Duval County, Florida Warrant Search

In Duval County, a warrant search involves checking official government-maintained sources and databases to determine whether a court has issued an active or outstanding arrest warrant (or a similar court order) for an individual and to locate basic warrant details.

Depending on the database used for searching (whether via the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s database or Duval County Clerk of Court’s Clerk Online Resource ePortal), an active warrant search in Duval County may return information such as person identified details (e.g., name, sometimes age or year of birth), warrant status (active or outstanding), issuing/holding agency or court, and case number or warrant number.

Why Conduct a Warrant Search in Duval County?

Some reasons why individuals may conduct a warrant search in Duval County include:

Verifying the authenticity of a warrant claim: The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has issued public guidance confirming that impostors have been contacting residents, claiming they have a warrant and demanding money. By using official channels such as the Clerk of Courts or JSO’s non-emergency line, interested parties can confirm the authenticity of warrant claims.

Confirming case status after missing or rescheduling a court obligation: An individual who believes they missed a scheduled hearing, summons, or other court obligation may use the Duval County Clerk’s online court records portal (CORE) to view case or court records to find out if a case event or warrant-related entry appears on the docket.

Resolving identity mixup: Given that names may match, a person may check official sources to verify whether a record is connected to them (or someone with a similar name).

How to Perform a Duval County Warrant Search Online

Individuals wishing to perform an online warrant search in Duval County may utilize either or both of the following resources:

FDLE Public Access System (PAS) - Wanted Persons

Interested persons may use the FDLE’s PAS Wanted Persons Search to locate those declared wanted based on warrant information reported to FDLE by local (which may include Duval agencies) and state-level law enforcement agencies in Florida.

Requesters may search this portal by name and refine their results with details such as age or year of birth. However, it is worth noting that searches on FDLE PAS may not include every warrant (e.g., freshly issued warrants, some unreported local warrants, or restricted records). Therefore, a “no result” return is not proof that a warrant does not exist.

Duval Clerk “CORE” – Court Records/Case Docket Lookup

After checking the FDLE PAS for wanted persons, inquirers may use the Court Records Online (CORE) of the Duval County Clerk’s Office to access non-confidential court records. The portal typically allows searches by party name or case number. However, public access is limited to non-confidential records and case types. Some records might be excluded or not published on CORE.

How to Check for Outstanding Warrants in Duval County by Phone or In Person

In Duval County, individuals seeking reliable offline options to check outstanding warrants may do so by phone or in person. The procedure for using these options is discussed as follows:

By Phone

Interested parties may call the Duval County Clerk of Court to obtain court records or verify a case. They are typically expected to provide information, such as their complete legal name (or any known aliases), date of birth (to refine the search), and case number (if available), or an approximate case type or date. The Clerk may assist the requester to confirm what is accessible in the non-confidential court record and guide them to the relevant department.

Additionally, members of the public who are unsure about “warrant” claims are advised to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office as an official source for verifying such claims. They may call the JSO on its non-emergency line at (904) 630-0500.

Please note that typical waiting times or requirements may vary. However, having a date of birth and the correct spelling of the name may help expedite the verification process.

In Person

To check for outstanding warrants in person, interested parties may visit the Duval County Courthouse or Clerk’s Office at:

At the premises, they may request assistance in locating a case record, verifying docket entries, and checking the records for warrants or related court actions (to the extent they are public).

Alternatively, requesters may visit the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office to verify uncertain warrant claims.

Duval County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Search Process

In Duval County, citizens usually interact with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in two ways: (1) they may contact the Office for non-emergency verification guidance, or (2) request copies of the Office’s records through the Public Records Unit.

Making a Warrant Inquiry

Non-emergency requesters may contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at (904) 630-0500.

In practice, a requester is typically expected to provide sufficient identifiers to prevent name matches (e.g., full name and, in some cases, date of birth). Thereafter, the JSO staff may advise whether the individual should contact the court or clerk for case-specific details. Since the JSO’s public guidance does not state that all warrant information will be provided over the phone, those seeking warrant information are advised to be modest in their expectations.

Requesting Warrant-related Records (JSO Public Records Unit)

According to the JSO’s website, individuals seeking official copies or documents are expected to submit a public records request to the Public Records Unit by mail or in person to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Attn: Public Records Unit, 501 E. Bay St., Jacksonville, FL 32202 (Police Memorial Building).

In Duval County, the JSO processes record requests under Florida’s public records framework (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes), which governs inspection/copying of public records and the agency’s role as custodian. This means that JSO may withhold or redact requested existing records that are exempt under Florida law (e.g., certain investigative information).

Accessing Public Records Related to Warrants in Duval County

In Duval County, inquirers may access public records related to warrants from two sources: court records (what the court has ordered) and law enforcement records (what the sheriff’s office is executing or maintaining).

Court records (Duval County Clerk of Court)

Requesters may locate case dockets, filings, court orders, and entries that may reflect warrant activity (e.g., a docket entry showing a capias or arrest warrant). Such records are typically stored in the Duval County Clerk’s court records system. The Clerk’s Office provides online access to Duval court records through its portal called CORE.

For online records, visitors may search CORE by name or case number. Those seeking in-person access to records may receive assistance with their requests through the Clerk’s Public Records Department, especially for more complex requests.

Please note that the court typically grants access to non-confidential court records; however, some cases or fields may be restricted or partially redacted.

Law Enforcement Records (Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office)

Concerning law enforcement records maintained by the JSO, interested parties may find records associated with warrant execution and related events (e.g., arrest reports, incident reports, booking-related records) and copies of certain documents, subject to applicable exemptions.

The Public Records Unit of the JSO maintains these records; information seekers may access them via the following channels:

• Online request portal (JSO Public Records Center)
• Phone: 904-630-2209
• Mail/in person: Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Attn: Public Records Unit, 501 E. Bay St., Jacksonville, FL 32202

Note: Active criminal investigative and active criminal intelligence information are exempt from public access under Florida’s public records law.

Statewide “Wanted/Warrant” Lookup (FDLE)

This database provides “Wanted Persons” listings based on Florida warrant information reported to the FDLE by law enforcement agencies across the state, including those in Duval County. Requesters may access these files through the FDLE Public Access System (PAS) by using the “Wanted Persons” search page. It is worth noting that PAS may not include every warrant in real time. The platform only displays what has been selected or reported for public access.

Types of Warrants Issued in Duval County

In Duval County and other parts of Florida, courts issue warrants that law enforcement executes. The different types of warrants issued in the county are as follows:

Arrest Warrants

This is a legal order issued by a judge, authorizing law enforcement to take someone into custody for a suspected crime. In Florida, a judge often issues an arrest warrant after reviewing a complaint and supporting evidence and determining probable cause exists.

Capias/Bench Warrant

This is a court order for arrest, typically used by Florida courts, when an individual fails to appear in court or does not comply with court requirements (e.g., skipping probation, community control, or other court-ordered supervision). According to the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure, a capias may also be issued in criminal cases after an indictment or information when the person is not already in custody or on bail.

Search Warrants

A search warrant is an official document authorizing law enforcement to search a specific place, person, or thing for evidence in connection with a criminal investigation. While arrest and bench warrants involve taking someone into custody, search warrants focus on finding evidence in a place or property.

It is important for individuals seeking Duval County warrants to understand the differences between these documents, as they may affect where to look for them. For instance, a “wanted person” list is typically provided by a law enforcement agency. It may include only certain individuals, whereas court systems, such as the clerk’s docket or CORE, may contain case activity, including capias or bench warrant entries. Search warrants related to investigations are often inaccessible to the public and may be available only through limited channels.

How Long Warrants Remain Active in Duval County

In Duval County (Jacksonville), most warrants remain active until the case is dismissed, recalled or quashed, or the warrant is served; they typically do not have a built-in expiration date.

In Florida practice, arrest and bench warrants typically have no expiry dates and remain active unless the judge recalls or quashes them or they are served. In contrast, search warrants are expected to be returned within 10 days of issuance, unless they are for computer or electronic devices.

Court action and law enforcement processes that may influence the life span of a warrant include:

• Court recall/quash: A judge may recall or quash certain warrants (often after a motion, compliance, or a court appearance), thereby ending the warrant.
• Case resolution: A dismissal, plea, sentencing completion, or fulfillment of conditions (fees, community service, and compliance hearings) may result in a warrant being lifted.
• Service/execution: Once served, a warrant is no longer "outstanding," even though the underlying case continues.
• Clerical/reporting lag: There are instances when a court may recall a warrant, but databases may take time to reflect the change due to reporting and system synchronization issues.

What To Do if You Find an Outstanding Warrant in Duval County

When someone has an outstanding warrant, it may be helpful to verify the information through official sources. This is because online summaries or background reports may be incomplete or fail to reflect recent updates.

Consequently, individuals with outstanding warrants against them may take steps that include the following actions:

• Check the Duval County Clerk of Courts (CORE) case record to determine whether there is a matching case number, hearing history, or a docket entry indicating a warrant or capias. For law-enforcement related issues, they may call the JSO’s Non-Emergency line at 904-630-0500 for general verification guidance.
• Since similar names may be confusing, inquirers may wish to confirm that they are looking at the correct person by using details such as complete name, date of birth, case number, or jurisdiction.
• Understanding the context of a warrant is important. This is because a warrant may be connected to a missed court date, an active criminal case, or another requirement. The context often influences what information is public and what may be restricted. Furthermore, possessing a warrant does not necessarily mean an active arrest is imminent. A judge may have recalled, quashed, or resolved such a document, but it has not yet been updated in all databases.
• Most people consult a criminal defense attorney or local legal aid to understand the process and what comes next, depending on the specific circumstances.