How to Know if a Person Has a Bench Warrant
A bench warrant is issued by a judge or commissioner---usually when a person fails to appear for a court date. It is similar to an arrest warrant in that it authorizes the arrest or detention of the individual. Bench warrants can be cleared up, but, if left unresolved, they can lead to jail time.
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Things You'll Need
- Individual's name
- Name of the court where the individual has a case
- Date the individual was supposed to appear
- Name of the county where the warrant was issued
- Internet connection
- Money for search fees
Instructions
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Finding The Warrant
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1
Gather the information you will need to search for the warrant. Often the person's name is enough. Try to figure out which county issued the warrant and when the individual was due to appear in court.
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2
Check the court schedule. Most courts post this online. It should list the individual's name and case number. The list might not include past dates or dates more than five days in the future. The warrant will show up as being issued on the day the individual was scheduled to appear in court.
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3
Search the local records. Since bench and arrest warrants are public records, most jurisdictions have their database available online. (Public awareness of warrants increases the likelihood that people will be turned in.) Start searching on the county's website or use a search engine to find the information online. Try searching arrest warrants by the county's name; this will direct you to any database that the county has for search warrants.
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If there is no online database, you might have to contact the local court or police department. They might be able to search their database with just a name, but they might require the individual's birth date and case number.
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Use an online service if previous steps are unsuccessful. If you cannot search records or obtain the information from your local agencies, online companies conduct warrant searches for a fee. These companies search all public records for the bench warrant you are looking for, and they usually can do it with just a name and birth date.
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Tips & Warnings
Know as much information as possible even though you probably will need only the person's name.
If you discover that a warrant has been issued for the individual, contact the police. Do not attempt to take matters into your own hands. You might not know why the warrant was issued, and the person could be dangerous.
