Collier County Bench Warrants

Bench warrants in Collier County are issued by judges in the 20th Judicial Circuit when a person fails to appear for a court hearing or violates a court order. The Collier County Clerk of the Circuit Court and the Collier County Sheriff's Office both maintain records tied to these warrants. Residents of the Naples area and surrounding communities in Collier County can search for active bench warrants through several public tools. This page covers the local offices, search options, and steps to resolve an outstanding bench warrant in Collier County.

Collier County Clerk Warrant Records

The Collier County Clerk of the Circuit Court is the main record keeper for all court cases in the county. This office files and stores bench warrant orders issued by judges in the 20th Judicial Circuit. The clerk's office is at 3315 Tamiami Trail East, Suite 102, in Naples. You can call (239) 252-2745 or email CollierClerk@CollierClerk.com to ask about case records. Copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies run $2 per document. An exemplified copy is $7 per document in Collier County.

Court records in Collier County are public under Florida's Sunshine Law, found in Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. This means anyone can request to see bench warrant records. You do not need to be the person named on the warrant. The clerk can search by name or case number. Some records may be sealed by a judge, but most bench warrants in Collier County remain open to the public.

The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers association connects all 67 county clerk offices across the state, including Collier County.

This statewide association helps link clerk systems and provides resources that tie into local Collier County court records.

Collier County Sheriff Bench Warrants

The Collier County Sheriff's Office serves all bench warrants issued by the court. Sheriff Kevin Rambosk leads the office at 3319 Tamiami Trail East in Naples. The main phone line is 239-252-9300. Under Florida Statute § 901.04, any sheriff in the state can serve a bench warrant. This means a Collier County bench warrant can be served in Lee County, Miami-Dade County, or anywhere else in Florida.

The Fugitive Warrants Bureau handles active bench warrants in Collier County. You can reach them at 239-252-9655 or by email at warrantcri@colliersheriff.org. Office hours run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. After hours, call the main line at 239-252-9300. The bureau works with the clerk of court and the state attorney to track and serve outstanding warrants. They enter bench warrants into local and national databases so law enforcement across the country can see them.

The sheriff also runs an online search tool where you can look up arrests and warrants. This lets you check for active bench warrants in Collier County from home.

Note: Not all bench warrants appear in online systems right away due to processing time between Collier County agencies.

How Bench Warrants Work in Collier County

A Collier County bench warrant starts when a judge signs an order from the bench. The most common cause is failure to appear at a scheduled hearing. Under Florida Statute § 88.3051, the court can issue a bench warrant, capias, or writ of bodily attachment when someone does not show up after proper notice. Missing a hearing in a traffic case, a criminal case, or a civil matter can all trigger a bench warrant here. The judge may also issue one if a person breaks the terms of probation or ignores a court order.

Once signed, a Collier County bench warrant does not expire. It stays active until the person is arrested, the judge recalls the warrant, or the subject dies. This is different from search warrants in Florida, which expire after 10 days under Florida Statute § 933.05. A bench warrant from five years ago is still valid and can lead to an arrest at any time in Collier County.

Under Florida Statute § 901.02, the judge needs probable cause to issue an arrest warrant. For bench warrants, the failure to appear itself gives the court grounds to act. Electronic signatures have been valid on Florida warrants since July 2013, which speeds up the process in Collier County.

Collier County Bench Warrant Penalties

Failing to appear in court is a crime in Florida. Under Florida Statute § 843.15, it is a third-degree felony if you were out on bail for a felony charge and did not show up. It is a first-degree misdemeanor if you missed court on a misdemeanor case. These new charges come on top of the original case. A Collier County bench warrant creates a separate charge that the court handles on its own.

The FDLE tracks active warrants statewide. You can search the database at fdle.state.fl.us to check for Collier County bench warrants. The FDLE database updates every 24 hours and covers all 67 Florida counties.

Keep in mind that FDLE data should not be used as legal proof of an active warrant. Always confirm through the Collier County Clerk or Sheriff.

Resolving Collier County Bench Warrants

If you have a bench warrant in Collier County, talk to a lawyer first. A criminal defense attorney can search for the warrant, explain your options, and arrange a voluntary surrender with the court. Turning yourself in on a Collier County bench warrant often leads to better results than getting picked up during a traffic stop or at your home. Courts tend to look more favorably on people who come in on their own.

An attorney may file a motion to quash the bench warrant in some cases. This works for old warrants, cases of mistaken identity, or minor matters where the person had a good reason for missing court. The judge decides whether to recall the Collier County bench warrant at a hearing. Under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.730, the clerk or state attorney can prepare a direct capias to bring the person before the court for sentencing or adjudication.

Watch out for scams. The Collier County Sheriff has warned that callers pretend to be law enforcement and demand payment to clear bench warrants. Real warrants are never resolved by phone payments. No one from the sheriff's office or the court will ask for gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. If someone calls about a bench warrant, hang up and call the Collier County Sheriff at 239-252-9300 to verify.

Crime Stoppers takes tips on wanted persons in Collier County at 1-800-780-TIPS. You can also visit www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com to submit a tip online. Rewards go up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest.

Note: The Florida Courts e-Filing Portal at myfloridacourt.com can also help you access case information related to Collier County bench warrants.

Cities in Collier County

Collier County includes Naples, Marco Island, Immokalee, and Everglades City. All bench warrants for residents of these areas are handled by the 20th Judicial Circuit Court. There are no cities in Collier County that meet the population threshold for a dedicated page, but all residents can use the county resources listed above to search for active bench warrants.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Collier County. A bench warrant must be filed in the right jurisdiction. If you are not sure which county applies to your case, check the court where the original charge was filed.