Manatee County Bench Warrants

Manatee County bench warrants are issued by judges in the 12th Judicial Circuit when someone misses a court date or violates a court order. Bradenton is the county seat and where the main courthouse operates. Manatee County has a population of over 458,000, making it one of the larger counties on Florida's Gulf Coast. You can search for active bench warrants through the Manatee County Clerk of Court, the Sheriff's Office, or the FDLE statewide database. All bench warrants are public records under Florida law. This page explains how to search, what penalties you face, and what options exist for resolving an active warrant in Manatee County.

Manatee County Clerk of Court

The Manatee County Clerk of Court maintains all court case files, including bench warrants. The office is at 1115 Manatee Ave. W in Bradenton, FL 34205. Call (941) 749-1800 for case information or warrant questions. The clerk staff can look up a bench warrant by name or case number. The office handles bond payments, case filings, court documents, and public records requests for the county.

The Manatee County Clerk of Court homepage gives access to court records and case search tools.

The clerk's website at manateeclerk.com provides online access to court records in Manatee County. You can search for cases, check warrant status, and view court filings. This is a useful tool for anyone trying to find out if a bench warrant is active in Manatee County.

Manatee County is part of the 12th Judicial Circuit, which also covers DeSoto and Sarasota counties. A bench warrant from Manatee County is not limited to the circuit, though. Under Florida Statute 901.04, any sheriff in Florida can serve a bench warrant from Manatee County. The warrant is valid statewide. Moving to another county does not make it go away.

Search Manatee County Warrants Online

Manatee County gives you multiple ways to search for bench warrants online. The clerk's website at manateeclerk.com has a court records search tool. You can look up cases by name, case number, or date. The search is free. Results show case details, charges, filing dates, and warrant status. This is the fastest way to check for a bench warrant in Manatee County from home.

The FDLE statewide database is another option. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement collects warrant data from all 67 counties, including Manatee. Updates happen every 24 hours. You can search by name or date of birth. The FDLE system covers bench warrants, arrest warrants, capias warrants, violation of probation warrants, and fugitive warrants from Manatee County.

Not every new bench warrant shows up online right away. There is always a gap between when a Manatee County judge signs a warrant and when it hits the database. Brand new warrants may take a day or two. If you need to check on something recent, call the clerk directly at (941) 749-1800.

Note: The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers eWarrants system links all 67 county clerk offices, so Manatee County warrants appear in law enforcement databases statewide.

Manatee County Sheriff's Office

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office handles all warrant service in the county. The office is at 600 301 Blvd. W in Bradenton, FL 34205. Call (941) 747-3011 for warrant info. Deputies serve bench warrants, arrest warrants, and capias warrants throughout Manatee County. When someone gets picked up on a bench warrant, they are booked at the county jail and held until they can see a judge.

Under Florida Statute 901.02, a judge must find probable cause to issue a bench warrant in Manatee County. The warrant has to be signed. Electronic signatures have been allowed since 2013. Once signed, the bench warrant enters the system right away. It stays active until the person is arrested, the judge recalls it, or the subject is deceased. There is no expiration date. Deputies can serve a bench warrant in Manatee County at any time, any day.

Manatee County Bench Warrant Penalties

Failure to appear in Manatee County brings new criminal charges. Under Florida Statute 843.15, missing court on a felony case is a third-degree felony. That means up to five years in prison. Missing court on a misdemeanor is a first-degree misdemeanor with up to one year in jail. These charges are separate from and on top of whatever case brought you to court in Manatee County. The bench warrant is simply how the judge orders you back.

Bench warrants from Manatee County never expire. That is a key difference from search warrants, which expire after 10 days under Florida Statute 933.05. A bench warrant sits in the system for years if needed. It comes up during traffic stops, at the airport, and any time your name gets run by law enforcement. Under Florida Statute 88.3051, the court can also issue a capias or writ of bodily attachment for failure to appear. All of these result in an arrest order that stays active in Manatee County.

Resolving Manatee County Bench Warrants

If you have a bench warrant in Manatee County, the first thing to do is contact a criminal defense attorney. A lawyer can look at your case, review the charges, and help you decide the best approach. Filing a motion to quash is one option. This works best when the case is old or the charges are minor. Some Manatee County judges will recall bench warrants when the person has a valid reason for missing court and their attorney presents it properly.

Options for resolving a bench warrant in Manatee County:

• Hire a lawyer to file a motion to quash or recall the warrant
• Turn yourself in at the Manatee County Jail in Bradenton
• Call the sheriff at (941) 747-3011 for warrant info
• Contact the clerk at (941) 749-1800 for case status
• Visit the courthouse at 1115 Manatee Ave. W during business hours

Scam calls target people in Manatee County just like everywhere else. No law enforcement officer will call and demand money to clear a bench warrant. Gift cards and wire transfers are never how the court system works. If someone calls with that kind of demand, hang up. Call the clerk or the sheriff to check on your case. Under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.730, the clerk or state attorney can prepare a direct capias, but that goes through the court in Bradenton, not through a phone payment.

Manatee County Public Records Access

All bench warrants in Manatee County are public records under Florida's Sunshine Law, Chapter 119. Anyone can request them. You do not need to be a party to the case. The clerk can provide copies of bench warrant documents, case files, and court orders. There may be a copy fee for printed records. Online records through the clerk's website are free to view.

The eWarrants system connects all Florida clerk offices and law enforcement agencies. A bench warrant from Manatee County enters the Florida Crime Information Center and the national NCIC database. This makes it visible to officers across the state and country. Whether you are in Bradenton or on the other side of Florida, the warrant shows up when your name gets checked.

Cities in Manatee County

Manatee County includes Bradenton, Palmetto, Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach, and Longboat Key (shared with Sarasota County). All bench warrants in the county go through the 12th Judicial Circuit Court. No cities in Manatee County meet the population threshold for a dedicated page. All bench warrant matters are handled at the courthouse in Bradenton.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Manatee County. Confirm your bench warrant is in the right county before you take any steps. Each county has its own clerk and sheriff that handle warrant service.