Conduct a Free Alachua County Warrant Search (Official Resource)

Conduct a free Alachua County warrant search to check if there are any outstanding summons or arrest orders issued against you or someone you’re acquainted with. A warrant lookup can be performed through different state, county, and municipal-level agencies.

On the basis of various kinds of offenses, different types of warrants are issued by the courts.

In this article, citizens can find streamlined steps on how to carry out a warrant search in Alachua County, Florida.

How To Run a Free Alachua County Warrant Search (An Overview)

The Florida Public Records Act (FPRA), also known as the “Sunshine Law” that was passed in 1909, allows the public general access to state and court records which include warrants.¹ However, there are multiple exceptions to this law.

In Alachua County, Florida a citizen can only access outstanding and currently active warrants are restricted from open access. The restriction has been applied to protect the individuals named in the warrants as well as to ensure their privacy. However, warrants that are overdue can be searched and requested by the citizens through different sources.

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, warrants are of multiple different types based on the nature of the offense committed by the named individuals. Arrest, search, traffic, bench, Capias and Capias pro fine, probation, and parole are some of the most common types of warrants issued in Alachua County. All these warrants are issued by the courts of the county and can be searched and obtained through the same methods.

Once issued by the courts, law enforcement agencies such as the sheriff’s department and or the local police bring the warrants to action by serving them.

In Alachua County, Florida, summons can be obtained from two official agencies; number 1, the County Clerk of the Court, and number 2; the Sheriff’s Department – Warrants Bureau.²

The County Clerk of the Court keeps a record of all court cases, including the documents filed in them as well as the court’s issued orders. This means that the clerk’s department can provide interested residents with warrant details.

In addition to that, the Warrants Bureau of the Alachua County Sheriff’s Department is responsible for serving all summons and arrest orders issued in the county and thus can provide individuals with their details.

Before beginning their search for warrants in Alachua, residents must keep in mind that in certain cases, the said records may entirely not be available. This is usually the case when the honorable court has specifically ordered to seal a particular case’s records from the public. If any warrants are issued in such a sealed-records case, they won’t be available without special permission from the relevant court.

Furthermore, in case warrants are released for minor children, their details won’t also be open to the public as well to ensure their privacy and safety.

Searchers must have the primary details of their search subjects before they begin to look for warrants. These details primarily include their full names including the first name, middle initial, and last name, as well as the case number. Additional details such as their addresses, contact information, location and time of warrant issuance, name of the court that issued it, and its type can help filter the search for more accurate results.

How To Verify if You or Someone Else Has a Warrant in Alachua County Florida

To verify if someone has a warrant in Alachua County, residents can search through the online court records provided by the County Clerk of the Court.

The department has a free online records search tool that can be used to look up case records, including warrants issued by the 8th Judicial Circuit (the courts working in Alachua County).³

Citizens can search warrants through this tool using full names or case numbers. Additionally, filters such as case type, filing date range, citation number, and case number (civil, criminal, juvenile, or all) can be selected to further narrow down the search for more precise results.

Results obtained through the tool can include a comprehensive case summary, the number of warrants issued in it, issuance date, serving date, current status, and nature of charges.

The Alachua County Clerk of the Court can also be contacted directly for warrant details.⁴

Alachua County Clerk of the Court
201 East University Avenue
Gainesville Florida 32601

Phone: 352.374.3609
Email: [email protected]

In addition to that, residents can also reach out to the Warrants Bureau of the Alachua County Sheriff’s Department for details of summons and arrest orders.

Alachua County Sheriff’s Department
Warrants Bureau 
2621 South-East, Hawthorne Rd.
Gainesville, Florida 32641

Phone: 352.367.4138

The Sheriff’s Office is open from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday (note that it is closed during public holidays and weekends), and residents can visit it anytime during these hours and request warrant details. Additionally, the bureau can also be called at the aforementioned number for details of warrants.

In case residents are looking to search for warrants in Gainesville, the most populous city of Alachua County, Florida, they can reach out to the local police department.⁵

Gainesville Police Department
545 North-West , 8th Avenue 
Gainesville Florida 32601

Phone: 352.393.7500

How To Check Who Has a Warrant Throughout Florida

Citizens can verify who has a warrant throughout the state using the Florida Crime Information Center – Wanted Persons Search.⁶ Residents can search warrants through this tool using fall names that include the first, last, and middle names.

In addition to that, other criteria such as age, date of birth, race, and sex can be added for narrowed searches.

In the results, residents will be able to find details such as a physical description of the offender, the nature of the offense committed by them, the last known address, city, county, or state, case number, date of issuance of the warrant, and its current status.

As another option, residents can also reach out to the County Clerk of Court or the Sheriff’s Department to search warrants in that respective county.⁷

Each Warrant Type & Their Meanings

As previously discussed, warrants have different types with each having a distinct meaning. Here are some of the most usual warrant types issued in Alachua County, Florida:

1. Search Warrants – Search warrants legally permit the police or other law enforcement departments to conduct a search for evidence of a crime at a specific place.
2. Bench Warrants – These warrants are released for individuals who fail to appear before the court on the due date and time.
3. Probation and Parole Violation Warrants – Probation and parole violation warrants are released for individuals who in any way exceed the terms of their conditional or early release.
4. Arrest Warrants – Arrest warrants authorize law enforcement agencies to arrest a person suspected of having committed a crime.
5. Traffic Warrants – A type of bench warrant that is released for individuals who have committed traffic-related offenses.
6. Capias & Capias Pro Fine Warrants – Capias and Capias pro fine warrants are served to people who don’t comply with the court’s given orders or don’t pay a court-ordered fine.
7. Child Support Warrants – Child support warrants are served to divorced parents who are unable to pay the court-ordered child support amount.
8. Fugitive Warrants – Fugitive warrants are issued for runaways who have escaped to a different jurisdiction.

How Do You Resolve an Active Warrant in Alachua County Florida?

Active warrants can be resolved through multiple different ways in Alachua County, Florida.

In case of minor misdemeanors, the individuals named in the warrants can simply pay a small fee or fine to the relevant official departments and get them cleared. However, in case of serious offenses, it is advised that citizens seek legal advice from a licensed attorney as they can provide with the best routes of action.

Named individuals can also choose to turn themselves in at the Alachua County Sheriff’s Department of Jail.⁸ However, surrendering and voluntarily turning oneself in should only be done after proper consultation with loved ones.

Alachua County Sheriff’s Department Jail
3333 North-West 39th Avenue
Gainesville Florida 32609

Phone: 352.367.4138

To report a wanted individual, residents can submit an anonymous tip to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.⁹

Complete and detailed instructions on how to conduct a free Alachua County warrant search through various official sources have been disclosed in this article; interested residents can use these instructions and check if they or anyone they know has an active or overdue warrant released for them.