If you have a warrant in the state of Arizona, it’s important to understand the repercussions of not clearing up your warrant. Especially if the warrant is a criminal warrant, the odds of being arrested and detained are highly probable. Conducting an AZ warrant search will let you know if you have a warrant in Arizona.
Not sure how to perform an AZ warrant search? Keep reading for the steps to take to conduct a search and how to clear one up.
Steps to Perform AZ Warrant Search
- The first step is to determine how you will conduct a warrant search. You can go online with the Arizona Judicial Branch Public Case Access portal, contact the Arizona Department of Public Safety, call the Criminal Court Administration, and/ or contact your local law enforcement agency.
- If a warrant is uncovered, you will need to verify the validity of the warrant through the issuing court or law enforcement agency.
- If you know where the issuing court is located, you can skip step 1 and contact the court for further information.
Using the Public Access Case Search Portal
If you use the case search portal to conduct an AZ warrant search, the information will be listed with the court documents. You can perform a search by name and/or court case number.
Keep in mind that you do not have to be charged with a crime for a warrant to be issued for you. If you were scheduled for jury duty or to testify as a witness and failed to show, a bench warrant can be issued.
How to Clear an AZ Warrant
The two main warrants that are issued in Arizona are a bench warrant and a criminal warrant. Clearing a warrant is determined by which of these types of warrants the court issued.
Bench warrants are issued when you don’t appear for scheduled court hearings, fail to handle legal obligations or fail to comply with court orders. They are issued for minor misdemeanors or for traffic offenses. Resolving a bench warrant is done by paying a fine or by scheduling a hearing before a judge.
A criminal warrant is an arrest warrant that is issued when you are a suspect in a crime and there is probable cause that shows this. If a criminal warrant is issued for your arrest, you must surrender to law enforcement and be detained in a detention facility. The warrant is cleared when you are placed in custody. From there you will need to wait for a scheduled court appearance or post bail to be released from jail.
If you are unsure of how your warrant will affect you, contact a criminal defense attorney licensed to practice law in the state of Arizona.
Resources for an AZ Warrant Search
AZ Department of Public Safety Warrant Line: 602-223-2233
Address: 2222 W. Encanto Blvd
Phoenix, AZ 85009
Mainline: 602-223-2000
Arizona Judicial Branch Criminal Courts Information Line: 602-506-8575
Arizona Judicial Branch Court Locator: https://www.azcourts.gov/AZ-Courts/AZ-Courts-Locator
Public Access Case Search Portal: https://apps.supremecourt.az.gov/publicaccess/caselookup.aspx