Arizona Warrant Search

A warrant search in Arizona discloses the name of an offender, the violations or offenses the offender is wanted for, the issuing agency, the officer, and the issuing date. This warrant search is typically performed by individuals who wish to satisfy their curiosity or those who presume an active warrant may be attached to their names. Warrant searches can also be part of the research done to learn about the issuance, response, and resolution of warrants in Arizona.

The State of Arizona has a public access portal for interested persons to search for pending warrants online. Residents also have the option of querying other government agencies like the courthouses, Sheriff's office, or Department of Public Safety. Alternatively, inquiries about warrants can be done via non-governmental, private, or third-party websites.

What is a Warrant in Arizona?

A warrant is a decree from a law court written in the name of the State of Arizona mandating a law enforcement agency to search a location or bring a person or property into custody. Warrants can only be issued by magistrates or judges in a court upon finding a reasonable or probable cause as stated in the United States Constitution's Fourth Amendment and Title 13 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. The most prevalent types of warrants issued in Arizona are search, arrest, bench, failure to pay, failure to appear, and child support arrest warrants.

Are Warrants Public Records in Arizona?

Yes. Arizona Public Record Law (A.R.S. § 39) allows public access to judicial records and other public records maintained by government entities. Consequently, warrants being judicial records are public records unless exempt by law or sealed by court order. Nonetheless, some warrants, like the search warrant, have specific laws regulating their public disclosure.

How Do I Look Up Warrants in Arizona?

Members of the public interested in looking up warrants issued in Arizona can utilize the numerous third-party public record-providing sites available online. These third-party websites, as opposed to government-owned sites, are not restricted by jurisdiction. Hence, they provide access to a wide range of public information at once. However, it is important to verify any information retrieved from aggregate sites since they are not government-owned or official repositories for public records.

To start a warrant search on any third-party website, the inquirer must supply criteria like a first and last name or other identifying information. Most aggregate sites allow public access to the basic public records on their repository for free. Some may charge as little as $1 per search or as high as $3, depending on the services provided and the nature of the information requested. Many others have provisions for subscriptions, free trials, or interval payments.

What is a Search Warrant in Arizona?

A search warrant in Arizona is a written decree issued by a judge or judicial officer once probable cause has been established licensing a law enforcement agent to search a specified location for a property, individual, or item (A.R.S. §§ 13-3911 to 13-3925).

Are Search Warrants Public Records in Arizona?

Yes. Per Arizona Public Records Law, search warrants which form part of judicial records are public records. However, Arizona Revised Code § 13-3918 does not allow public access to documents and records of a court that pertain to a search warrant unless such warrant is executed, void, or repealed.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Search Warrant in Arizona?

In Arizona, there is no specific time frame for the issuing of a search warrant. A judicial officer in any court within the state can hand out a search warrant in minutes or hours provided the enforcing officer submits a sworn statement specifying a reasonable justification for the search to the court.

How Long Does a Search Warrant Last?

Arizona search warrants have a validity period of five calendar days from the date of their issuance and must be returned to the court within three business days after execution. Any search warrant not executed within five days is void unless a magistrate deems it fit to extend the time. An extension period must not be more than five calendar days. (Arizona Revised Code § 13-3918)

What is a Bench Warrant in Arizona?

Arizona Bench warrants are released from a court by a magistrate, judge, or judicial officer to an enforcement agency. This warrant is usually issued for the apprehension of a defendant who refused to appear for a court proceeding or comply with a court order, such as payment of fines, penalties, or any other rebate (A.R.S. § 13-810).

What is an Arrest Warrant in Arizona?

In Arizona, arrest warrants are handed out by a judge or magistrate to the police or any other enforcement agency when there is proof or probable cause that a crime has been committed. The prosecuting or enforcement agent must submit a sworn statement showing reasonable evidence or cause that a crime has been committed by an individual to the court

How to Check if You Have a Warrant in Arizona

Suspecting individuals can confirm if there is an active warrant attached to their name by contacting a defense attorney or government agencies such as a Court, Sheriff's office, or the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

An inquirer can confirm if there is a pending warrant attached to their name by consulting with their legal counsel in person or via mail for clarification. Similarly, an individual can call the clerk of a Superior, Municipal, or Justice court in Arizona, asking if there is an outstanding warrant on a specific name. The requester will need to supply a case number, birth date, or social security number where applicable.

Furthermore, a local law enforcement agency or the county sheriff's office can be queried in person or via mail to retrieve information about pending warrants. In-person inquirers should note that an arrest can be done on the spot if an active warrant on them is discovered.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) has phone lines reserved for responding to warrant search requests or ordering one's criminal history record. Interested persons can contact the DPS via (602) 223-2233 or (602) 223-2217.

Can You Check Warrants Online in Arizona?

Yes. The Arizona Judicial Branch has an online repository where members of the public can access warrants issued by the courts in Arizona. Most of the Superior, Municipal, and Justice courts in the various counties have online portals through which they provide the public with information related to warrants.

Additionally, some county Sheriff's offices maintain websites through which inquisitive persons can check for Arizona warrants online. For instance, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has a database for looking up warrants online. The inquirer must fill in a first and last name, agency name, city, or zip code to faciliate the search.

How To Find Out If You Have a Warrant for Free

One can find out if they have a warrant in Arizona for free by:

• Utilizing the Public Access to Court Information website provided by the Arizona Judicial Branch
• Visiting a county court or any local law enforcement agency in person
• Phoning the Department of Public Safety or clerk of court via prescribed phone numbers and providing the requested search criteria
• Inputting a name and any other identifying information into a warrant search portal maintained by a county sheriff or court

How to Find Out if Someone Has a Warrant Online For Free in Arizona

The processes for researching if someone has a warrant online for free in Arizona include searching the state-managed database or querying the local court and enforcement agencies' warrant search portals. Typically, these researches do not have restrictions since warrants are categorized as public records in Arizona, except in situations where the warrant is exempt by law or termed confidential.

How Long Does a Warrant Stay Active in Arizona?

In the State of Arizona, the length of time a warrant stays active depends on the type of warrant issued. Bench and arrest warrants typically remain active until an arrest has been made by the law enforcement officer, or the defendant willingly turns themselves in or dies. A bench or arrest warrant can only be quashed, canceled, or revoked by the court that issued it. A search warrant, on the other hand, becomes void or inactive after five calendar days from its issuance date unless a magistrate decides to elongate the time for no more than five days. However, a judge can reissue a search warrant if it becomes void and there is still probable cause for the warrant to be released.

How Do I Find Out If I Have a Federal Warrant?

The U.S. Marshals Service is the official custodian of Federal warrant records held in the online repository called the Warrant Information System (WIN). The information contained in the WIN database is not accessible to the public. Hence, one cannot search the database to retrieve warrant information without authorization. Consequently, affected individuals may only find out about an active federal warrant when U.S. marshals or other peace agents visit their houses or workplaces to make an arrest.

Another means of checking for federal warrants could be to engage the services of a federal criminal defense lawyer. Defense lawyers usually have access to data sealed from public access, which helps ascertain the presence or absence of a warrant. It might also be rational to infer that one has a federal warrant if federal enforcement officers apprehend a close relative or friend in connection to an active case. Similarly, finding one's name on a federal wanted or most wanted person list may denote the existence of an active warrant.