Glades County Bench Warrants

Bench warrants in Glades County are issued by judges in the 20th Judicial Circuit when a person fails to appear in court or violates a court order. Glades County is one of the least populated counties in Florida, with just over 13,000 residents, but the court system still handles a range of criminal and civil cases out of Moore Haven. The Glades County Clerk of Court keeps case records that show bench warrant status. You can search these records at the courthouse or check the state FDLE database for active warrants tied to Glades County cases. The sheriff's office also plays a role in serving and tracking warrants in this part of south central Florida.

Glades County Clerk and Warrant Records

The Glades County Clerk of Court is the main office for court case records in this county. All bench warrants issued by judges in the 20th Judicial Circuit get filed here. The clerk keeps case files that show when a bench warrant was issued, why the judge ordered it, and whether it has been served. You can visit the clerk office in Moore Haven to look up Glades County bench warrant records in person. Staff can pull case files and check on warrant status for you.

The clerk office is at 500 Avenue J in Moore Haven. Call (863) 946-6010 for questions about case records. The office is open on regular business days. If you need to find out about a bench warrant in Glades County, bring the full name of the person or a case number. Staff can search their system and tell you what they find. Copies of court records are available for a fee.

Glades County Sheriff Warrant Service

The Glades County Sheriff's Office serves bench warrants within the county. Under Florida Statute § 901.04, any sheriff in Florida can serve a warrant. Deputies in Glades County can arrest a person on a bench warrant any day, at any time. The sheriff's office is located at 1297 State Rd 78 W in Moore Haven. You can reach them at (863) 946-1600.

Because Glades County is a small, rural county, the sheriff's office handles most law enforcement tasks on its own. There is no city police force in Moore Haven. That means the sheriff's department is the primary agency that serves all bench warrants in Glades County. If you think there may be a warrant out for you, contact the sheriff's office or an attorney first. Walking in to ask about your own bench warrant can lead to an arrest on the spot. A lawyer can check for you without that risk.

Under Florida law, bench warrants do not expire. A Glades County bench warrant from five years ago is still valid today. The warrant stays active until the person is arrested, the judge recalls it, or the subject passes away. Fresh pursuit rules also let Glades County deputies chase a suspect into nearby counties without stopping at the county line.

How Bench Warrants Work in Glades County

A judge in Glades County issues a bench warrant when someone does not show up for court. This is the most common reason. Under Florida Statute § 901.02, the judge must find probable cause before signing the warrant. Once signed, it goes into effect right away. The clerk enters it into the court file, and it gets reported to the FDLE database.

Failing to appear is a separate crime in Florida. Under Florida Statute § 843.15, skipping court on a felony charge adds a third-degree felony. Missing court on a misdemeanor adds a first-degree misdemeanor charge. These penalties apply on top of whatever the original case was about in Glades County. So a bench warrant does not just bring you back to court. It also adds new charges to your record.

Glades County bench warrants can also come from probation violations. If a judge placed you on probation and you break the terms, the court can issue a bench warrant or a capias to bring you in. Under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.730, the clerk or prosecutor can prepare a direct capias. This is similar to a bench warrant but tied to getting the defendant back for sentencing. Either way, the result is the same. Law enforcement will arrest you when they find you.

Search Glades County Bench Warrants

You can check for bench warrants in Glades County through several methods. The FDLE database at fdle.state.fl.us lets you search by name or date of birth. This is the fastest free option. It pulls warrant data from all 67 Florida counties, including Glades County. Results show up within seconds.

For more details, contact the Glades County Clerk of Court at (863) 946-6010. The clerk can look up case records and tell you if a bench warrant is active. You can also visit the clerk office at 500 Avenue J in Moore Haven. Bring a valid ID and the name of the person you want to search for. The clerk's staff can check the case management system and let you know what they find on Glades County bench warrants.

The Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers website connects all 67 county clerk offices across the state. This can help point you toward the right Glades County records. The statewide eWarrants system links police, state attorneys, clerks, and judges. These tools help share bench warrant data across Florida agencies quickly.

The FDLE statewide warrant database page is shown below.

Keep in mind that not all Glades County bench warrants appear in the FDLE system right away. Some warrants are held locally before they get entered. Always confirm with the clerk or sheriff office for the most current information.

Resolving Glades County Bench Warrants

If you have a bench warrant in Glades County, deal with it soon. Waiting only makes things worse. The warrant stays active with no time limit. You could be stopped for a traffic violation and arrested on the spot. You could also be picked up at a traffic stop in any other Florida county since bench warrants are shared statewide.

The best approach is to hire a criminal defense attorney. A lawyer can check for Glades County bench warrants on your behalf without putting you at risk of arrest. They can then work with the court to arrange a voluntary surrender. Judges in the 20th Judicial Circuit tend to look at voluntary surrender more favorably than a street arrest. Your attorney may also file a motion to quash the bench warrant. This works best for old warrants, minor cases, or situations where you had a valid reason for missing court in Glades County.

Watch for bench warrant scams. Real law enforcement in Glades County will never call and demand payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. If someone calls claiming you have a bench warrant and asks for money, hang up. Verify any warrant claim through the sheriff's non-emergency line at (863) 946-1600 or through the clerk of court.

Glades County Warrant Public Records

Bench warrant records in Glades County are public under Florida's Sunshine Law, Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. Anyone can request to see them. You do not have to be a party to the case. Once a bench warrant is served and a return of service is filed, the full record becomes part of the public court file in Glades County.

There are some limits. Unexecuted search warrants and their supporting documents stay sealed until served under Florida Statute § 933.05. Juvenile records have extra protections. But most adult bench warrants in Glades County are open for anyone to search. The 20th Judicial Circuit covers Glades, Charlotte, Collier, Hendry, and Lee counties. If a case transfers between these counties, the records follow through the circuit court system.

Note: Bench warrants from Glades County may take 24 to 48 hours to show up in the FDLE statewide database after a judge signs them.

Cities in Glades County

Glades County is one of the smallest counties in Florida by population. Moore Haven is the county seat and the only incorporated city. All bench warrant cases in Glades County go through the 20th Judicial Circuit Court in Moore Haven. There are no qualifying cities with populations over 75,000 in Glades County.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Glades County. If you are not sure which county handles your case, check where the court date was set. Bench warrants are tied to the county where the case was filed.