Find Polk County Bench Warrants

Bench warrants in Polk County are issued through the 10th Judicial Circuit when a person misses a scheduled court date or violates terms set by a judge. Bartow is the county seat and the location of the main courthouse. The Polk County Clerk of Courts and the Polk County Sheriff's Office both manage bench warrant records. You can search for active bench warrants through the sheriff's online warrants inquiry tool, the clerk's system, or the FDLE statewide database. Polk County is one of the largest counties in Florida by area and handles a high volume of cases each year. This page walks you through finding, checking, and resolving bench warrants in Polk County.

Polk County Sheriff Warrants Inquiry

The Polk County Sheriff's Office operates one of the better online warrant search tools in Florida. The Polk County Sheriff warrants inquiry page lets you search by last name, city, zip code, or gender. The results show the warrant number, issue date, PCSO number, personal details, address, and alleged offense. This gives you a fast way to check if a bench warrant is active in Polk County without making a phone call. The sheriff's main office is at 1891 Jim Keene Blvd. in Winter Haven, FL 33880, and the general number is (863) 298-6200.

The Polk County Sheriff's warrants inquiry page is shown below.

For questions about a specific warrant in Polk County, you can reach the Warrants Unit at (863) 298-6499 or by email at Wanted@polksheriff.org during regular business hours. The sheriff's office says you should verify any name published on their site by contacting the Warrants Unit directly. Database results may not always be current to the minute.

Note: The Polk County Sheriff strongly recommends verifying warrant data through the Warrants Unit before taking action based on online results.

Polk County Clerk of Courts

The Polk County Clerk of Courts and Comptroller maintains all court case files, and bench warrants are part of that record. The main office is at 255 N. Broadway Ave. in Bartow, FL 33830. You can call (863) 534-4000 for case info. The clerk's website offers access to court records and case details. When a judge signs a bench warrant in Polk County, it goes into the clerk's system right away. From there the data gets shared with the FCIC and NCIC systems, making it visible to all law enforcement in the state.

Under Florida Statute 901.02, a judge can issue a bench warrant when probable cause exists. The warrant must be signed by the judge. Electronic signatures have been allowed since July 2013. In Polk County, the large number of cases across the 10th Judicial Circuit means the clerk processes warrants on a daily basis. Under Florida Statute 901.04, bench warrants from Polk County are directed to all sheriffs in Florida. Any law enforcement officer in the state can serve one at any time, on any day.

Search Polk County Bench Warrants Online

Beyond the sheriff's warrants inquiry tool, you can also search for Polk County bench warrants through the FDLE statewide database at fdle.state.fl.us. The FDLE system pulls warrant data from all 67 Florida counties, including Polk. It updates every 24 hours. You can search by first name, last name, or date of birth. The database covers arrest warrants, bench warrants, capias warrants, probation violation warrants, and fugitive warrants. FDLE cautions that the data should not be used to confirm a warrant is active or as probable cause for arrest.

For the most up-to-date info on a Polk County bench warrant, the best route is to call the Warrants Unit at (863) 298-6499 or the clerk at (863) 534-4000. The online tools are helpful for a first look, but phone or in-person verification gives you the most current status. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers association ties all 67 county clerk offices together. Their eWarrants system and CCIS (Comprehensive Case Information System) help share bench warrant data across the state.

Polk County Bench Warrant Penalties

Missing court in Polk County triggers additional charges. Under Florida Statute 843.15, failure to appear on a felony charge is a third-degree felony with up to five years in prison. Failure to appear on a misdemeanor is a first-degree misdemeanor carrying up to one year in jail. These are new charges on top of whatever case brought you to court. The bench warrant creates a whole separate legal problem. So instead of dealing with one case, you now have two.

Bench warrants in Polk County do not expire. They stay active until the person is arrested, the judge recalls the warrant, or the subject is deceased. This is different from search warrants, which expire after 10 days under Florida Statute 933.05. A bench warrant from years ago in Polk County will still show up in every law enforcement database. It comes up during traffic stops, when you interact with officers, or when you apply for certain licenses. The only way to clear it is through the court system.

Resolving Warrants in Polk County

If you discover you have a bench warrant in Polk County, get a criminal defense attorney involved first. A lawyer can review the case, check what charges are involved, and work out the best approach. Filing a motion to quash the warrant is an option, especially for old cases or minor offenses. Voluntary surrender at the Polk County Jail gives you more control than waiting to be picked up by law enforcement. The jail takes walk-ins around the clock.

Ways to handle a Polk County bench warrant:

• Hire a lawyer to file a motion to quash or recall
• Turn yourself in at the Polk County Jail
• Contact the Warrants Unit at (863) 298-6499 or Wanted@polksheriff.org
• Call the clerk at (863) 534-4000 for case information
• Search the sheriff's warrants inquiry tool online first

Be wary of scam calls. Real law enforcement in Polk County will never ask you to pay money over the phone to clear a bench warrant. No gift cards, no wire transfers. If someone calls with that kind of demand, hang up and verify through the clerk or the sheriff's main line. 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. Bench warrants in Polk County are public records under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. Under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.730, the clerk or state attorney can prepare a direct capias to bring a defendant before the court.

Cities in Polk County

Polk County has many cities and communities spread across a large area. All bench warrants in the county go through the 10th Judicial Circuit Court in Bartow. Lakeland is the largest city in Polk County and the only one with a population over 75,000.

Other places in Polk County include Winter Haven, Bartow, Lake Wales, Haines City, and Auburndale. Bench warrants for residents of these areas are processed through the Polk County court system in Bartow.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Polk County. Make sure your bench warrant is in the right county before you act. Each county has its own clerk and sheriff handling warrants.