Warrants are public records in Broward County, Florida, pursuant to Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, commonly known as the Florida Public Records Act. This legislation establishes that records created or maintained by public agencies in the course of official business shall be accessible to the public, with certain statutory exemptions. The Florida Constitution, Article I, Section 24, further reinforces this right of access to public records.
In Broward County, warrant information is maintained as public record to ensure transparency in the judicial system and to provide citizens with access to information regarding legal proceedings that may affect them. The Broward County Clerk of Courts maintains these records in accordance with Florida Statutes § 28.22205, which mandates the electronic maintenance of court records.
Members of the public seeking warrant information may access these records through designated channels established by the Broward County Sheriff's Office and the Clerk of Courts. However, certain warrant information may be temporarily sealed or restricted if disclosure would compromise an ongoing investigation, pursuant to Florida Statutes § 119.071.
Warrant records maintained by Broward County authorities typically contain the following information as required by Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure 3.121:
Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 901.02, warrants must be supported by an affidavit or sworn testimony establishing probable cause. These supporting documents may also be included in the warrant record, though access to certain affidavits may be restricted if they contain sensitive investigative information.
Members of the public may verify the existence of warrants in Broward County through several no-cost methods established under Florida's public records provisions:
Individuals seeking warrant information should be prepared to provide identifying information such as full name and date of birth to facilitate accurate record searches. Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 119.07, agencies may charge a reasonable fee for extensive use of agency resources but basic warrant verification is typically provided without charge.
The Broward County Sheriff's Office (BSO) is the primary law enforcement agency responsible for executing warrants within Broward County. Sheriff warrants are classified according to their purpose and scope as follows:
The BSO Warrants Division maintains and executes these warrants in accordance with Florida Statutes § 901.15, which governs law enforcement authority to make arrests. The division operates from:
Broward County Sheriff's Office - Main Headquarters
2601 West Broward Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
954-831-8900
Official Website
Warrant execution is prioritized based on the severity of the alleged offense and potential public safety concerns. The Sheriff's Office coordinates with other jurisdictions when warrant subjects are believed to be outside Broward County through interstate compact agreements and the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database.
Individuals seeking to determine if warrants exist in their name in Broward County may utilize several official channels established by county authorities:
Pursuant to Florida Rules of Judicial Administration 2.420, certain warrant information may be subject to confidentiality provisions if the case involves juvenile offenders, victims of sexual crimes, or ongoing investigations. In such instances, limited information may be available to the general public.
The Broward County Clerk of Courts maintains warrant records in their criminal case management system as required by Florida Statutes § 28.13, which mandates the clerk's responsibility for court records maintenance.
Outstanding warrants in Broward County may be verified through several official channels established by county authorities:
Broward County Clerk of Courts
201 SE 6th Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
954-831-6565
Official Website
Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 119.071(2)(c), certain warrant information may be exempt from public disclosure if release would compromise an active criminal investigation. However, basic warrant status information is generally available to the public in accordance with Florida's commitment to government transparency.