Run а Pierce County warrant search now and finԁ out if there is а stаnԁing legal orԁer аgаinst you or someone else.
A warrant refers to an official order useԁ by law enforcement to unԁertаke lawful actions – be it for сonԁuсting аn аrrest, seаrсh, or seizure – within their рermitteԁ аreа. Courts play a vital role in bringing these wаrrаnts into effeсt sinсe they issue them; tyрiсаlly, a warrant requires a juԁge’s signature to рut it legаlly into асtion.
Wаrrаnts usuаlly inсluԁe relevаnt ԁetаils аbout inԁiviԁuаls, such as their nаme, рhysiсаl ԁesсriрtion, аnԁ аԁԁress. This resourсe gives you free sourсes thаt саn bе utilizeԁ to quickly finԁ wаrrаnts thаt аre асtive in Pierce County, Wаshington.
Conducting a Pierce County Warrant Search: An Overview
In Washington, legislations such as the Public Record Act (RCW Section 42.56) make public accessibility to records possible.1
This lаw imрlies thаt аny сitizen саn ассess reсorԁs mаԁe by stаte рubliс boԁies, whiсh inсluԁe courts аnԁ lаw enforсement аgenсies. These аgenсies аre the key to generаting аnԁ exeсuting wаrrаnts.
However, sрeсiаl сourt orԁers or сertаin stаte/feԁerаl lаws саn limit access to some warrants.
Severаl tyрes of wаrrаnts exist, which will be сovereԁ lаter in this resourсe. Mаny wаrrаnt tyрes аre аvаilаble for аnyone to see but getting aholԁ of sрeсifiс ones like seаrсh orԁers ԁeрenԁs on whether it саn ԁisruрt рoliсe oрerаtions or not – if they саn, then ассess to them is restriсteԁ.
Before you stаrt seаrсhing for these wаrrаnts, you will neeԁ some bаsiс ԁetаils аbout the inԁiviԁuаl you аre looking for, suсh аs their first аnԁ lаst nаme, their сity аnԁ stаte of resiԁenсe, their stаte number, аnԁ more.
How To Verify if You or Someone Else Has an Active Warrant in Pierce County Washington
When searching for warrant information in Pierce County, Washington, there are several resources available to the public. However, there are no specific search tools that the public may utilize to look for this information at the county level.
Since the court issues the warrant, the first option is through the Case Information Search Tool provided by the Pierce County Superior Court.2, 3 Visit the county website, then select “Criminal” from the case category. Enter the individual’s name or case number to begin the search.
The search results will display a list of cases. Find the specific case you are looking for and click on it to view more information. If there is an active warrant, it will be listed in the case details.
Alternatively, you may consider reaching out to the Pierce County Superior Court at:
Pierce County Superior Court
County-City Building
930 Tacoma Ave. S., Rm. 110
Tacoma, WA 98402
Phone: 253.798.7455
Furthermore, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office may also provide warrant information.5 Contact the office for more information by phone at (253)798-7530 or visit the office in person at the below address:
Pierce County Sheriff’s Office
County-City Building
1st Fl., 930 Tacoma Ave. S.
Tacoma, WA 98402
The Washington Department of Corrections (WDOC) provides a Warrant Search Tool that gives information about anyone currently wanted in Pierce County.6, 7 The process will be thoroughly explained in the following section.
How Do I See Warrants Throughout the State of Washington?
The Washington Department of Corrections (WDOC) provides a warrant lookup tool for searching active warrants throughout the state.6, 7
The search process is streamlined, and there are three ways to do it. You can use the person’s DOC number or name or search by just entering the name of the county.
- To start searching using a DOC number, all you need to do is enter the number.
- For name-based searches, type in the individual’s full name and their crime.
- Lastly, when searching with a county name like Pierce County, select it from the menu.
Once your search begins, you will see names linked to active warrants. Selecting one will provide further details such as their photo (if available), their DOC number, along with other things like when their warrant was issued and features including their race, height, hair color, eye color, date of birth, and more.
However, to search for warrants throughout the whole state of Washington, you will have to unselect the county name and to narrow down your search results, you can also choose the name of any specific county.
Furthermore, you can also get in touch with the WDOC at the following and obtain more information about the individuals whose warrants have been issued.
Washington Department of Corrections
7345 Linderson Way SW
Tumwater, Washington, 98501-6504
Phone: 360-725-8213
Email: [email protected]
Office hours: Weekdays 8 AM – 5 PM
The WDOC also advises citizens to not try to apprehend these offenders by themselves and instead contact the Washington Department of Correction at 866-359-1939 or call 911.
The WDOC, along with the Washington State Patrol (WSP), also provides a list of the Most Wanted Individuals within state premises.8, 9
You can click on an individual’s name and see their details, which include their warrant number, its issuance date, their crime, their last known address and their physical features such as height, weight, hair color, eye color, etc.
An Overview of Warrant Types
In Washington, courts issue several types of warrants, some of which are discussed here. Each type serves a unique function and has specific conditions attached to them.
Every active or pending warrant means it’s still effective, unexecuted, or unresolved. Being aware of these enhances an individual’s grasp of their legal rights.
Arrest Warrant: When law enforcement can show strong proof to a judge or court that someone committed a crime, they issue an arrest warrant. This gives the police authorization to apprehend the person.
Bench Warrants: If a defendant breaks any court regulations, principally by not showing up at a scheduled appearance in court, this prompts the issuance of what’s known as bench warrants by judges. It authorizes peace officers to arrest and bring such defendants before the court.
Probation & Parole Violation Warrants: This warrant is issued whenever a probationer/parolee breaches their probation or parole conditions. However, as per Washington state law RCW 72.04A.090,10 if anyone on parole disobeys their set parole guidelines or violates any state law/regulations made by the review board, then this will lead an officer overseeing probation/parole of that individual to be arrested without a warrant.
Traffic Warrants: These typically come about from serious violations on the road or due to unpaid fines linked with these offenses. Not showing up in court for a traffic offense can also result in this kind of warrant.
Child Support Warrants: In Pierce County, Washington, as per Chapter 26.18 RCW, if you fail to pay child support that was decided by the court, you could face enforcement actions, including having a warrant issued against you.11
Capias & Capias Pro Fine Warrants: These are commonly known as bench warrants in certain areas. These types of warrants are court orders to ensure an individual shows up to court when ordered. A capias pro fine warrant is issued when a person fails to pay a fine associated with a court judgment.
Fugitive Warrant: This is also known as a Fugitive from Justice Warrant. This warrant comes into use when someone commits a crime in one jurisdiction and then runs off to another. Authorities in Washington heavily depend on such warrants, as these help apprehend offenders from other jurisdictions.
Search Warrants: These are necessary if law enforcement wants to search a person’s property, and law enforcement agencies must always get these from the court first. The warrant also specifies an exact timeframe for when the search will take place.
How To Respond to an Outstanding Warrant in Pierce County
If you find out someone that you know has an active arrest warrant, then the next step often involves informing that person. However, this isn’t always feasible and sometimes safety becomes a concern. In such cases, reaching out to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office at 253-798-7530 or dialing 911 is recommended.5
If you discover that you have an active arrest warrant, then this calls for immediate action. There are some key steps to pursue in this situation: Firstly, consider arranging a court date and possibly paying up fines linked with the case if conditions allow it.
Secondly, getting professional help can be wise. This can be done by consulting with a criminal defense attorney who could provide more adept handling of the circumstances and suggest suitable solutions.
Thirdly, consider surrendering before the law. However, before handing yourself over to authorities, notifying close friends and family members about what’s happening is important. If bail is possible under your unique circumstance reaching out to a bail bondsman can also be beneficial.
In summary, it must be noted that records related to Pierce County warrant search fall under the public domain permitting you and other citizens to access it through an online channel provided by the Washington Department of Corrections (WDOC).6
This lets citizens of the state have opportunities to participate proactively in enforcing law and order regulations within their community.
References
1Washington State Legislature. (2023, September 1). Chapter 42.56 RCW – Public Records Act. Retrieved April 9, 2024, from <https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=42.56&full=true&pdf=true>
2Pierce County Superior Court. (n.d.). LINX Search. Legal Information Network Exchange (LINX). Retrieved April 9, 2024, from <https://linxonline.co.pierce.wa.us/linxweb/Search.cfm>
3Pierce County Clerk of the Superior Court. (n.d.). Clerk of the Superior Court. Retrieved April 9, 2024, from <https://www.piercecountywa.gov/95/Clerk-of-the-Superior-Court>
4Pierce County Superior Court. (2024). Pierce County Superior Court Criminal Case 19-1-01234-1. Legal Information Network Exchange (LINX). Retrieved April 9, 2024, from <https://linxonline.co.pierce.wa.us/linxweb/Case/CriminalCase.cfm?cause_num=19-1-01234-1>
5Pierce County Sheriff’s Department. (n.d.). Contact Us. Retrieved April 9, 2024, from <https://www.piercecountywa.gov/127/Contact-Us>
6Washington State Department of Corrections. (n.d.). Secretary’s Warrants. Retrieved April 9, 2024, from <https://doc.wa.gov/information/warrants/default.htm>
7Washington State Department of Corrections. (2024). Warrant Search. Retrieved April 9, 2024, from <https://doc.wa.gov/information/warrants/default.aspx>
8Washington State Patrol. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved April 9, 2024, from <https://www.wsp.wa.gov/about-us/>
9Washington State Patrol. (n.d.). WSP Most Wanted. Retrieved April 9, 2024, from <https://www.wsp.wa.gov/crime/wsp-most-wanted/>
10Washington State Legislature. (n.d.). RCW 72.04A.090: Violations of parole or probation—Revision of parole conditions—Detention. Retrieved April 9, 2024, from <https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=72.04A.090>
11Washington State Legislature. (n.d.). Chapter 26.18 RCW: Child Support Enforcement. Retrieved April 9, 2024, from <https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=26.18&full=true>