If you’re checking for warrants, it’s likely because you fear that one has been issued for your arrest – or the arrest of a friend or family member. There are plenty of websites that will provide you with this information for a fee, but you shouldn’t need to pay. You just need to know where and how to check for free.

Generally, this can be completed with an online search or a phone call. If you’re worried about detection, you can search from a public computer – at a library, for example. You can also ask a friend or family member to call on your behalf, or you can use a disposable phone.

How Do I Find Out if I Have a Warrant in Dallas County?

You don’t have to commit a serious crime to be named on a warrant. Sometimes, you just need to owe a fine. But the following transgressions could lead to an outstanding warrant:

• Keeping an overdue library item
• Missing jury duty (without following up)
• Failing to pay a traffic ticket
• Missing a court appearance without providing proper notification
• Ignoring a civil summons

How Do I Find Out if I Have a Warrant in Dallas County?

The simplest way is to use Dallas County’s searchable database. 

Online

Dallas County offers a searchable database to track outstanding warrants. You can find it at www.dallascounty.org/dcwantedsearch/.

You will need a first and last name and ZIP code. Alternatively, you can search by:

• ZIP code
• Case number
• Citation number
• License plate or VIN number
• Demographic information

Contact the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department

The sheriff’s department has two phone lines devoted to warrant searches:

• The general information warrant line at 214-761-9026 
• The warrant department line at 214-653-2700

You can ask a friend or family member to call on your behalf.

Contact the Dallas County Clerk’s Office 

Court records are maintained by the Dallas County Clerk’s Office. These records contain information about arrest warrants. 

You can search online at dallascounty.org/. 

You can also call the Central Records Division at (214) 653-7099 or visit it at the George L. Allen Courts Building at 600 Commerce St. It is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Note that court records are stored in multiple locations, so it’s possible that the record you need to view might require traveling to another location.

It’s worth considering whether you should search in person if there’s an outstanding warrant for your arrest. Searching online or by phone will be less risky.

Search the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) website

The Texas Department of Public Safety maintains crime records – including outstanding warrants – from across the state. You can request a copy of your criminal history at www.dps.texas.gov/.

Call a Bail Bond Company

It’s a bit of a secret that bail bond companies will check on your behalf for free, hoping that if a warrant turns up, they will be able to get your business. This will save you time searching, and you won’t have to pay a third-party service to locate the information. However, you’ll probably have to deal with a sales pitch if a warrant is found.

Ask Your Lawyer

Most lawyers will help you search for outstanding warrants if you’ve retained counsel. If you don’t have a lawyer and are worried about an outstanding warrant for your arrest, contact us for a free consultation. We can help.

Use a Third-Party Website

Several third-party websites can help you search for outstanding warrants. However, many of these sites charge a fee for their assistance and may not disclose that you must pay a fee until you’ve wasted time entering your personal information.

Third-party services include CriminalRecords.com, TruthFinder, and reviewpublicrecords.com.

Warrants are Often Public Records in Texas

Municipalities in Dallas County typically make warrants publicly accessible, mainly when they involve payment of fines and fees. 

If you can’t find the information locally, you can request a copy of your criminal record through the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) website or by email at publicrecords@dps.texas.gov.

However, some information may be redacted, and it could take several weeks for you to receive it.

However, some warrants are not made accessible to the public. Warrants can be sealed for several reasons, including to protect the identity of minors or due to ongoing investigations. This can include:

• Juvenile warrants: Arrest warrants involving minors are often confidential.
• Domestic violence cases: Warrants related to domestic violence may be sealed for the victim’s protection.
• Witness protection cases: Some warrants may be kept confidential to ensure witnesses’ safety.
• Sensitive investigations: If an investigation involves sensitive topics – for example, organized crime or terrorism – warrants may be withheld from public access.
• Medical or mental health issues: If someone has medical or mental health issues, warrants may be sealed to protect their privacy.

Types of Warrants and What They Mean

Warrants serve different purposes, and there are several different types:

• Arrest warrant: This is a written order from a magistrate or judge. It is issued when a law enforcement officer produces an affidavit showing that an individual is believed to have committed an offense. As the name suggests, an arrest warrant authorizes the police to arrest a suspect and take that person into custody.
• Bench warrant: This is a court order to arrest a defendant who hasn’t appeared for a scheduled court hearing. Bench warrants are issued to the police to arrest a person and bring them to the court.
• Failure to pay warrant: This means you owe a fine, court fee, or other payment ordered by the court.
• Child support arrest warrant: A judge or magistrate issues these in civil child support cases when a parent fails to appear in court for a child support hearing. You will be detained until all court-ordered payments have been made.
• Blue warrants: These are issued for parolees suspected of violating one or more of their parole terms. 
• Search warrant: This is an order from a magistrate authorizing a law enforcement officer to search someone or their property and seize incriminating material as evidence.
• Capias: These are issued by a judge or a clerk on a judge’s order. They’re similar to arrest warrants, but a capias is issued after the case against you has started – after bail has been set or before a trial begins. A capias may also be issued if a verdict is announced when the defendant is absent. 
• Capias Pro Fine: These are issued after a judgment to enforce the payment of unpaid fines and court costs. 

More Commonly Asked Questions

Do Warrants Expire in Dallas County?

No, the statute of limitations does not apply to a warrant that has already been issued. They remain active until one of two things happens:

• The suspect is arrested
• A judge revokes the warrant

This means there isn’t really a way to wait for a warrant to expire. If it involves paying a fine or fee, your best bet is to resolve it as quickly as possible. If it’s an arrest warrant, contact an attorney to review your options.

How Do You Resolve an Arrest Warrant in Dallas County?

Sometimes, you just need to pay a fee to resolve a warrant. If you owe it to a municipality, they may even offer a “warrant roundup,” where the fee is reduced if you pay it during a set timetable (or you make payment arrangements during this time. 

However, if you’re dealing with an arrest warrant, it gets more complicated, and there are a few ways to resolve it. They include:

• Turn yourself in and post bond
• Hire a lawyer to negotiate with the court
• Have your lawyer post bond on your behalf

Don’t turn yourself in until you’ve discussed your case with an experienced criminal attorney. They will review your options and let you know the potential ramifications of turning yourself in.

More Dallas County Resources

How to find an inmate

Dallas County Booking: What happens after you’re arrested

How to get someone out of jail

How much is bail in Dallas County?

How to visit an inmate at the Dallas County Jail