How to Check for an Outstanding Warrant in Massachusetts
A warrant is a legal document issued by a court that requires a police force to perform a certain action. In the case of criminal activity, a warrant of arrest means that the court is ordering the police to detain a person suspected of committing the crime. An outstanding warrant means that the arrest or other action had not yet been completed, often because the police can't find the person for whom the warrant was issued. You must consult public records to determine whether a warrant has been issued for someone.
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Instructions
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Open a public records search database online like the ones provided in the Resources section of this article. Several free websites online have created search engines for public records where you can search for arrest warrants. Select "Warrants" or "Criminal Warrants" under "Document Type", and select "Massachusetts" under "State." Enter the county if you know where the warrant may have been issued. Enter a specific person's name if you are searching for a warrant against yourself or someone you know.
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Visit the police station in your town or county if you suspect there is a warrant out on someone you have seen or know and would like to verify. The police may not tell someone over the phone about an outstanding warrant. But if you came to the station, they will take details about a person you believe has an outstanding warrant, then verify your statements against their database.
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Hire an attorney to check for an outstanding warrant against yourself or someone you know. An attorney is able to navigate the legal system and offer your representation if the warrant exists.
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Call or visit your local courthouse. The court has the public records of all warrants issued since the county judges are the issuing law officers. Provide the name of the person you are trying to verify has an outstanding warrant.
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References
Resources
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