Highlands County Bench Warrant Lookup

Bench warrants in Highlands County are issued by judges in the 10th Judicial Circuit when a person misses a scheduled court date or breaks the conditions of a court order. Highlands County sits in central Florida with a population near 110,000 and its county seat in Sebring. The clerk of court in Sebring keeps all case files, including records that show when bench warrants were issued and whether they have been served. You can look up active Highlands County bench warrants through the FDLE statewide database, by calling the clerk's office, or by contacting the sheriff. The county also includes the communities of Avon Park and Lake Placid, all of which fall under the same circuit court system.

Highlands County Clerk and Court Files

The Highlands County Clerk of Court is at 590 S. Commerce Ave. in Sebring. This is where all court case records are filed, including bench warrants from the 10th Judicial Circuit. Call (863) 402-6565 with questions about case status or bench warrant records in Highlands County.

The clerk's office processes a steady volume of criminal and traffic cases. When a judge issues a bench warrant, the clerk enters it into the case management system immediately. The file shows the date the warrant was signed, the judge who issued it, the underlying case, and why the warrant was ordered. Most bench warrants in Highlands County come from failure to appear at a scheduled hearing. Staff at the clerk's office can search for bench warrants by name or case number during business hours. Bring a valid photo ID if you visit in person. Record copies are available for a fee.

The 10th Judicial Circuit covers Highlands, Hardee, and Polk counties. Cases from Highlands County are filed and tracked through the Sebring clerk's office, but the circuit shares resources across all three counties. If you are not sure which county your case is in, the clerk staff can help you check.

Highlands County Sheriff Bench Warrants

The Highlands County Sheriff's Office serves bench warrants across the county. Their office is at 434 Fernleaf Ave. in Sebring. You can call (863) 402-7200. Under Florida Statute § 901.04, any sheriff in the state can serve a bench warrant, and deputies can make arrests at any hour on any day.

Highlands County sits along US 27, one of the busiest north-south routes in central Florida. Deputies run warrant checks during traffic stops on US 27 and other roads throughout the county. If a Highlands County bench warrant shows up during a stop, you will be taken into custody right there. The warrant database is accessible to every law enforcement officer in the state, not just those in Highlands County.

Fresh pursuit rules under Florida law let Highlands County deputies cross into neighboring counties without losing arrest authority. A bench warrant issued in Highlands County is enforceable in Polk County, Okeechobee County, or anywhere else in Florida. Law enforcement shares warrant data across the 10th Judicial Circuit and through the FDLE statewide system.

How Highlands County Warrants Are Issued

A bench warrant in Highlands County starts with a judge finding probable cause under Florida Statute § 901.02. Failure to appear is the most frequent reason. The judge signs the warrant from the bench, and it becomes active right away. Electronic signatures have been valid in Florida since July 2013. The clerk enters the bench warrant into the case file and reports it to FDLE.

Florida Statute § 843.15 makes failure to appear a separate offense. If the original charge was a felony, missing court is a third-degree felony. If it was a misdemeanor, missing court is a first-degree misdemeanor. These charges are independent of the original case. A person who had one open matter in Highlands County now faces two cases after a bench warrant is issued for failure to appear.

Search for Highlands County Warrants

The FDLE database at fdle.state.fl.us is the fastest free way to check. Enter a name or date of birth and search all 67 Florida counties at once. The database updates every 24 hours. Results will show if someone has an active bench warrant in Highlands County or elsewhere in the state.

For a more thorough check, contact the Highlands County Clerk of Court at (863) 402-6565. The clerk has the most up-to-date records. You can also call the sheriff's office at (863) 402-7200. Both offices can tell you if a bench warrant is currently active. The Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers website links to clerk offices in all 67 counties and can point you to the right Highlands County contact.

Judges in the 10th Judicial Circuit also use Florida Statute § 88.3051 and Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.730 when issuing capias warrants and writs of bodily attachment. These have the same practical effect as a bench warrant in Highlands County. The clerk's records cover all types of court-ordered warrants, not just bench warrants from failure to appear.

The statewide Florida statutes page covering bench warrant and arrest warrant law is shown here.

This statute defines the legal requirements for bench warrant issuance in Highlands County and across all of Florida.

Resolving Highlands County Bench Warrants

Bench warrants in Florida do not expire. A Highlands County bench warrant from years ago is still active and enforceable today. Under Florida Statute § 933.05, search warrants expire after 10 days. Bench warrants have no such limit. They stay open until the person is arrested, the judge recalls the warrant, or the person passes away.

Talk to a criminal defense attorney before taking any action. A lawyer can check for Highlands County bench warrants without risking your arrest. They can contact the 10th Judicial Circuit Court in Sebring and arrange a voluntary surrender. Judges almost always view this better than a street arrest. In some cases, your attorney can file a motion to quash the bench warrant. This works best when the warrant is old, the charge is minor, or there was a problem with how notice was given. The motion goes before the same judge who issued the bench warrant in Highlands County, or a successor judge if the original one has left the bench.

Never pay anyone over the phone to clear a bench warrant in Highlands County. If someone calls demanding gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency, it is a scam. Verify all warrant claims through the sheriff at (863) 402-7200 or the clerk at (863) 402-6565.

Highlands County Warrant Records Access

Bench warrant records in Highlands County are public under Florida's Sunshine Law, Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. Anyone can ask to see them through the clerk of court. 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 is part of the public court file. Juvenile cases have additional protections, and unexecuted search warrants stay sealed. But the vast majority of adult bench warrants in Highlands County are open for public inspection.

Cities in Highlands County

Highlands County includes Sebring, Avon Park, and Lake Placid. All court cases, including bench warrants, go through the 10th Judicial Circuit courthouse in Sebring. No cities in Highlands County have a population over 75,000. Bench warrant matters for the entire county are handled at the clerk of court office in Sebring.

Nearby Counties

These counties share borders with Highlands County. The 10th Judicial Circuit connects Highlands with Hardee and Polk counties. Confirm your case is in Highlands County before reaching out to the clerk here.