. You can also call either office or visit in person. The sheriff's main number is (727) 847-5878, and the clerk's number is (352) 521-4474. Written records requests are accepted by mail and in person.

Warrant Types in Pasco County

Pasco County courts issue a high volume of warrants given the county's large population. Arrest warrants are the most common. Under Florida Statute 901.02, a judge signs an arrest warrant after law enforcement presents a probable cause affidavit. The warrant must name the person and state the offense. Arrest warrants do not expire in Florida.

Bench warrants are issued every day in Pasco County. With a big court docket, people miss hearings regularly. The judge issues the bench warrant right at the hearing. It goes into the clerk's records immediately. A capias is similar. Both types lead to arrest if the person is found by law enforcement.

Search warrants give officers the authority to search a specific place. Florida Statute 933.07 says search warrants must be executed within 14 days or they expire. Search warrant affidavits are sealed during the investigation. They become public after the warrant is served. Arrest warrants have no time limit at all.

Note: Pasco County's population growth means the courts handle more cases each year, and the number of active warrants in the system has risen along with the population.

Public Access to Pasco County Warrants

Warrant records in Pasco County are public under Florida's Sunshine Law. Florida Statute 119.07 gives anyone the right to inspect and copy public records. You do not need to be the person named in the warrant. You do not need to live in Pasco County. No explanation is needed for your request.

Both the sheriff's office and the clerk of court are subject to this law. The clerk's online portal makes most court records easy to access from home. For records not available online, submit a written request. The agency can charge for copies. Standard rates are usually around $0.15 per page. If your request is denied, the agency must cite a specific legal exemption.

Active investigation files are one exception. Search warrant affidavits and certain criminal intelligence records can be withheld while a case is open. But after a warrant is served and an arrest takes place, the records become public. The Florida Courts website has more info about the 6th Judicial Circuit, which covers both Pasco and Pinellas counties.

What to Do About a Pasco County Warrant

Talk to a lawyer before doing anything else. A criminal defense attorney can pull up the warrant details, review the charges, and help you plan. Under Florida Statute 901.16, the arresting officer must inform you that a warrant has been issued and explain why you are being arrested. The physical warrant does not need to be shown at the time of arrest.

Surrendering on a warrant means going to the Pasco County jail. Bond is set after you are booked. A bail bondsman can help post bond. Some warrants have no bond set, especially for probation violations. In those cases, you wait in jail until a judge holds a hearing. Pasco County has a large jail facility that processes many bookings daily.

Do not ignore the warrant. Florida warrants have no expiration date. A Pasco County warrant stays in the system until it is resolved. You could be stopped on US-19 or I-75 and arrested on an old warrant. Background checks for employment or housing will flag it too. The sheriff's Active Warrants page is a good resource to check whether your name appears in the system. The Florida Sheriffs Association has links to all county sheriff offices if you need to reach agencies in other counties.

Nearby Counties

Pasco County borders several counties in the Tampa Bay area and central Florida. Warrants are filed in the county where the offense took place, so check the right jurisdiction if the location is near a county line.