Harris County Warrant Search
Understanding Harris County Texas Warrants
In Harris County, Texas, warrants are a serious matter. These are commonly issued when there is strong evidence to support that someone has committed a crime. This article will help you understand the different types of warrants, and how to run a Harris County warrant search confidentially. We will also show you some important measures that can be helpful if one is issued in your name.
What Exactly Are Warrants?
In a nutshell, a warrant is a court order that either command a person to appear in court, or to have that person arrested by law enforcement. There are two main types of these court orders that are important to understand.
First, there is the arrest warrant. These are issued by a judge when there is strong evidence, or a strong suspicion by law enforcement, to suggest that someone has committed a crime or were part of a criminal act. If there is no physical evidence, then law enforcement must sign an affidavit that they have witnessed a crime, or have evidence to support their claim. Then once a judge signs off on this, an arrest warrant is issued and the person listed on that document will be apprehended by the police or sheriff department.
A bench warrant on the other hand is a court order issued by a judge for a person to appear in court. These are not criminal offenses where someone will be arrested, but rather an order that tells someone they need to appear before the issuing judge. These are typically issued for someone missing a court appearance, missed jury duty, or failing to comply with a previous court order. In some rare occasions, a person might be arrested if they fail to comply with this order. That doesn't happen very often, but it is a possibility.
How to Run a Harris County Warrant Search
Running a warrant search in Harris County can be accomplished a couple of different ways. You can either use county law enforcement resources, or third party public record resources. Since these are publicly available records, you have more than one way to access this information. Here’s the various ways you can search for this information online:
1). The County Sheriff's Office provides an online database where you can search for outstanding warrants. Simply enter the person's name and date of birth to see if there are any active warrants.
2). Contact Local Law Enforcement: You can also call the various city police departments within Harris County or visit in person to inquire about any warrants. For example, the city of Pasadena Texas Police Department. You can contact them directly to inquire about someone's active arrest warrant.
3). Use a Third Party Service: There are several public record websites that offer warrant search services. While these are popular resources that offer anonymous searches, it is important to ensure the site is reputable. These resources will typically charge a fee per search but they tend to offer a lot more information than county run law enforcement sites.
Reasons Arrest Warrants to Be Issued
While there are many reasons why a warrant for arrest in Harris County is issued. There always needs to be a very good reason for these to be issued, as people are protected by the 4th Amendment of the US Constitution for illegal searches and seizures. Here are the main reasons these are issued.
1). Failure to Appear in Court (FTA): One of the most common reasons that these are issued is failing to appear in court for a criminal court hearing.
2). Strong Evidences or Probable Cause: If law enforcement shows the courts that there is sufficient evidence that someone has committed a crime, they can appeal to the courts to have that person arrested.
3). Violation of a Probation Order: If someone is on probation and violates the terms, law enforcement will be notified to arrest that person.
4). Multiple Unpaid Tickets and Fines: Ignoring fines or failing to pay tickets can also result in someone's arrests.
One of the important things to know about an arrest warrant is that a person can be arrested anywhere. While they are driving, at work, at home, or anywhere they are spotted by the police. These are very serious legal court order that can result in jail or prison time.
Do I Have a Warrant in Harris County Texas?
If you want to find out if a warrant has been issued in your name there is a quick and easy way to find out without being arrested. Active arrest warrants are posted on the Harris County Sheriff Department website where you can find out if one has been issued in your name. You can also search anonymously using a privately run public records website. Most of these reputable site will allow users to search for warrants anonymously with a first and last name.
What You Can Do If You Have a Warrant Issued in Your Name
1). Don’t Ignore It, Address It: Ignoring one will only make the situation considerably worse for you. Law enforcement can arrest you at any time, at work or home or on the road.
2). Consult an Attorney & Surrender Yourself: Talking to an attorney can be very helpful. They will guide you on the next steps, including surrendering yourself, and represent you in court if needed.
3). Turn Yourself In: Depending on the severity of your situation, turning yourself in may be the best option. This shows the court that you are taking the matter seriously.
4). Pay Your Fines: If one is issued is for unpaid fines or tickets, paying them can sometimes resolve the issue without being arrested or having to appear in court.
