Miami Beach Bench Warrants

Bench warrants in Miami Beach are processed through the Miami-Dade County court system in the 11th Judicial Circuit. Miami Beach is its own city with its own police force, but bench warrants still go through the county clerk and the county court. When a judge issues a bench warrant for someone who missed court or broke a court order in Miami Beach, it enters the same system as all other Miami-Dade cases. You can search for Miami Beach bench warrants through the clerk's online case search, the sheriff's office, or the FDLE statewide database. These records are public under Florida's Sunshine Law.

Miami Beach Warrants at the Clerk

The Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court keeps bench warrant records for all Miami Beach cases. Juan Fernandez-Barquin is the clerk. The main office is at 20 NW 1st Avenue, Miami, FL 33128. Call (305) 275-1155 for questions. Miami Beach cases flow through the same system as every other case in Miami-Dade County. The clerk stores case files, warrant records, hearing dates, and disposition data. You can get copies of bench warrant documents by name or case number through the clerk's office.

Public records requests for Miami Beach bench warrants can go to cocpubreq@miamidadeclerk.gov. You can also mail requests to Records Management, Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court, P.O. Box 14695, Miami, FL 33101. Under Florida Statute 901.02, a judge needs probable cause to issue a bench warrant. Once the warrant is signed, it enters the clerk's database and becomes part of the public record for that Miami Beach case.

Search Miami Beach Bench Warrants

The Criminal Justice Online Case Search for Miami-Dade County lets you look up bench warrants from Miami Beach cases. Search by name, case number, citation number, or jail number. This is free. Results show the charge, case status, and any active warrants. You can tell right away if a bench warrant is still open or has been served. The system covers the full 11th Judicial Circuit, so every Miami Beach case is included.

The Miami Beach Police Department is a key law enforcement resource in the city. The screenshot below shows their website, which provides information on police services and community programs.

The Miami Beach Police Department is at 1100 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139. Call (305) 673-7900. While the police department does not run its own warrant search tool, officers have real-time access to warrant databases. During any encounter with Miami Beach police, an active bench warrant will come up in their system.

The FDLE statewide database at fdle.state.fl.us also covers Miami Beach bench warrants. The database pulls from all 67 counties and gets updated every 24 hours. You can search by first name, last name, or date of birth. FDLE notes that this data should not be taken as proof a warrant is active. Always verify with the clerk or sheriff for the most current status on a Miami Beach bench warrant.

Sheriff Service for Miami Beach Warrants

The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office handles warrant service across the county, including Miami Beach. Their office is at 9105 NW 25th Street, Doral, FL 33172. Phone: (305) 471-3220. Email for records: recordsrequest@mdso.com. The records counter is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Appointments are needed. No walk-ins at the records counter.

Miami Beach also has its own police force, which makes the city a bit different from unincorporated areas of the county. The Miami Beach Police Department can arrest people on active bench warrants. Under Florida Statute 901.04, any law enforcement officer in the state can serve a bench warrant from Miami Beach. The arrest can happen in any county, on any day, at any time. A Miami Beach bench warrant is not limited to the city or even to Miami-Dade County. It goes statewide.

Note: Both the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office and the Miami Beach Police Department can act on active bench warrants within city limits.

Penalties for Miami Beach Bench Warrants

Failing to show up for court in Miami Beach results in a bench warrant and can lead to additional criminal charges. Florida Statute 843.15 spells it out. Failure to appear on a felony charge is a third-degree felony, carrying up to five years in prison. On a misdemeanor charge, it is a first-degree misdemeanor with up to one year in jail. These new charges stack on top of the original case. You end up facing more legal problems than you started with, and the bench warrant sits there as a separate issue that must be addressed.

Bench warrants in Miami Beach do not have an expiration date. They stay active until resolved. Search warrants expire after 10 days under Florida Statute 933.05, but bench warrants are a completely different thing. A bench warrant issued two years ago in Miami Beach is just as valid today. It shows up in every law enforcement database check. You cannot wait it out. The only way to get rid of it is to deal with it through the court system.

Resolving Miami Beach Bench Warrants

Contact a lawyer before trying to resolve a Miami Beach bench warrant. A defense attorney can pull up the case, check the warrant details, and map out a plan. One option is to file a motion to quash, which asks the judge to cancel the warrant. Judges are more likely to grant this for old or minor cases. Voluntary surrender at the Miami-Dade County Jail is another route. Showing up on your own terms typically goes better than being picked up during a traffic stop or at a routine checkpoint on the causeway.

Options for resolving a Miami Beach bench warrant:

• Hire a criminal defense attorney to file a motion to quash
• Surrender at the Miami-Dade County Jail
• Call the sheriff at (305) 471-3220
• Contact the clerk at (305) 275-1155 for case info
• Reach Miami Beach Police at (305) 673-7900

Scam callers sometimes target people with warrants. No real officer in Miami Beach will ask you to pay money over the phone to make a bench warrant go away. If someone demands gift cards or a wire transfer, it is a scam. Hang up and call the clerk's office or the sheriff directly. Under Florida's Sunshine Law, Chapter 119, all Miami Beach bench warrant records are public. Florida Statute 88.3051 lets a court issue a bench warrant or writ of bodily attachment for failure to appear after notice. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers network connects all 67 county offices and helps share warrant data across the state.

Nearby Cities

These cities are close to Miami Beach. Most are in Miami-Dade County and use the same 11th Judicial Circuit, but always confirm which court system has your case.