Access Okaloosa County Bench Warrants

Bench warrants in Okaloosa County are issued through the 1st Judicial Circuit when someone fails to appear for a court hearing or does not follow a court order. The Okaloosa County Clerk of Court and the Sheriff's Office both play roles in tracking and serving these warrants. Crestview is the county seat, while Ft. Walton Beach serves as the main hub for clerk operations. You can search for active bench warrants through the clerk's ClerkQuest system, the sheriff's online warrant search, or the FDLE statewide database. This page goes through every option for finding bench warrants in Okaloosa County and what to do if one comes up.

Okaloosa County Clerk of Court

The Okaloosa County Clerk of Court is headed by Brad E. Embry. The main office is at 1940 Lewis Turner Blvd., Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32547. Call (850) 651-7200 for general questions. The clerk's office manages all court filings in the 1st Judicial Circuit for Okaloosa County, and that includes bench warrants, capias warrants, and all criminal case records. When a judge signs a bench warrant, the clerk enters it into the case management system. The record becomes part of the public file under Florida's Sunshine Law.

The Okaloosa County Clerk of Court website is shown below.

The clerk's office has a page specifically about warrants information. However, the clerk's office is unable to provide detailed warrant information directly. They direct all warrant inquiries to the Sheriff's Office. For court case records and docket information, the clerk can help. For active warrant status, call the sheriff.

The Okaloosa Clerk warrants information page is shown here.

Under Florida Statute 901.02, a judge must find probable cause before signing a bench warrant. Electronic signatures have been valid on Florida warrants since 2013, so the process from missed court date to active bench warrant can happen fast in Okaloosa County.

Search Okaloosa County Court Records

The clerk runs the ClerkQuest online records search. This tool lets you look up court cases filed in Okaloosa County. You need both a first and last name to run a name search. Date searches require a start and end date. The system is limited to the first 500 results per search. Court records go back to about 1990, and scanned documents are available from 2009 forward. Bench warrants show up as part of the case docket when you pull up a criminal case.

The Okaloosa County ClerkQuest search tool is shown below.

The search is free and does not require an account. Results show case numbers, filing dates, charges, and docket entries. Look for entries that mention "bench warrant" or "capias" in the docket. If you find a case but need to know whether the bench warrant is still active, you will need to call the sheriff's office at 850.651.7432 to confirm the current status. The clerk's system shows what was filed but does not always reflect real-time warrant status.

Okaloosa Sheriff Warrant Search

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office is at 50 2nd Street, Shalimar, FL 32579. The non-emergency number is 850-651-7400. The warrants section can be reached at 850.651.7432. Email warrants@sheriff-okaloosa.org for warrant questions. The warrants division operates Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office runs two units: a Warrants Unit and a Fugitive Warrants Unit.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office homepage is shown here.

The sheriff runs a warrant search tool on the department website. You can search by last name, first name, and middle name. This search covers active warrants in Okaloosa County, including bench warrants, arrest warrants, and capias warrants. It is free and available to anyone.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff warrant search page is shown below.

The search results show the person's name, warrant type, and charge. If you find an active bench warrant in your name, contact a lawyer before doing anything else.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's warrants division page is shown here with contact information and unit details.

Okaloosa County Fugitive Warrants

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Fugitive Warrants Unit has two full-time investigators dedicated to tracking down people with outstanding felony warrants. The unit puts priority on older felony warrants that have gone unserved for a long time. They work with the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the State Attorney's Office on cases that cross jurisdictions. Under Florida Statute 901.04, a bench warrant from Okaloosa County can be served by any sheriff in the state. The arrest can happen any day, any time. If you leave Okaloosa County, the warrant follows you through the FCIC and NCIC systems.

The Okaloosa Sheriff warrants division page is shown below with details on the two units.

Even traveling out of state does not protect you from an Okaloosa County bench warrant. The warrant data links to national databases. If your name gets run during a traffic stop in Alabama, Georgia, or anywhere else, the Okaloosa County bench warrant will show up. The fugitive unit works to close out these cases, especially felony-level bench warrants that have been open for months or years.

Note: Okaloosa County bench warrants do not expire and stay active until the person is arrested, the warrant is recalled by the judge, or the subject is deceased.

Bench Warrant Penalties in Okaloosa

Missing court in Okaloosa County adds new charges to your case. Under Florida Statute 843.15, failure to appear on a felony is a third-degree felony with up to five years in prison. Failure to appear on a misdemeanor is a first-degree misdemeanor with up to one year in jail. These charges stack on top of the original case. The bench warrant is how the court brings you back. The failure to appear charge is the legal consequence for not showing up.

Search warrants and bench warrants work differently in Florida. Search warrants expire after 10 days under Florida Statute 933.05. Bench warrants have no expiration date. A bench warrant from three years ago in Okaloosa County is still active and will show up in law enforcement databases every time your name is checked.

Resolving Okaloosa County Warrants

Start by talking to a criminal defense attorney. A lawyer who practices in the 1st Judicial Circuit can look at your case and help you figure out the best way to handle the bench warrant. In some cases, your attorney can file a motion to quash the warrant. This asks the judge to cancel it and set a new court date. The odds of success depend on the charge, how old the warrant is, and the judge's discretion. Voluntary surrender at the Okaloosa County Jail is another option. Turning yourself in looks better to the court than getting arrested during a traffic stop.

Options for addressing an Okaloosa County bench warrant:

• Hire an attorney to file a motion to quash
• Turn yourself in at the Okaloosa County Jail
• Call the warrants section at 850.651.7432
• Email warrants@sheriff-okaloosa.org
• Call the clerk at (850) 651-7200 for case info

Watch for phone scams. No one from the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office or court will call you and demand money to clear a bench warrant. If someone calls with that demand, it is a scam. Hang up and verify through the sheriff's non-emergency line at 850-651-7400.

Okaloosa Warrant Records Access

Bench warrants in Okaloosa County are public records under Florida's Sunshine Law, Chapter 119. Anyone can request access. You do not need to be a party to the case. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers association connects all 67 county clerk offices through the eWarrants system. A bench warrant entered in Okaloosa County shows up in statewide law enforcement databases. The FDLE updates its public warrant database every 24 hours, pulling data from all counties. Under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.730, the clerk or state attorney can prepare a direct capias for adjudication or sentencing purposes in Okaloosa County.

Note: Under Florida Statute 88.3051, a court can issue a bench warrant, capias, or writ of bodily attachment when someone does not appear after proper notice in Okaloosa County.

Cities in Okaloosa County

Okaloosa County includes Crestview, Ft. Walton Beach, Niceville, Destin, Valparaiso, and Shalimar. All bench warrants go through the 1st Judicial Circuit Court. No city in Okaloosa County has a population over 75,000, so all warrant matters are handled at the county level through the clerk and sheriff offices listed above.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Okaloosa County. Verify your bench warrant is in the right jurisdiction before taking any action. Each county has its own clerk and sheriff.