Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 119.01, known as the Florida Public Records Act, warrants are considered public records in Miami-Dade County. The statute establishes that all records made or received by any public agency in the course of its official business are available for inspection, unless specifically exempted by law. Warrant information, as part of the judicial process, falls under this category of accessible governmental records.
The Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts maintains these records in accordance with Florida Statutes § 28.13, which mandates that clerks of the circuit court shall be the recorder of all instruments that may be recorded by law. Public access to warrant information serves multiple governmental purposes, including:
Certain warrant information may be temporarily sealed or redacted under Florida Statutes § 119.071 when disclosure would compromise an ongoing investigation or endanger individuals. Additionally, warrants related to juvenile offenders may have restricted access pursuant to Florida Statutes § 985.04.
Warrant records maintained by the Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Court typically contain specific information as required by Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure 3.121. Standard elements included in these official documents are:
Additional information may include aliases, last known address, and specific instructions to law enforcement regarding execution of the warrant. Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 901.02, all warrants must be supported by an affidavit or sworn testimony establishing probable cause.
Members of the public may conduct free warrant searches through several official channels in Miami-Dade County. The following methods are available pursuant to Florida Statutes § 119.01(2)(f), which requires agencies to provide reasonable access to records:
Visit the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts in person: Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts 73 West Flagler Street Miami, FL 33130 305-275-1155 Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Official Website
Access the Miami-Dade County Criminal Justice Information System online, which provides a searchable database of criminal cases including warrant information.
Contact the Miami-Dade Police Department Records Section: Miami-Dade Police Department Records Section 9105 NW 25th Street Doral, FL 33172 305-471-2800 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Utilize public access terminals available at county courthouse locations throughout Miami-Dade County.
When conducting searches, individuals must provide proper identifying information such as full name and date of birth to ensure accurate results. Pursuant to Florida Administrative Code 2B-26.003, agencies may require photo identification for in-person requests.
The Miami-Dade Police Department, which serves as the county's primary law enforcement agency, is responsible for executing warrants issued within the jurisdiction. These legal documents are categorized according to Florida Statutes § 901.02 and include:
The Warrants Bureau of the Miami-Dade Police Department maintains a dedicated unit for processing and serving these documents:
Miami-Dade Police Department Warrants Bureau 9105 NW 25th Street Doral, FL 33172 305-471-2231 Hours: 24 hours daily
Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 901.15, law enforcement officers may execute arrest warrants at any time of day or night, and may use reasonable force if necessary to effect the arrest. The execution of search warrants is governed by more restrictive provisions under Florida Statutes § 933.10.
Individuals seeking to determine their warrant status in Miami-Dade County may utilize several official verification methods established under Florida Statutes § 119.01. The following resources are available for warrant verification:
Access the Miami-Dade County Clerk's Criminal Justice Information System, which provides real-time warrant status information.
Utilize the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Wanted Persons Search for statewide warrant information.
Contact the Miami-Dade County Criminal Intake Unit: Criminal Intake Unit 1351 NW 12th Street Miami, FL 33125 305-547-0100 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Consult with the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department: Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department 2525 NW 62nd Street Miami, FL 33147 786-263-6000 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Individuals may also conduct an inmate search to determine if someone has been taken into custody on an outstanding warrant. When verifying warrant status, members of the public should be prepared to provide proper identification information including full legal name, date of birth, and address.
Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 119.07, members of the public may access information regarding outstanding warrants through multiple official channels. The following methods are available for conducting comprehensive warrant searches:
Visit the Records Section of the Miami-Dade Police Department: Miami-Dade Police Department Records Section 9105 NW 25th Street Doral, FL 33172 305-471-2800 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Access the Miami-Dade County Clerk's Criminal Justice Information System for court records related to criminal cases.
Contact the Warrants Bureau directly: Miami-Dade Police Department Warrants Bureau 9105 NW 25th Street Doral, FL 33172 305-471-2231 Hours: 24 hours daily
Utilize the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Wanted Persons Database, which compiles warrant information from law enforcement agencies throughout the state.
When conducting searches, individuals should be aware that pursuant to Florida Statutes § 119.071(2)(c), certain warrant information may be temporarily exempt from disclosure if it relates to active criminal intelligence or investigative information.