Indian River County Bench Warrants
Bench warrants in Indian River County are issued by judges in the 19th Judicial Circuit when a person fails to appear for a court date or violates a court order. Indian River County is on Florida's Treasure Coast with a population of about 172,000 and its county seat in Vero Beach. The clerk of court maintains all case records, and the Indian River County Sheriff's Office serves warrants throughout the area. You can search for active bench warrants through the FDLE statewide database, the clerk's office website, or by contacting the sheriff directly. The 19th Judicial Circuit also covers Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie counties, so bench warrant data is shared across the circuit. All records are public under Florida's Sunshine Law.
Indian River County Quick Facts
Indian River County Clerk of Court
The Indian River County Clerk of Court is at 2000 16th Ave. in Vero Beach. This office manages all court case records for the 19th Judicial Circuit in Indian River County. When a judge issues a bench warrant, the clerk enters it into the case management system. Call (772) 770-5185 for questions about bench warrants or case records.
Indian River County has a growing population along the I-95 corridor and the Atlantic coast. The court system handles a steady flow of criminal and traffic cases. Bench warrants are issued regularly when defendants miss hearings in Indian River County. The clerk's office can search by name or case number during business hours. Bring a valid photo ID for an in-person visit. Copies of court documents are available for a fee, and certified copies cost more. The clerk's website also has an online search tool for court records, which can show bench warrant information within case details.
The clerk's office serves as the central hub for court records in Indian River County. Staff handle everything from filing new cases to processing bench warrant returns of service. If you need to find a specific bench warrant record, this is the best place to start.
| Office | Indian River County Clerk of Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 2000 16th Ave., Vero Beach, FL 32960 |
| Phone | (772) 770-5185 |
| Website | clerk.indian-river.org |
Indian River Sheriff Warrants
The Indian River County Sheriff's Office handles bench warrant service for the county. Their main office is at 4055 41st Ave. in Vero Beach. Call (772) 569-6700. Under Florida Statute § 901.04, any sheriff in the state can serve a bench warrant. Indian River County deputies can arrest someone on a bench warrant at any time.
Indian River County sits between Brevard County to the north and St. Lucie County to the south. Interstate 95 runs through the county, and the Florida Turnpike ends nearby. Deputies patrol these corridors and run warrant checks during routine traffic stops. If a bench warrant from Indian River County shows up, you will be taken into custody during the stop. The sheriff's office works closely with the Vero Beach Police Department and other local agencies to serve warrants throughout the county.
The 19th Judicial Circuit connects Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie counties. Deputies across all four counties can see bench warrant data from Indian River County. Fresh pursuit rules under Florida law let Indian River County deputies follow a suspect across county lines. An active bench warrant makes you subject to arrest statewide, not just in Indian River County.
Note: The Vero Beach Police Department can also arrest someone on an active Indian River County bench warrant within city limits.
How Indian River Bench Warrants Work
Under Florida Statute § 901.02, a judge in Indian River County must find probable cause before signing a bench warrant. Failure to appear in court is the top reason these warrants get issued. When someone misses a hearing, the judge can sign the bench warrant that same day. It takes effect the moment the judge signs it. Electronic signatures have been valid since July 2013.
Missing court in Indian River County creates a new criminal charge. Under Florida Statute § 843.15, failure to appear on a felony charge is a third-degree felony. On a misdemeanor charge, it is a first-degree misdemeanor. These new charges run separately from the original case. So a person facing one charge in Indian River County who skips court now faces two.
Bench warrants also get issued for probation violations and contempt of court. Under Florida Statute § 88.3051, the court can issue a bench warrant, capias, or writ of bodily attachment after proper notice. Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.730 allows the clerk or state attorney to prepare a direct capias for defendants who need to come back for sentencing. Judges in the 19th Judicial Circuit use all of these methods to bring defendants back to court in Indian River County.
Search Indian River County Bench Warrants
The FDLE database at fdle.state.fl.us is the fastest free option. Search by name or date of birth. The database covers all 67 Florida counties and updates every 24 hours. If someone has an active bench warrant in Indian River County, it should appear in this system.
The Indian River County Clerk of Court website has an online records search tool that can show case details, including bench warrant status. For direct help, call the clerk at (772) 770-5185 or visit the courthouse at 2000 16th Ave. in Vero Beach. The sheriff's office at (772) 569-6700 can also confirm whether a bench warrant is active.
The Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers association links all county clerk offices across the state and can help point you to Indian River County resources.
The clerks association supports the eWarrants system and other data sharing tools that help Florida agencies share bench warrant information between counties.
Resolving Indian River County Warrants
Florida bench warrants never expire. An Indian River County bench warrant stays active until the person is arrested, the judge recalls the warrant, or the subject is deceased. Search warrants expire after 10 days under Florida Statute § 933.05, but bench warrants have no time limit at all. A bench warrant from years ago is just as valid as one issued last week in Indian River County.
Get a criminal defense attorney. A lawyer can check for Indian River County bench warrants privately. They can arrange a voluntary surrender with the 19th Judicial Circuit Court in Vero Beach. Judges tend to view this more favorably than a street arrest. Your attorney may also be able to file a motion to quash the bench warrant. This can work for old warrants, minor charges, improper notice, or cases of mistaken identity in Indian River County.
Watch for scams targeting Indian River County residents. Scammers call people claiming they have bench warrants and demand payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. No real law enforcement agency in Indian River County will ask for payment over the phone. If you get a call like this, hang up and verify through the sheriff at (772) 569-6700 or the clerk at (772) 770-5185.
Indian River Bench Warrant Records
Bench warrant records in Indian River County are public under Florida's Sunshine Law, Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. Anyone can request access through the clerk of court. You do not have to be a party to the case. Once the bench warrant is served and a return of service is filed, the complete record becomes part of the public court file.
Certain records have limits. Juvenile cases are protected. Unexecuted search warrants stay sealed until served. But most adult bench warrants in Indian River County are fully open to public view. The 19th Judicial Circuit processes these records through the clerk's office in Vero Beach, and the online search tool on the clerk's website provides another way to access Indian River County bench warrant case data.
Cities in Indian River County
Indian River County includes Vero Beach, Sebastian, Indian River Shores, and Fellsmere. All court cases go through the 19th Judicial Circuit courthouse in Vero Beach. No cities in Indian River County have a population over 75,000. All bench warrant matters are processed through the county clerk of court.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Indian River County along Florida's Treasure Coast. The 19th Judicial Circuit connects Indian River with several of them. Verify your case is in Indian River County before contacting the clerk about a bench warrant.