Run a free Madison County warrant search in minutes to see if you or anyone you know has an active or pending arrest order or summon issued in their name.
Warrants are issued by various courts and each carry a distinct meaning based on the nature of the crime committed by the individual. A warrant search can be conducted using government resources of various official state, county, or city-level agencies and can provide the searcher with a wide range of details on wanted individuals.
This article outlines the steps for a free-of-charge warrant search in Madison County, Alabama, using different official sources.
An Overview of Locating Free Information via a Madison County Warrant Search
In Madison County, Alabama, warrants, because they are released by the courts, are considered court records. However, their availability to the general public is a bit different from most of the other court records as they are not available before being served.1
The statutes that oversee the availability of warrants include the Alabama Code § 15-10-3 and 15-6-3.
The Alabama Code § 15-10-3 particularly specifies that warrants are not open to the general public before being served. On the other hand, the Alabama Code § 15-6-3 states that sensitive information within court records (such as warrants) will be restricted to ensure the privacy and safety of related individuals. However, there are still various official departments in Madison County, Alabama, that provide information about active warrants to the public for free.
Before anyone begins their search for warrants, they must have a general understanding of their different types and what each type means. There is a specific warrant type based on the particular type of offense committed by the individual.
Common types of warrants issued in Madison County include search, arrest, traffic, fugitive, bench, and child support. All warrant types, however, can be searched through the same official sources within Madison County. Courts are the primary entities that issue warrants while law enforcement agencies, like the police, execute them.
The Madison County Sheriff’s Department is the primary entity that serves warrants and, thus, can provide interested citizens with their details.2 However, before starting their search, the researchers must know what kind of information about the subject they must have so that the department can conduct a comprehensive search.
First and foremost, residents wanting a thorough warrant search on anyone must know their complete name. The complete name usually comprises the first name, a last name, and an initial in the middle of both. This is the basic piece of information that will help the sheriff’s department staff search precisely through their database.
Furthermore, other details about the person in question can help get more accurate results by narrowing down the search. These details usually include the date of birth, address, contact details, date and location of the warrant’s issuance, name of the court that issued it, and the type. Once the aforementioned details (or any of them) are provided to the department, it can carry out a thorough search.
Let’s now discuss how to search warrants in Madison County, Alabama.
How To Tell if Someone Has a Warrant in Madison County Alabama
The Madison County Sheriff’s Department can provide interested residents with warrants that are currently active. The department’s official website has a webpage that displays warrants presently active within the county.3
Residents can visit this page and find information such as full names, location, name of the court that issued the warrant, its type, current status, and, in some specific cases, the nature of the offense committed by the individual as well.
In addition to that, the Sheriff’s Department of Madison County also has a “Most Wanted” page that contains warrant details of some of the most wanted individuals in the region. On this page, residents can find mug shots of the offenders along with other information such as full name, case number, offense, date of birth, physical description (age, weight, height, eye color, hair color, etc.), and bond amount.
The Sheriff’s Department requests the residents of Madison County to submit a tip in case they happen to see any of the listed individuals or have any kind of information about them.5
As another option, interested parties can also choose to contact the Madison County Sheriff’s Department directly and request a thorough warrant lookup.
Madison County Sheriff’s Department
100 Northside Sq., Room Number 206
Huntsville, Alabama 35801
Phone Number: 256-532-3413
Fax: 256-533-5642
For in-person visits, the main administrative office of the sheriff’s department is open from Monday through Friday in the timings of 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. However, residents must note that the office is closed on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) and other public holidays. Anyone can visit the office during the dedicated hours and request a warrant search by providing primary details of the subject as discussed above.
Citizens can also obtain information about warrants by phone by calling the above-mentioned phone number.
In case residents are looking for search warrants in Huntsville, they will have to reach out to the local police department.
Huntsville City Police Department
Public Safety Complex
815 Wheeler Avenue
Huntsville, Alabama 35801
Phone Number: 256-427-7001
Email Address: [email protected]
An Overview of Warrant Types
As mentioned at the beginning, warrants can be of different kinds, and each kind has a different meaning. Here is a list of some of the most common types of warrants issued by the courts in Madison County, Alabama.
Traffic Warrants: The type of warrants that are issued when an individual commits a traffic-related offense. It can be in relation to a traffic accident, unpaid tickets, or other traffic-related crimes.
Arrest Warrants: Arrest warrants are released by the courts to allow the police (or other security agencies) to perform an arrest on someone on the basis of substantial evidence that they have committed a crime.
Fugitive Warrants: The type of warrant released for runways who have escaped to a different jurisdiction.
Probation and Parole Violation Warrants: Probation and parole violation warrants are issued from those probationers or parolees who cross the terms of their conditional release. These warrants allow law enforcement departments to arrest such people and bring them before the court.
Capias & Capias Pro Fine Warrants: Served to offenders who don’t comply with the court’s orders or don’t pay court-ordered fines.
Search Warrants: Search warrants give permission to the police or other security departments to conduct an evidence search on private property.
Bench Warrants: Issued for people who consistently fail to appear on their due court hearings.
Child Support Warrants: Such warrants are issued in relation to unentertained child support payments by a divorced parent.
It is important to note that any of these types can be called active warrants, which means that they have not yet been executed by law enforcement agencies.
How To Get a Warrant Dropped or Resolved in Madison County
There are quite a few ways to get a warrant dropped or resolved in Madison County, Alabama.
First and foremost, the residents must know what kind of warrant has been issued for them and understand the charges against them. In the case of most minor offenses, unpaid fees, and fines, the resident can get the warrant dropped by paying related dues through the relevant courts.6
However, if the warrant is released for a much more serious offense, it is recommended that the offender get proper legal advice from a licensed attorney or hire a bail bondsman to post bail. As a last option, the offender can also choose to surrender to the authorities voluntarily after communicating with family and friends.
To tip on someone with an active warrant, citizens can call the Madison County Sheriff’s Department at 256-533-8820.
This resource empowers citizens to conduct a Madison County warrant search free of charge using official sources; anyone can check warrant details on themselves or another person using the information detailed in this brief article.
References
1Madison County District Court. (n.d.). Magistrates & Warrants. Retrieved March 21, 2024, from <https://madison.alacourt.gov/magistrates-warrants/>
2Madison County Sheriff’s Office. (n.d.). History of the Sheriff. Retrieved March 21, 2024, from <https://www.madisoncountysheriffal.org/history>
3Madison County Sheriff’s Office. (n.d.). Warrants. Retrieved March 21, 2024, from <https://www.madisoncountysheriffal.org/warrants.php>
4Madison County Sheriff’s Office. (2024). Inmate Roster. Retrieved March 21, 2024, from <https://www.madisoncountysheriffal.org/roster.php>
5Madison County Sheriff’s Office. (n.d.). Crime Tips. Retrieved March 21, 2024, from <https://www.madisoncountysheriffal.org/crime-tip>
6Madison County, Alabama. (n.d.). Courts System. Retrieved March 21, 2024, from <https://www.madisoncountyal.gov/departments/courts>