Putnam County Bench Warrant Lookup

Bench warrants in Putnam County are issued by judges in the 7th Judicial Circuit when someone fails to show up for a court date or violates a court order. Palatka is the county seat and the home of the main courthouse. The Putnam County Clerk of Court and the Sheriff's Office both track and serve these warrants. You can search for active bench warrants through the clerk's records, the sheriff's office, or the statewide FDLE database. Putnam County is a smaller county, but the rules for bench warrants are the same as everywhere else in Florida. This page covers how to find and address bench warrants in Putnam County.

Putnam County Clerk of Court

The Putnam County Clerk of Court manages all court records in the county. Bench warrants are part of that record system. The clerk's office is at 410 St. Johns Ave. in Palatka, FL 32177. You can call (386) 326-7600 to ask about a case or check if a bench warrant is active. The clerk staff can search by name or case number. Putnam County is part of the 7th Judicial Circuit, which also covers Flagler, St. Johns, and Volusia counties. Because the circuit spans multiple counties, some administrative systems are shared, but each county clerk maintains its own local case files and records independently.

Under Florida Statute 901.02, a judge can issue a bench warrant after finding probable cause that someone failed to appear in court. The warrant is considered issued the moment the judge signs it. Electronic signatures have been valid on Florida warrants since July 2013. In Putnam County, once the warrant is signed, it goes into the clerk's system and from there feeds into the FCIC and NCIC databases. That makes it visible to law enforcement across the state and country.

The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers website is shown below, connecting all 67 county clerks.

The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers association links every county clerk office in the state. Their eWarrants system connects police, state attorneys, clerks, judges, and sheriffs, so a bench warrant filed in Putnam County shows up in databases used by officers throughout Florida.

Putnam County Sheriff Warrants

The Putnam County Sheriff's Office is responsible for serving bench warrants and arrest warrants in the county. The main office is at 130 Sheriff's Dr. in Palatka, FL 32177. The general number is (386) 329-0800. You can call the sheriff's office during business hours to check whether a bench warrant is active. They can verify by name or date of birth. Going in person is also an option, but be aware that if you have an active warrant, you could be taken into custody right then and there.

Under Florida Statute 901.04, all bench warrants are directed to every sheriff in the state. That means a bench warrant from Putnam County can be served in any other Florida county by any officer. The arrest can happen at any time. Day or night. Weekday or weekend. There are no limits. If you get stopped in Orlando with a Putnam County bench warrant, the officer there can act on it. The warrant data flows through the FCIC system to all agencies in the state. In Putnam County, where the population is smaller, local officers are more likely to recognize names on the active warrant list, which can make it harder to go unnoticed.

Note: Putnam County bench warrants do not expire and stay in the system until the person is arrested, the judge recalls the warrant, or the subject is deceased.

Search Putnam County Bench Warrants Online

Putnam County does not offer a standalone public warrant search tool through the sheriff's website. The main option for online searches is the FDLE statewide database at fdle.state.fl.us. The FDLE system pulls warrant data from all 67 Florida counties, including Putnam. It updates every 24 hours. 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 warns that the information should not be used as confirmation that any warrant is active or as probable cause for arrest. For the most current status of a Putnam County bench warrant, call the clerk at (386) 326-7600 or the sheriff at (386) 329-0800. Phone verification is the fastest and most reliable way to get current info in Putnam County. The clerk can look up your case and tell you exactly what the status is. For in-person requests, bring a photo ID to the courthouse at 410 St. Johns Ave. in Palatka.

Bench Warrant Penalties in Putnam County

Missing court in Putnam County carries the same penalties as anywhere else in Florida. Under Florida Statute 843.15, failure to appear on a felony charge is a third-degree felony. That means up to five years in prison. Missing a misdemeanor court date is a first-degree misdemeanor with up to one year in jail. These are new charges added on top of the original case. The bench warrant is its own separate legal matter. You end up facing two issues instead of the one you started with.

Florida bench warrants and search warrants are very different. Search warrants expire after 10 days under Florida Statute 933.05. Bench warrants do not expire at all. A bench warrant from Putnam County that is five years old is still active and enforceable. It will come up during traffic stops, when you apply for certain licenses, and any time law enforcement runs your name through the system. Under Florida Statute 88.3051, a court can also issue a capias or writ of bodily attachment for failure to appear after proper notice.

Resolving Putnam County Bench Warrants

If you find out you have a bench warrant in Putnam County, get a lawyer involved before doing anything. A criminal defense attorney can review the charges, look at the case details, and plan the best way forward. Filing a motion to quash the warrant is sometimes possible, especially for old cases or minor charges. Turning yourself in on your own terms is almost always better than getting arrested during a traffic stop. You can surrender at the Putnam County Jail at any time. In a smaller county like Putnam, working with a local attorney who knows the judges and the court staff can make a real difference in how your case gets handled.

Options for dealing with a Putnam County bench warrant:

• Hire an attorney to file a motion to quash or recall the warrant
• Turn yourself in at the Putnam County Jail
• Call the sheriff at (386) 329-0800 for warrant information
• Contact the clerk at (386) 326-7600 for case status

Watch for phone scams. Real law enforcement in Putnam County will never call and demand money over the phone to clear a bench warrant. No gift cards. No wire transfers. If you get a call like that, hang up. Verify through the clerk or the sheriff's main line. All bench warrants in Putnam County are public records under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, the Sunshine Law. Anyone can ask to see them. Under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.730, the clerk or state attorney can also prepare a direct capias to bring a person before the court for adjudication or sentencing in Putnam County.

Cities in Putnam County

Putnam County has several small cities and communities. All bench warrants in the county go through the 7th Judicial Circuit Court in Palatka. No city in Putnam County has a population over 75,000, so all warrant matters are handled at the county level through the clerk's office and the sheriff.

Cities in Putnam County include Palatka, Crescent City, Interlachen, Pomona Park, and Welaka. Bench warrants for all residents are processed through the Putnam County court system in Palatka.

Nearby Counties

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