Find Bench Warrants in Holmes County

Bench warrants in Holmes County are issued through the 14th Judicial Circuit Court in Bonifay. A judge can issue a bench warrant here when someone fails to show up for a hearing, breaks probation terms, or ignores a court order. Holmes County is a small county in the Florida panhandle with about 19,900 residents. The clerk of court in Bonifay keeps all the case files, and the Holmes County Sheriff's Office handles warrant service throughout the area. You can search for active bench warrants through the FDLE statewide database, by calling the clerk, or by reaching out to the sheriff. These records are public under Florida law, and anyone can look them up.

Holmes County Clerk and Warrant Records

The Holmes County Clerk of Court sits at 201 N. Oklahoma St. in Bonifay. All case records for the 14th Judicial Circuit in Holmes County go through this office. When a judge issues a bench warrant, the clerk records it in the case file. Call (850) 547-1100 for questions about bench warrants or case records.

Holmes County has a single courthouse. That keeps things straightforward compared to larger counties with multiple branches. If you need to check on a bench warrant, there is one place to go. Bring a valid photo ID and the name of the person you want to look up. The clerk staff can search the case management system by name or case number. They can tell you if a bench warrant is active, when it was issued, and what it was for. Copies of court records are available for a fee, and certified copies cost a bit more.

The 14th Judicial Circuit covers six counties in the panhandle: Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, and Washington. Cases from Holmes County stay filed with the clerk in Bonifay, but the circuit shares judicial resources. If you are not sure your case is in Holmes County, call the clerk and they can check or point you to the right county.

Holmes County Sheriff and Bench Warrants

The Holmes County Sheriff's Office serves bench warrants in the county. The office is at 816 N. Waukesha St. in Bonifay. You can reach them at (850) 547-3681. Under Florida Statute § 901.04, deputies can make an arrest on a bench warrant at any time, any day of the week.

Holmes County is a rural area near the Alabama state line. The sheriff's office is the main law enforcement agency for the entire county. There is no major city police force here. Deputies handle all warrant service, and they work with neighboring agencies in the 14th Judicial Circuit when needed. Interstate 10 runs along the southern edge of the county, and deputies conduct traffic enforcement on this corridor. If your name shows up with an active bench warrant during a stop, you will be arrested on the spot.

Under Florida law, fresh pursuit allows Holmes County deputies to cross county lines without losing arrest authority. A bench warrant issued in Holmes County is also visible to law enforcement across the state through the FDLE database. Being in Bay County, Escambia County, or even south Florida does not protect you from a Holmes County bench warrant. Deputies in any county can arrest you.

Holmes County Bench Warrant Process

A bench warrant in Holmes County starts when a judge finds probable cause under Florida Statute § 901.02. The most common reason is failure to appear in court. The judge signs the warrant from the bench, and it becomes active immediately. Electronic signatures are valid for Florida warrants since July 2013.

Under Florida Statute § 843.15, failure to appear is a separate crime. If the person was released on a felony charge, skipping court adds a third-degree felony. If the original charge was a misdemeanor, the new charge is a first-degree misdemeanor. These penalties stack on top of whatever case was already pending in Holmes County. So one missed court date can create two active cases.

Florida Statute § 88.3051 gives the court power to issue a bench warrant, capias, or writ of bodily attachment when notice was properly given. Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.730 lets the clerk or state attorney prepare a direct capias. Judges in the 14th Judicial Circuit use these tools to compel defendants to appear in Holmes County.

Search Holmes County Bench Warrants

Start with the FDLE database at fdle.state.fl.us. It is free and covers all 67 Florida counties. Search by name or date of birth. The database updates every 24 hours. If there is an active bench warrant in Holmes County, it should show up there.

For a direct check, call the Holmes County Clerk at (850) 547-1100 or the sheriff at (850) 547-3681. The clerk has the most detailed records since bench warrants go into their system the day the judge signs them. In person, visit the courthouse at 201 N. Oklahoma St. in Bonifay. The Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers website can also help you find the right contact for Holmes County bench warrant searches.

The FDLE statewide bench warrant database page is shown below.

The FDLE warns that this data should not be used as legal proof. Some Holmes County bench warrants may not appear in the system right away. Always verify with the local clerk or sheriff for the most current bench warrant status.

Clearing Holmes County Bench Warrants

Do not wait. Bench warrants in Florida never expire. A Holmes County bench warrant from years ago is still active today. It stays open until the person is arrested, the judge recalls it, or the subject passes away. Search warrants expire after 10 days under Florida Statute § 933.05. Bench warrants do not have that kind of time limit.

The best step is to hire a criminal defense attorney. A lawyer can search for Holmes County bench warrants privately and then arrange a voluntary surrender with the 14th Judicial Circuit Court. Judges generally view this better than being arrested on the street. In some cases, your attorney can file a motion to quash the bench warrant. This works for old warrants, minor offenses, improper notice, or mistaken identity in Holmes County.

Be alert for scams. No law enforcement agency in Holmes County will call and demand money to clear a bench warrant. If someone asks for gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency over the phone, it is a scam. Verify any bench warrant claim through the sheriff at (850) 547-3681 or the clerk at (850) 547-1100.

Holmes County Warrant Public Access

Bench warrant records in Holmes County are public under Florida's Sunshine Law, Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. Anyone can request these records through the clerk of court. You do not need to be involved in the case. Once a bench warrant is served, the return of service joins the public file.

Juvenile cases and unexecuted search warrants are exceptions. They stay sealed or protected. But the overwhelming majority of adult bench warrants in Holmes County are open to anyone who asks. The clerk can provide copies of these records during business hours at the Bonifay courthouse.

Note: Some records may require written requests, and fees apply for copies of Holmes County bench warrant case files.

Cities in Holmes County

Holmes County includes the cities of Bonifay, Ponce de Leon, Noma, and Westville. All court cases and bench warrants go through the 14th Judicial Circuit courthouse in Bonifay. No cities in Holmes County have populations over 75,000, so all bench warrant matters are handled at the county level through the clerk of court.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Holmes County in the Florida panhandle. Make sure your case was filed in Holmes County before contacting the clerk here.