Denton County Warrant Search

A Denton County warrant search describes an attempt to find active or outstanding warrants issued within the county. This search can be for personal use, legal use, or by law enforcement officials. Individuals often conduct such inquiries to verify that they or their loved ones have no unresolved court obligations and are not being sought by law enforcement for any unlawful activity.

In Denton County, warrant searches are handled by local law enforcement agencies and judicial offices, as these entities are the primary custodians of warrant records. Upon discovering a warrant in one's name, the appropriate action could range from paying a fine to appearing in court or surrendering to law enforcement authorities, depending on the type of warrant issued.

Denton County warrant searches are quite valuable for some employers, landlords, etc, to determine if someone was arrested on a warrant and explore the circumstances of an arrest. Once a person is arrested, the details of the warrant, including the charges, become part of their Denton County arrest record, which also includes information such as the date, time, and location of the arrest.

Are Warrants Public Records?

Yes, Denton County warrants are typically public records in accordance with the Texas Open Records Law, Public Information Act, and Code of Criminal Procedure (Crim. Proc. Code art 15.26). These statutes grant individuals the right to access government-generated documents, including warrants. Individuals can request information about outstanding warrants from courts or local law enforcement agencies depending on the warrant type.

Public accessibility does not apply to unexecuted search warrants (Crim. Proc. Code art. 18.01(b)) or cases where revealing details may jeopardize public safety or reveal sensitive private data, including juveniles' information. However, if such warrants must be made available to the public, the sensitive personal data may be redacted to protect individuals' privacy or security.

Types of Warrants in Denton County

Denton County Courts issue warrants to authorize specific actions such as searching a location, arresting a person, seizing a property, etc. Some commonly issued warrants include arrest warrants, bench warrants, search warrants, alias warrants, and capias pro-fine warrants.

Do I Have a Warrant in Denton County?

Interested persons may search online or offline to discover active warrants in their name using any of these processes:

• Online Court Records Search
• Contact the Sheriff's Office's Warrant Division or Records Division
• Municipal Court inquiry
• District Court case records search
• Public terminals at the county or district clerk's office
• Third-Party online resources

Active Warrant Search in Denton

Denton County warrant search processes typically differ because each warrant type has its specific custodians and procedures. Hence, for a more comprehensive search, one might need to search multiple sources to verify that they have no outstanding warrants. Warrant searches may involve searching various sources.

However, a common denominator when conducting an active warrant search in Denton County is that the searcher must provide accurate information about the warrant's subject (usually, the subject's full name and date of birth).

Arrest Warrant Search

Arrest warrants are written orders signed by a judge to arrest a person for criminal activity or court violations. To locate active arrest warrants for Denton County, one may:

• Search the Judicial and Law Enforcement Search's criminal case records database or Denton County's Most Wanted List.
• Contact the County's Warrant Division at (940) 898-5696
• Reach out to the county sheriff's office warrants division at (940) 349-1560 or (972) 434-5505
• Contact the municipal police department where the case was filed.
• Contact the municipal court that heard the case.

Bench Warrant Lookup

Bench warrants are arrest warrants issued when an individual fails to appear in court as required or violates court orders such as payment of fines, parole conditions, or other court judgments. This type of warrant authorizes law enforcement to capture and bring an individual before a court. Typical examples of bench warrants include capias or capias pro fine warrants and blue warrants.

To look up bench warrants in Denton County, one may search the Denton County District Court records, send a request to the County Sheriff's Office Warrant Division, or contact the municipal court where the warrant was issued. For instance, the City of Lewisville provides an Active Warrant Search tool for warrants issued within its jurisdiction.

Free Warrant Search

All warrant searches conducted through official sources in Denton County are freely available to the public online and offline upon providing a first and last name and sometimes date of birth. However, researchers who need physical copies handed to them in person or through open records requests may pay copying and mailing fees where applicable.

Can You Check Warrants Online?

Interested parties can check outstanding warrants online through third-party websites and unofficial sources. These platforms aggregate public records, including warrant information, from various jurisdictions, making it easier to search for warrants by providing a first and last name and location. However, third-party databases may not include all types of warrants, such as sealed warrants, juvenile-related warrants, or those tied to ongoing investigations.

Do Warrants Expire?

Yes and no. Certain kinds of warrants expire after a specific period, while others do not expire but remain active until the suspect is apprehended. The validity period of a warrant depends on the type of warrant and the circumstances.

Warrants that expire include:

• Warrants issued under Crim. Proc. Code art. 18B.324 expires after sixty days except when the prosecutor applies for an extension before the sixty days is over.
• Search warrants may remain valid for fifteen days (for DNA analysis), ten days (if issued under Article 18B.354 or Subchapter G-1, Chapter 18B), or three days (for any other purpose) (Crim. Proc. Code art. 18.07).

Warrants that remain valid until the suspect is caught include arrest and bench warrants.

How to Clear a Warrant Without Going to Jail

Upon discovering a warrant in one's name, one should address them promptly to avoid additional legal complications. Depending on the warrant and circumstances surrounding it, a person can resolve them without going to jail. To do this, interested persons may:

• Pay all applicable fines using the court's approved payment system. This varies per pending on the court. For instance, Lewisville Municipal Court accepts payments online, via telephone, mail, and in person. In contrast, the City of Corinth accepts cards, cash, personal checks, and money orders. Researchers should note that online payment is usually an automatic guilty plea.
• Post a cash bond to remove the warrant and schedule a new court date. This applies to warrants issued where the defendant never appeared in court or failed to appear for a scheduled date.
• Contact the court that issued the warrant to discuss possible options. Individuals who turn themselves in at the court are seen as acting in good faith and will not be arrested.
• Consult a legal professional to negotiate with the court to ensure a proper warrant resolution and minimize the risk of incarceration.