El Paso County Warrant Search

In El Paso, warrant searches are generally performed to verify whether a court has issued a warrant for a person to be searched, arrested, or have their property searched or seized. Warrants are usually issued if a person is suspected of committing a crime, fails to attend a court hearing or honor a summons, or there is cause to believe that material evidence can be found in a place.

El Paso County warrants can be issued by a judge or magistrate and executed by police officers or sheriff deputies. Once executed, court clerks are legally required to make copies of warrants and affidavits and ensure they are available to interested persons upon request.

A warrant is a legal order that authorizes law enforcement officers to apprehend or search defaulting individuals or a location for material evidence that can be presented before the court. After arresting the individual named on a warrant, a copy of the warrant is usually added to their El Paso County arrest records.

Are El Paso County Warrants Public Records?

Yes. In compliance with Texas's Open Records Policy, article 15.26 of the Code of Criminal Procedure provides that arrest and search warrants and affidavits presented in association with warrants are public information and are subject to inspection and copying by the public.

However, rule 12 of the Rules of Judicial Administration exempts certain kinds of court records (as well as any related warrants) from public disclosure. Examples include those containing information about juveniles or sealed court cases. Also, access to a warrant may be denied if the information to be disclosed has the potential to interfere with a pending investigation.

Types of Warrants in El Paso County

El Paso County Courts issue two main types of warrant: search and arrest. Bench warrants are a kind of arrest warrant that orders law enforcement to bring a person before a court for failing to honor a summons or not meeting the terms of a court judgment. Meanwhile, an arrest warrant is issued when a court has probable cause establishing that the warrant's subject has committed a crime.

A search warrant, on the other hand, orders officers to search a person or property, seize designated or incriminating items, and present them before the issuing authority. Types of search warrants issued in El Paso include mere evidence, blood search, and administrative search warrants.

Do I Have a Warrant in El Paso County?

The only way to find out is by conducting a warrant search. The options to do a warrant search include:

• In person at the courthouse
• Contacting the El Paso County Sheriff's Office
• Third-party warrant search websites
• Using legal assistance from an attorney
• Searching law enforcement warrant lists or websites.

Active Warrant Search in El Paso County

The public availability of active warrants is not absolute, as certain warrants are classified to preserve the integrity of ongoing investigations. For instance, exposing a search warrant before execution may cause evidence at the designated location to be tampered with, thereby jeopardizing the investigation. However, they generally become public after execution unless temporarily classified.

Nevertheless, people can access public warrants when they query the courthouse where the warrant is believed to have been issued, usually a courthouse with jurisdiction in their locality or where they have an ongoing case. More importantly, the warrant subject's name and the court case number (if known) are required to furnish a search.

Arrest Warrant Search

The Records Unit of the El Paso County Sheriff's Office maintains and facilitates access to arrest and criminal records filed at the agency. Warrants constitute arrest records, especially after execution, and as such, can be found during an arrest record search or a criminal background check. Individuals can also query the El Paso County Clerk's office for arrest warrants.

Bench Warrant Lookup

A bench warrant can be issued in any court in El Paso County. Individual courts have specific means to access their records, including warrants. For instance, the El Paso Municipal Court provides a Public Access Portal for this purpose. Record seekers can also visit the courthouse in person during business hours to make requests. Case numbers and party names are always required for searches.

Bench warrants usually originate from courts where an individual has an ongoing or recent case. A person may either visit the presiding court's clerk to check if there is a bench warrant in their name or peruse the court's website for guidance or possible alternatives.

Free Warrant Search

By law, access to warrants issued in El Paso County is free. Texas's Open Record Policy ensures that courts, law enforcement agencies, and other agencies involved in the preservation of warrants make them available upon request at no cost. Fees are only required if a researcher wishes to leave the court with a copy.

Can You Check El Paso County Warrants Online?

Yes. Courts in El Paso County are authorized to publish their public records, which include warrants, online. The same applies to law enforcement agencies. Also, many third-party aggregator websites exist alongside these official sites for public use. Persons exploring any of these options must possess the first and last name of the warrant's subject, as they are the primary search parameters. Case numbers are also allowed on some websites. Note that some websites may charge a fee for this service.

Do El Paso County Warrants Expire?

No. While some warrants expire, others do not. In Texas, arrest warrants and bench warrants do not expire since no statutes of limitation exist. These warrants remain active until the subject turns themselves in, gets arrested, or recent evidence establishes their innocence—in which case, the court shall recall or quash the warrant.

On the other hand, search warrants expire after a specified period (depending on the type). Per Article 18.07 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, the validity periods of search warrants are as follows:

• 10 days if the warrant was issued under Article 18B.354, Chapter 18B, or Subchapter G-1.
• 15 days if the warrant orders officers to find and obtain samples from a person for DNA analysis and comparison.
• Not more than 60 days for administrative search warrants (Art. 18B.324.

Note that the validity periods for search warrants outlined above do not include a warrant's date of issuance and/or execution (Criminal Procedure Code Article 18.07). Also, a warrant's validity period ultimately depends on the issuing authority, as they can extend or shorten it.

How to Clear a Warrant in El Paso County Without Going to Jail

Warrant subjects in El Paso County may explore any of the following options to get cleared without going to jail:

• Have a lawyer post an attorney bond for them (this enables them to get a new court date).
• Hire a bail bondsman to post a surety bond concerning the warrant, which will, in turn, clear the warrant and help the warrant subject get a court date.
• They must appear at the El Paso courthouse where the warrant was issued and plead guilty. Subsequently, they must pay all associated fines, fees, and court costs.
• Visit the court where the warrant was issued and attempt to resolve it. Afterward, a hearing date may be scheduled.