Perform a Free Bay County Warrant Search (Florida)

Conduct a free Bay County warrant search in no time using the lookup methods offered in this streamlined resource.

Warrants are issued by the courts on the basis of different offenses committed by individuals. All warrant types can be searched free of charge using the same methods through various official agencies.

This resource outlines the most effective and efficient ways to carry out a warrant search in Bay County, Florida.

Understanding the Bay County Warrant Search Process

Bay County has an open records policy in accordance with State Statute 119.01, which is also known as the Florida Public Records Act (FPRA). According to this statute, most court records, including warrants, are open to be accessed by the general public, and they can request the said records from relevant agencies.

However, there are still a few exceptions in Florida Statute 119. Case records that have been particularly ordered by the honorable court to be sealed won’t be accessible to the public.¹

In this case, if there are any warrants issued in that specific case, the public won’t be able to access them without permission from the relevant court. Furthermore warrants issued for juveniles are not accessible to the public as well to protect their privacy and ensure their safety.

Even though warrants are of various types, all can be searched and accessed through the same methods and through the same agencies. These warrants are primarily issued by the county courts and the security departments such as the sheriff’s department or the local police execute them by arresting the individuals for which they are issued.

Warrants most commonly released in Bay County include bench, arrest, search, parole and probation, traffic, Capias and Capias pro fine. All these warrant types will be discussed later on in this article, along with their meanings and the offenses specific to them.

Residents of Bay County can obtain warrant details from two official agencies. One is the Clerk of Court and Controller, while the other is the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.² Before commencing their warrant searchers, citizens must have some kind of basic information about the search subjects.

Primarily, they must know the full name of the subject, including their first name, last name, and middle initial. Additionally, details such as when and where the warrant was issued, the name of the court that issued it, and the nature of the offense stated in it can help the searchers obtain more accurate results.

How To See if You or Someone Else Has an Outstanding Warrant in Bay County Florida

The Bay County Clerk of Court can help interested residents verify if they or someone they know has a warrant issued for them.

The department has established a free online search tool that can be utilized to look up public court records, including warrants.³ Residents can search warrants through this tool by using either the full name of the subject (including the first and last name) or if known, the case number or the citation number.

Through this tool, citizens can obtain details such as the physical description of the subject, when and where the warrant was issued, the name of the court that issued it, the nature of the charges against the named individual, and the summon’s current status. Additionally, residents can also obtain a summary of the case as well as some documents presented during its proceedings.

In case the searcher wants more detailed records of the case, including its warrants, they can choose to subscribe to the tool for free by filling out a Bay County Access Agreement form and emailing it to [email protected].⁴

After this, they will be provided with secure login credentials to access the tool.

Additionally, citizens can also choose to reach out to the County Clerk of Court directly for warrant details.

Clerk of Court – Bay County
300 E. 4th Street
Panama City, Florida 32401

Phone Number: 850-763-9061
Fax Number: 850-747-5188
Email Address: [email protected]

The office of the Clerk of Court Bay County is open from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday to Friday (keep in mind that it is closed during public holidays and weekends). Residents can visit the office during these hours and request specific warrant details. Furthermore, information can also be obtained by calling or emailing the office using the above-mentioned details.

The Warrants Division of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office can also help residents obtain details of currently active summons and arrest orders in the county. Residents must provide the sheriff’s office with relevant details of the subject, such as their full name or case number, so that the staff can carry out a comprehensive search from their database.

Bay County Sheriff’s Department
3421 North Highway 77
Panama City, Florida 32405

Phone Number: 850-747-4700

To look up warrants in the most populous city of Bay County, Florida; Panama City, residents can contact the local police department.

Panama City Police Department
1209 East 15th Street
Panama City, Florida 32405

Phone Number: 850-872-3100
Email Address: [email protected]

How To Perform a Statewide Warrant Search in Florida

The Florida Crime Information Center Wanted Persons Search can help interested residents perform a statewide warrant search for free.⁵ Citizens can search active or outstanding warrants through this tool using the full name, age, race, sex, and date of birth of the subject.

The information obtained through the tool will include details such as the offender’s physical description, the address, city, county, or state where they were last seen, case number, date of issuance of the warrant, and its present status. Furthermore, a summary of the charges against the named individual will also be included in the results.

Another method of conducting a statewide warrant search in Florida is to reach out to the respective County Clerks of Court or the Sheriff’s Departments.⁶

Each Warrant Type & Their Meanings

On the basis of different natures of offenses, various types of warrants are issued by the courts of Bay County, here are some of the most common ones:

• Fugitive Warrants – Fugitive warrants are issued for offenders who have fled from the authorities and escaped to a different jurisdiction.
• Probation and Parole Violation Warrants – Issued for probationers and parolees who go against the court-decided terms of their release.
• Capias & Capias Pro Fine Warrants – Capias warrants are issued when a person does not comply with the honorable court’s orders. On the other hand, Capias pro warrants are released for individuals who don’t pay fines or fees ordered by the court.
• Traffic Warrants – Summon or arrest orders released in relation to traffic offenses are called traffic warrants.
• Arrest Warrants – Arrest warrants permit the police or other law enforcement agencies to arrest people suspected or proven of having committed a crime.
• Search Warrants – Search warrants allow security agencies to conduct a search on a locality with the purpose of finding evidence.
• Child Support Warrants – Child support warrants are released for divorced parents failing to pay court-decided child support.
• Bench Warrants – Released when individuals summoned by the court fail to appear before it on the due date and time.

It is important to keep in mind that any of these varieties can be referred to as active warrants which means that they have not yet been executed.

How To Handle an Active Warrant in Bay County

Multiple pathways can be taken to handle an active warrant in Bay County, Florida. If someone else has a warrant, residents can notify the person so they can address it timely.

If a warrant has been issued for a minor misdemeanor or due to an unpaid fine or fee, the citizen can reach out to the Bay County Clerk of Court.⁷ A court date can also be set up for the warrant to be reviewed.

Bay County Clerk of Circuit Court
300 East 4th St.
Panama City, FL 32401

Phone: 850.763.9061
Fax: 850.747.5188
Email: [email protected]

Mailing address:

P.O. Box 2269
Panama City, Florida 32402

The clerk of court can give the best guidance in such a case. However, if the charges are of a serious nature, it is advised that the individual hires a licensed attorney for the best legal options.

After proper consultation with loved ones, an offender can also choose to surrender themselves to the authorities as a last resort.

In case residents have any information about a warranted individual, they can submit an anonymous tip to Panhandle Crime Stoppers, an officially endorsed avenue offered by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office or visit the office to the below address.⁸

Bay County Sheriff’s Office
3421 N Highway 77
Panama City, FL 32405

Phone: 850.747.4700

Bay County Jail Facility
5700 Star Lane
Panama City, FL 32404

Phone: 850.785.5245
Fax: 850.215.5140

This article summarizes everything residents should know to conduct a free Bay County warrant search; following the instructions outlined, anyone can check warrants on themselves or someone else through official resources free of charge.