Homestead Bench Warrants

Bench warrants in Homestead are handled through the Miami-Dade County court system in the 11th Judicial Circuit. If you miss a court date or break a court order in Homestead, a judge can issue a bench warrant for your arrest. These warrants stay active and do not go away on their own. Homestead is in the south end of Miami-Dade County and all warrant records flow through the county clerk's office in Miami. You can search for bench warrants tied to Homestead cases through the clerk's online case search, the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, or the statewide FDLE database. All bench warrant records in Florida are public under the Sunshine Law.

Homestead Warrant Records at the Clerk

The Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court keeps all bench warrant records for Homestead cases. Juan Fernandez-Barquin serves as the clerk. The main office sits at 20 NW 1st Avenue in Miami, Florida 33128. You can call (305) 275-1155 for help. Cases filed in Homestead go into the same system as all other Miami-Dade cases. The clerk stores case files, warrant status, and court dates. If you need a copy of a bench warrant document, the clerk's office can pull it by name or case number.

You can also reach the clerk by email at cocpubreq@miamidadeclerk.gov or send a mail request to Records Management, Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court, P.O. Box 14695, Miami, FL 33101. Public records requests cover bench warrant documents, case files, and disposition records for Homestead cases. Under Florida Statute 901.02, a judge must find probable cause before signing an arrest warrant or bench warrant. Once signed, the warrant goes into the clerk's system right away.

Note: Bench warrants in Homestead are filed and tracked through the Miami-Dade County Clerk, not through the city itself.

Search Homestead Bench Warrants Online

Miami-Dade County runs an online case search tool that covers all Homestead bench warrants. The Criminal Justice Online Case Search lets you look up cases by defendant name, case number, citation number, or jail number. This is a free tool. It pulls records from the full 11th Judicial Circuit, which handles every case in Homestead. Search results show the charge, case status, and any active bench warrants tied to the case. You can see if a warrant has been served or if it is still open.

The FDLE statewide database at fdle.state.fl.us is the other main way to check for Homestead bench warrants online. The screenshot below shows the FDLE homepage, which links to the wanted persons search tool used across all 67 Florida counties.

The FDLE database gets updated every 24 hours. It pulls warrant data from law enforcement agencies across the state, including those in Homestead and Miami-Dade County. You can search by first name, last name, date of birth, or other details. Keep in mind that FDLE warns this data should not be used as confirmation that any warrant is active. Always check with the clerk or sheriff for the most current status.

Under Florida Statute 901.04, any sheriff in the state can serve a Homestead bench warrant. The arrest can happen any day, any time, and in any county in Florida. A bench warrant from Homestead does not stay local. It goes into systems that law enforcement uses statewide.

Miami-Dade Sheriff and Homestead Warrants

The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office handles warrant service for Homestead. Their main office is at 9105 NW 25th Street in Doral, FL 33172. You can call (305) 471-3220. For records requests, email recordsrequest@mdso.com. The records request counter is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by appointment only. Walk-ins are not allowed at the records counter.

The Homestead Police Department at 45 NW 1st Ave., Homestead, FL 33030 also plays a role. You can reach them at (305) 247-1535. Local police can make arrests on active bench warrants. If a Homestead officer runs your name during a traffic stop or any other encounter, an active bench warrant will show up in the system. The officer can arrest you on the spot. This applies to warrants from any court in Florida, not just Homestead cases.

Note: You can turn yourself in on an active Homestead bench warrant at the Miami-Dade County jail at any time, 24 hours a day.

Homestead Bench Warrant Penalties

Missing court in Homestead brings serious trouble. Under Florida Statute 843.15, failure to appear on a felony is a third-degree felony. That means up to five years in prison. Failure to appear on a misdemeanor is a first-degree misdemeanor, which can mean up to one year in jail. These are new charges on top of the original case. The bench warrant itself is a separate legal problem from whatever brought you to court in the first place.

Bench warrants in Homestead do not expire. They stay active until the person is arrested, the judge recalls the warrant, or the subject is deceased. This is different from search warrants, which expire after 10 days under Florida Statute 933.05. A bench warrant from years ago in Homestead is still active today. It will show up during any contact with law enforcement. It can also cause problems with certain license renewals and other government processes.

Resolving Bench Warrants in Homestead

If you have a bench warrant in Homestead, talk to a lawyer first. A criminal defense attorney can check your case and help you figure out the best way to deal with it. They can sometimes file a motion to quash the warrant, which asks the judge to cancel it. This works best for old cases or minor charges. Voluntary surrender at the Miami-Dade County Jail often leads to better outcomes than getting picked up on the street.

Steps to resolve a Homestead bench warrant include:

• Hire an attorney to file a motion to quash or recall the warrant
• Turn yourself in at the Miami-Dade County Jail
• Contact the sheriff's office at (305) 471-3220
• Call the clerk at (305) 275-1155 to check your case status
• Contact Homestead Police at (305) 247-1535 for local help

Watch out for scam calls. Law enforcement in Homestead will never ask you to pay over the phone to clear a bench warrant. No gift cards, no wire transfers. If someone calls and demands payment, hang up. Verify through the clerk's office or the sheriff's non-emergency line. Under Florida's Sunshine Law, Chapter 119, bench warrant records in Homestead are public. Anyone can look them up.

Homestead Warrant Records Access

All bench warrants from Homestead cases are public records under Florida law. The Sunshine Law in Chapter 119 makes court records available to anyone. You do not need to be a party to the case. There are some limits for juvenile cases and sealed records, but most Homestead bench warrants are open to the public. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers association connects all 67 county clerk offices and helps share bench warrant data across the state.

Under Florida Statute 88.3051, a court can issue a bench warrant, capias, or writ of bodily attachment when someone does not appear after proper notice. In Homestead cases, this authority sits with the judges of the 11th Judicial Circuit. The eWarrants system links police, state attorneys, clerks, judges, and sheriffs in Miami-Dade County and across Florida. A bench warrant from Homestead shows up in law enforcement databases statewide. Under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.730, the clerk or state attorney can prepare a direct capias to bring a person before the court.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Homestead. Bench warrants are county-specific, so make sure you check the right court system for your case.