Arizona Warrant Search
A warrant in Arizona is a legal document issued when a person allegedly violates the law. Under Arizona’s Open Records Law, an Arizona warrant search is available to the public to search if people have an outstanding warrant to their name or another alias.
Magistrates and judges are the only ones allowed to issue warrants in Arizona following the state’s court system. A law enforcement officer must provide evidence or have probable cause with verifiable evidence that a person violated Arizona laws before a warrant can be issued.
An Arizona warrant search will provide information on the following:
- Nature of the warrant (arrest, search, etc.)
- Personal information of the arrestee
- Probable cause as grounds for the warrant
- Name or names of people sworn in the warrant affidavit
- Item description (for search warrants)
- Charges against the arrestee (for arrest warrants)
- Name of the magistrate or judge who signed the warrant
- County where the warrant was issued
- Date and time when the warrant was issued
How Long Does a Warrant Stay Active in Arizona?
Warrants do not expire in Arizona unless the person listed on the warrant is apprehended or turns themselves in. The court that issued the warrant is the only one capable of canceling a warrant.
In some cases, a warrant becomes invalid when there is not enough probable cause to justify the issuance of a warrant or if the sworn affidavit turned out to be false. Otherwise, a warrant in Arizona will remain active as long as whoever is named on the warrant is not apprehended.
What Are the Most Common Warrants in Arizona?
The following are the most common warrants in Arizona:
Search Warrant
A search warrant in Arizona authorizes the search of personal property, a person, or any other items identified in the warrant. The most common probable cause for an arrest warrant is if a property is considered evidence or was used to commit the crime. Stealing property is also another ground to issue a search warrant. Under the law, arrest warrants should contain the following information:
- County of issuance
- Proof of affidavit as grounds for a search warrant
- Location of the search
- Name of person, items, vehicles, or buildings that can be searched
- Date and signature of the magistrate or judge who issued the warrant
A lack of probable cause and a false affidavit can render a search warrant invalid. Any effect or evidence taken using an invalid search warrant can also make such evidence inadmissible as evidence during a trial in court.
In some cases, a no-knock warrant can also be issued in Arizona if the magistrate believes that announcing entry would endanger the public or destroy possible evidence during a search.
Arrest Warrant
An arrest warrant is the most common type of warrant available when performing an Arizona warrant search. A warrant of arrest is given for the probable cause of a criminal offense. An arrest warrant must contain information on the person to be arrested, any identifying information, and the charges against them. Just like any warrant in the state, a lack of any of the following would make an arrest warrant invalid:
- No probable cause
- No information on the person to be arrested
- No criminal charges stated
- Not signed by a magistrate or judge
Bench Warrant
Another common warrant in Arizona is a bench warrant. This type of warrant is issued when people who have a prior warrant or are under trial fail to attend a court hearing or fail a fine. Once a bench warrant is issued due to reasons of failure to appear, failure to pay, or missing court, authorized people from any law enforcement authority can make an arrest and bring the individual named in the bench warrant to court.
How To Perform Warrant Search in Arizona
To perform an Arizona warrant search, the public can use the case search online feature in the state by simply providing pertinent personal information like a first and last name and also a date of birth. Another way is to use third-party sites or contact local law enforcement authorities to check for any active warrants.