Active arrest warrants are very specific legal documents. An arrest warrant will be ordered by a judge after review for probable cause to believe a crime has been committed. An active arrest warrant means Florida law authorizes an arrest.

Cobb Criminal Defense does more than a search engine check with pre-arrest representation. Searches for “arrest warrant florida” or “active warrants florida” produce different search and advertiser results.

Search engines are not designed to produce qualitative search results. These Big Tech algorithms are privacy invasive ad servers. Florida criminal defense attorneys perform investigations regarding Florida warrants routinely.

What is an Active as Opposed to an Inactive Arrest Warrant (Florida)?

There are several types of active “warrants” issued by a County or Circuit Court judge. A warrant may be inactive for several reasons. Warrant recall, arrest of the defendant or lack of legal validity. One of the first defenses we look for is whether a warrant is legally valid.

How are Arrest Warrants Issued in Florida?

Arrest warrants are issued after a judge has reviewed evidence for probable cause. This legal finding constitutes authority for lawful arrest.

The warrant must include certain information. The warrant must include the correct name of the person, the crime suspected, and the signature of the judge or magistrate. Once issued, the active warrant is entered into a state and national database.

Several types of arrest warrants will not have a bail bond set at first appearance. These are warrants for Failure to Appear in Court, violation of probation (VOP) and violation of Community Control (VOCC). These types of legal matters must go before the judge issuing the warrant.

Bail Bonds After an Arrest for a Warrant in Florida

If you are concerned that there may be an active arrest warrant, you can conduct a warrant search. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has a searchable public access system. In theory, you can search by name, county, or warrant number.

This often feels like digging a trench with a spoon: many warrants are not available in this database. Some may be sealed or not yet entered into the system. Some law enforcement officers deliberately keep warrants out of public databases in order to ambush the defendant.

In VOP and VOCC cases, many Offices of the Clerk of the Court takes down entire cases from public view on the official website. At first appearance, only the judge who issued the VOP or VOCC warrant can set a bail bond. The Duty Judge at first appearance is rarely the judge who issued a VOP or VOCC warrant is simply on rotation.

What to Do if There is an Active Arrest Warrant

If an arrest warrant is expected or found, contact a criminal defense attorney immediately. We routinely handle pre-arrest investigations for all types of arrest warrants in Florida. The only exception are extradition warrants from other states. Florida and always conduct a bail bond interview before a turn in.

Many defense lawyers refuse to handle pre-arrest legal issues. However, proper preparation for first appearance requires preparation.

How to Clear an Arrest Warrant

You clear a valid Florida arrest warrant by turning yourself in (preferably) with the assistance of legal counsel. Pre-arrest legal services includes a bond interview for first appearance court the day after an arrest. This increases the likelihood of a reasonable bail bond. No one wants to sit in jail for weeks before a motion to set or reduce bond is heard.

Conclusion

At Cobb Criminal Defense Law Firm, we do not have a theory about how to handle a warrant for your arrest. We have decades of experience focusing on Florida criminal defense law. To schedule a consultation with our seasoned and skilled team, contact us online or give us a call at (850) 738-6153 today.

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