Queens County Warrant Search

A Queens County warrant search is the process of checking if a court has ordered law enforcement officers to arrest a person or search a location. However, certain warrants are not publicly available, especially if they have not been executed or they pertain to an ongoing investigation. Publicly available warrants can be viewed through official resources provided by the issuing court or law enforcement agencies within the county.

The content of a warrant varies based on the type of warrant. In any case, the following information is often returned during a warrant search: the name of the issuing authority, the date of issuance, the name of the individual to be arrested (for bench and arrest warrant), the reason for the warrant, and the place to be searched (for search warrants).

Why Conduct a Warrant Search in Queens County?

Any person may conduct a warrant search in Queens County, usually to determine their legal standing or for background checks. A warrant search can be especially relevant after a person missed a court date or received a citation, because it is common for a court to issue a bench or arrest warrant in such cases. Additionally, people who have a pending court case may need to perform warrant searches occasionally.

Discovering a warrant and taking proactive steps to resolve it before police officers show up to execute it can help avoid surprise arrests which may disrupt a person’s daily routine, family responsibilities, employment, and overall sense of stability. Doing this may buy some time to consult an attorney to help navigate the legal process, as well as gather any relevant paperwork.

How to Perform a Queens County Warrant Search Online

There are no dedicated online resources for warrant searches in Queens County. Notwithstanding, if a warrant was issued during a court proceeding, information about such a warrant may be found while perusing the associated case record on the Queens County Clerk’s Case Search tool. To perform a search on this website, one must know the name of the defendant. Other required information usually includes the index number, year, filing date range, and the attorney’s name.

Note that search results available to non-attorneys and individuals without special authorization are significantly limited. Furthermore, while guest users are allowed access to records, a person must create an account on the platform to view additional information about filed cases.

How to Check for Outstanding Warrants in Queens County by Phone or In Person

In Queens County, warrants are usually maintained by the county court clerk’s office, which is also responsible for responding to record requests. Note that outstanding warrants are selectively public, especially if there is the potential of jeopardizing the case at hand by revealing the presence of a warrant. Individuals may view public warrants maintained by the clerk’s office in person during business hours.

The Queens County Clerk’s Office only accepts written record requests. As such, outstanding warrants can not be requested over the phone. However, inquiries about record availability and other related issues can be made by phone at (718) 298-0609. Search fees range from $5.00 to $10.00 and a requester must possess the full name of the defendant and the case number (if known) to furnish a request. Interested persons should contact the Records Search Department at

Queens County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Search Process

In Queens County, the sheriff’s office operates differently from most counties in the U.S. While the sheriff’s office focuses mainly on civil enforcement, the New York Police Department (NYPD) handles most criminal-related warrants and their execution. As such, the NYPD is partly responsible for warrant searches, although most records maintained by these agencies are not public. Authorized parties may request warrant information from either agency and must carry a means of identification during their visit.

N/B: the court clerk’s office remains the most reliable source of warrant information.

Accessing Public Records Related to Warrants in Queens County

Warrants are usually connected to other public records maintained by criminal justice agencies, such as records associated with the case from which the warrant originated, arrest logs created in connection with an executed arrest warrant, bail or release records, court calendars and minutes, and criminal case dockets. These records may be requested from the appropriate custodian (the clerk’s or sheriff’s office) through the agency’s regular record request procedures. Search fees apply, although it is possible to obtain a fee waiver by contacting the record custodian directly. Note that records related to ongoing criminal investigation and most unexecuted warrants are confidential and may only be released to record subjects or other authorized persons.

Types of Warrants Issued in Queens County

Understanding the distinctions between the different types of warrants is important and aids warrant subjects in making informed decisions when trying to address or resolve a warrant. The main types of warrants issued in Queens County are arrest warrants, bench warrants, and search warrants. Occasionally, courts issue other kinds of warrants, such as fugitive warrants, probation violation warrant, witness warrants, and civil contempt warrant.

• Arrest warrant—issued based on probable cause, ordering law enforcement to find and arrest an individual suspected of committing a crime and bring them before the judge.
• Bench warrant—issued from the bench when a person fails to appear in court, violates probation, or misses a court-ordered deadline, ordering law enforcement to bring such a person before the court.
• Search warrant—issued, authorizing law enforcement to search a specified place for items or evidence of a crime and retrieve such items and bring them before the court.
• Civil contempt warrant—issued when a person fails to obey court orders in order to compel compliance.
• Witness warrant—issued to compel a witness to appear in court.
• Probation violation warrant—used to arrest someone suspected of violating the rules of their probation.

How Long Warrants Remain Active in Queens County

Validity periods vary with different warrants, with arrest warrants having the longest duration. Aside from the statute of limitations, other factors affect the expiration timeline of warrants, such as court jurisdiction, the reason the warrant was issued, case status and court activity, law enforcement actions, and the physical availability of the individual named in the warrant in a jurisdiction where the warrant is enforceable.

Furthermore, warrants are subject to judicial review, meaning that a judge has the authority to recall, quash, or modify a warrant, even before the expiration of its statutory validity period. Generally, search warrants must be executed not more than 10 days after the issuance date (§ 690.30). Arrest warrants, on the other hand, do not expire with time (§ 120.80). They remain active until the suspect is arrested, voluntarily surrenders, or dies.

Other warrants issued for procedural reasons, such as failure to appear in court, nonpayment of fines, noncompliance with court orders, contempt of court, unresolved citations or summonses, and violation of release conditions, often remain active for as long as the underlying issue is unresolved.

What to Do if You Find an Outstanding Warrant in Queens County

The presence of an active warrant can be concerning due to the potential negative implications that they carry, making it important to handle the situation carefully. An ideal first step is verifying the information contained in the warrant using official sources like the court or a law enforcement agency. Depending on the type of warrant, one may need to hire an attorney to help them conduct this verification, as law enforcement may arrest a warrant’s subject on sight.

Furthermore, it is important to understand the context of the warrant because they can be issued for a variety of reasons, such as unresolved citations, missed court dates, or pending criminal charges. This helps provide clarity about the next steps. Due to the complex nature of some warrants, New York law permits individuals to seek legal assistance. This is especially helpful in reducing uncertainty and preventing misunderstandings.