Baldwin County Warrant Search

A Baldwin County warrant search may be conducted for personal or legal purposes—usually to ascertain that an individual is not wanted for criminal actions or unsatisfied court obligations. Justice agencies, residents, employers, and other entities may perform a warrant search in Baldwin County.

A Baldwin County warrant search typically furnishes inquirers with warrant information such as the subject's name, issuing date, arrest charge, warrant/case number, issuing court/judge, bail/ bond conditions, and hearing date, if applicable. To perform a warrant search, interested persons may query law enforcement agencies such as the Sheriff's Office or request Baldwin County Arrest Records from the County Clerk's Office.

Are Baldwin County Warrants Public Records?

Al. Code §36-12-40 (Alabama Public Records Law) classifies Baldwin County warrant information as public records. Per this law, citizens and other inquisitive individuals may view and copy warrant information unless otherwise stated by other laws. However, due to privacy policies contained in state statutes, unexecuted and confidential warrant information is not publicly available.

In addition, warrant information that may hinder an ongoing investigation or affect public safety is exempt from public disclosure. Furthermore, the warrant office in Baldwin County Sheriff's Office does not provide details of warrants in their custody to the general public to protect the privacy rights of the subjects and prevent the misuse of warrant information.

Types of Warrants in Baldwin County

The Baldwin County Circuit District Attorney or a Circuit Judge may issue warrants for several administrative and legal purposes. Some of the common types of warrants issued in Baldwin County are listed below:

• Arrest Warrants(Al. code. § 15-7-4)
• Search Warrants
• Alias Warrants: issued when a previously issued warrant was not satisfactorily executed
• Recall Warrants: issued to cancel an arrest mandated in a previous warrant
• Bench Warrants(Al. code. § 15-10-60)
• Civil Capias Warrants: issued for persons who have already undergone a trial proceeding but owe certain court-mandated fees or obligations.

Do I Have a Warrant in Baldwin County?

Persons who wish to confirm if they are subjects of active or outstanding warrants may search the following places:

• The Warrant Office of the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office
• The Circuit District Attorney's Office
• Online repositories provided by the courts or enforcement agencies
• The Clerk's Office in the issuing court
• The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
• Online third-party websites.

Active Warrant Search in Baldwin County

While record custodians(usually the courts and law enforcement agencies) in Baldwin County allow the public to inquire about active warrant information, the processes involved may vary amongst the custodial offices. For instance, the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office's Warrant Office only allows in-person searches for active warrants.

However, persons searching for active warrants will typically need to contact the appropriate record custodian to determine the availability of the desired information and provide an adequate description to aid the search. Most custodial offices may also require search and copy fees to provide warrant information to inquirers.

Arrest Warrant Search

The Warrant Office Division of the Sheriff's Office maintains Baldwin County arrest warrants. The warrant office, however, does not provide resources for public access to warrant information due to its privacy policies. Nonetheless, persons who wish to confirm if there is an active warrant against them may visit the Baldwin County Sheriff's Corrections Center booking office with the name, ID, or date of birth of the warrant's subject. In addition, requesters may call the Baldwin County Sheriff's Warrants Office at (251) 580-2519.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) maintains an online repository for active warrant information and provides criminal history and warrant information to requesters at $25 per search. A last name, status, city, case type, and case number may be required to search for warrant information with the ALEA.

Bench Warrant Lookup

Bench Warrants in Baldwin County are usually issued for failure to appear in court or grand jury indictments. Inquirers may search for bench warrant information by visiting the courthouses or looking up warrant information online via the self-service terminals available in the courts. One may also find bench warrant information in Baldwin County by reviewing the Alabama Court Access portal or the Baldwin County Public Records website.

Free Warrant Search

Interested persons may visit the Baldwin County Sheriff's warrant office to request a free warrant search. Another alternative is to query the courthouses in Baldwin County and use the self-service public terminals provided to search warrant information for free. In addition, a few third-party websites provide limited information to users at no cost or for a nominal fee. Persons who wish to perform free warrant searches in Baldwin County should note that while inspection of these records may be free, requesting copies usually attracts fees.

Can You Check Warrants Online?

Yes. Most courthouses and law enforcement agencies in Baldwin County provide online resources for public access to warrant information. Third-party aggregate sites are also alternative means for the public to inspect and obtain copies of Baldwin County warrant information.

A warrant search is possible on third-party websites by entering search criteria like a first/last name, age, case/warrant number, date of birth, and location. While warrant information is publicly available on third-party sites, requesters should note that privacy policies may apply; hence, some confidential information may be redacted or unavailable. It is also essential for users to note that the information contained in third-party websites is not government-approved, so they may need to verify it with official sources.

Do Warrants Expire?

It depends. Baldwin County warrants typically remain active for as long as it takes to execute them. An execution may mean an arrest, an appearance in court, or fulfilling the obligations stipulated by the issuing court/judge. However, search warrants may expire after ten days if they are not executed. An issuing official may recall an issued warrant or extend its execution period depending on the legal circumstances surrounding the warrant. Other factors such as jurisdiction, death, fleeing suspects, or new evidence may influence the expiration date of an issued warrant.

How to Clear a Warrant Without Going to Jail

Subjects of Baldwin County warrants may resolve such warrants without incurring a jail sentence by considering the following options:

• Voluntary self-appearance in court
• Engaging the services of an attorney to plead and file a motion for a recall writ
• Satisfying the requirements and obligations meted out by the issuing court or judicial officer
• Posting bail/bond and showing up in court on the scheduled date
• Paying the fees, fines, and restitutions decided by the court.

In addition to these options outlined above, concerned persons may visit the circuit district attorney's office, the clerks of the courts, or check the official websites of the judicial agencies involved to obtain information on resolving an issued warrant without going to jail.