Santa Rosa County Warrant Records Search

Santa Rosa County warrant records are managed by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office and the Clerk of Court in Milton. The county has about 185,000 residents and sits in the Florida Panhandle within the 1st Judicial Circuit. The sheriff handles warrant enforcement and arrests. Court records showing bench warrants and capias orders go through the clerk's office. Most warrant records in Santa Rosa County are public under Florida law, and the FDLE statewide database includes warrants from this county as well.

Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office Warrants

The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county. They are located at 5755 E. Milton Road in Milton. The phone number is (850) 983-1100. The sheriff is responsible for serving warrants and making arrests throughout Santa Rosa County.

Since Santa Rosa County sits in the Panhandle, it is part of the 1st Judicial Circuit along with Escambia, Okaloosa, and Walton counties. The sheriff's office coordinates with these neighboring agencies on fugitive cases. If someone with a Santa Rosa County warrant crosses into a neighboring county, the warrant is still valid because under Florida Statute 901.04, warrants are directed to all sheriffs statewide.

The sheriff's office also takes part in joint operations with the FDLE and the U.S. Marshals Service when looking for high-priority fugitives. Deputies assigned to warrant duty handle everything from routine bench warrant pickups to tracking down people with serious felony warrants. Santa Rosa County is growing fast, and the volume of warrants has gone up along with the population.

Note: Santa Rosa County shares the 1st Judicial Circuit with Escambia, Okaloosa, and Walton counties, so warrant enforcement efforts often cross county lines.

Santa Rosa County Clerk of Court

The Santa Rosa County Clerk of Court maintains all court case files. Their office is at 6865 Caroline Street in Milton. Call (850) 983-1900 for records questions. When a judge issues a bench warrant or capias in Santa Rosa County, the clerk records it in the case docket.

The clerk's office handles both criminal and civil case records. For warrant-related searches, criminal case dockets are where you will find bench warrant and capias entries. The clerk provides online access to case records, and you can search by name or case number. Basic searches are free to run.

If you need official copies of court documents, the clerk charges a fee per page. Certified copies cost more than standard copies. You can get records in person at the Milton office or request them by mail. Under Florida Statute 119.07, court records in Santa Rosa County are public unless they have been sealed by a judge or are exempt under state law.

How to Search Warrants in Santa Rosa County

The best way to search for active warrants in Santa Rosa County is the FDLE Public Access System. Go to the Wanted Persons search and type in a name. The system is free and does not require an account. It pulls warrant data from all 67 Florida counties, including Santa Rosa.

The Santa Rosa County Clerk of Court website also offers case search tools. You can look up criminal cases to see if bench warrants or capias orders were issued. This is helpful when you already know the case number or defendant name. Warrant entries appear in the docket section of the case record.

Calling the sheriff's office at (850) 983-1100 is another option. Staff there can direct your question to the right department. In a growing but still mid-sized county like Santa Rosa, a phone call can sometimes get you answers faster than an online search.

Warrant Types in Santa Rosa County

Santa Rosa County processes the same types of warrants as the rest of Florida. Arrest warrants are signed by a judge after a finding of probable cause under Florida Statute 901.02. Bench warrants are issued when someone fails to appear for court. A capias order works much the same. Violation of probation warrants come out when a person breaks the conditions set by the court.

Search warrants have a time limit. Under Florida Statute 933.07, they must be served within 14 days or they become void. Arrest warrants do not expire. A warrant issued in Santa Rosa County years ago can still result in an arrest if the person comes into contact with law enforcement. They stay in the system until the person is found or a judge orders the warrant recalled.

Note: Fugitive warrants from other states can also be served in Santa Rosa County by the sheriff's office or any law enforcement officer in the area.

Public Access to Santa Rosa County Warrants

Warrant records in Santa Rosa County are public under Florida's Sunshine Law. Florida Statute 119.07 gives everyone the right to inspect and copy records held by state and local agencies. You do not need to be the person named on the warrant. No reason for your search is required. The sheriff's office and the clerk of court are both covered by this law.

Exemptions do exist. Active criminal investigation files may be withheld under Florida Statute 119.071. Search warrant affidavits remain sealed until the warrant is served. Some warrants may not yet appear in any database if the issuing agency has not entered them. These pocket warrants will not show up in an FDLE or clerk search. A criminal defense attorney can make direct inquiries with the agency if you believe a warrant exists but cannot find it.

What to Do About a Warrant

If you have a warrant in Santa Rosa County, get legal help right away. Do not go to the jail or a police station without talking to a lawyer first. Under Florida law, you must go into custody before you can post bond when you surrender on a warrant. A defense attorney can advise you on the process. A bail bondsman can help with bond once you are in custody.

Under Florida Statute 901.16, the arresting officer must tell you that a warrant exists and why you are being arrested. The physical warrant does not need to be present at the time of arrest, but the officer must show it to you if you ask. Warrants in Santa Rosa County remain active until resolved. They do not expire. Even old warrants can cause problems during traffic stops, background checks, or any run-in with law enforcement.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Santa Rosa County in the Florida Panhandle. 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.