Run a Free Tarrant County Warrant Search (Lookup Methods)

Conduct a free Tarrant County warrant search today to reveal any court order issued for someone wanted.

Online tools and agencies that can be contacted by phone or in person are available to anyone who wishes to perform an effective search. The Texas Public Information Act (PIA) establishes the rules by which records should become accessible to interested citizens; retrieving these records should always be relatively uncomplicated, and everyone should know which resources are available to them to do so.

This resource guides interested parties through each lookup method — whether online, in person, by mail, or via phone — to track down details of anyone wanted in Tarrant County, Texas.

A Look at What’s Needed To Check Warrants in Tarrant County for Free

Individuals concerned about warrants issued in Tarrant County have plenty of tools they can access to uncover relevant facts about any court order in the area. Those resources, which are readily available to them (often for free), can help people determine the best approach to resolve a warrant that has been issued against them.

There are many different types of warrants that can be issued by a judge, and most of them are available to be found – except in cases when the order has to be kept a secret to protect an investigation or a victim, for example. The particularities of the types of warrants that can be issued will be discussed below in this article.

Before anything else, searchers should understand that warrants are accessible to all because, according to the Texas Public Information Act (PIA), this information should be available to all, and people shouldn’t need to have a hard time trying to uncover it.¹

When searching for warrant information in Tarrant County, people can rely on the Sheriff’s Office and on the courts. The Justice of the Peace Court, as well as the Arlington Municipal Court, offer valuable resources to those who wish to look up who’s wanted and why.

Likewise, searchers in Tarrant County can use the District Clerk. Those resources help find warrants issued in criminal cases and civil court proceedings.

On top of the online tools that can be used to find information, those agencies can also be contacted in person. How to navigate all of those options, taking into consideration the best way to approach an active warrant, will be addressed in detail in this article.

How To Run a Tarrant County Warrant Search (Free)

When in need to deal with a warrant in Tarrant County, the Sheriff’s Office is the first source of information and support. There are many different ways people can rely on them to provide information.

Whenever the Justice of the Peace Court issues a warrant, information about it is made available online.² This particular court manages misdemeanors and cases that are less serious.

When searching for criminal warrants for felonies and more serious cases, the Sheriff’s Office Warrants Department advises citizens to work with an attorney or a licensed bondsman, as little information is available online.³ They do that because anyone with an open warrant against them may be arrested on the spot if they choose to contact law enforcement.

Still, if a concerned citizen decides to reach out to the Sheriff’s Office Warrants Department, this is their contact information:

Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office
Warrants Department
200 Taylor St., 6th Fl.
Fort Worth, TX 76196

Phone: 817.884.1289

The Sheriff’s Office also regularly releases a Most Wanted List, with information about individuals currently at large.⁴ Those lists are updated frequently and include the offense that was committed and mugshots.

Citizens who provide law enforcement with information about those individuals may be rewarded if the tip leads to their arrest. Tips can be sent to the Sheriff’s Office online or by phone at 817.469.8477.

The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office can also be contacted at their headquarters, as follows:

Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office
Administration Office
200 Taylor St. – 7th Floor
Fort Worth, TX 76196

Phone: 817.884.3099

The Arlington Municipal Court can be a useful tool when looking for warrants in Tarrant County.⁶ They offer both a list of active warrants for concerned citizens to look at and information on how to handle them.

This court issued arrest and capias pro-fine warrants. Arrest warrants are issued when someone fails to appear in court at a set date or fails to pay a Class C citation. Capias pro-fine warrants are issued when someone fails to pay an amount set by the court in a proceeding.

The list of open warrants included the offender’s full name and many details about the offense they committed, such as the date of the incident, charges, etc.⁷

To address those warrants, people should contact the Arlington Municipal Court:

Arlington Municipal Court
101 S. Mesquite St. – 1st Floor
Arlington, TX 76010

Phone: 817.459.6777

How To Look Up Tarrant County Outstanding Warrants via Clerk’s Offices

The Tarrant County District Clerk allows citizens to check the criminal docket for case information. By searching a case, people are able to uncover all sorts of information about the case – including if there’s an open warrant that’s still pending execution.

The Criminal Docket Search accepts inquiries with only the first two letters of the offender’s last and first name.⁸ That makes the system very forgiving, especially when the person’s full name isn’t known. However, searchers should always consider that the more exact the information provided is, the better the results will be.

The results appear as a list and include the full name of the offender, the charges, and the case number. By clicking on the case number, concerned citizens can find more details, including their custody status, if a bond has been posted, and much more.

Considering that civil cases can also lead to warrants being issued, there’s value in learning that the Tarrant County Court Records Search tool allows interested people to look up those cases as well.⁹ To search civil cases, users should click on “case records search” or “Class C misdemeanors only” and choose to search by party (so that inquiries can be made by name).

It’s possible to narrow the search by only looking at open cases (which would likely have issued warrants still open) and by adding a date range when the date when the incident happened is known. Although it’s not mandatory, users can add the offender’s date of birth to the inquiry.

If more information is needed or if the concerned citizen decides to contact the Tarrant County Clerk, they’re available by phone or in person. In general, they can provide support for civil cases and less serious criminal offenses. This is their contact information:

Tarrant County Clerk
100 W Weatherford
Fort Worth, TX 76196

Phone: 817.884.1195
Email: [email protected]

When looking for support regarding more serious crimes and all other types of cases, searchers should prioritize contacting the Tarrant County District Clerk.¹¹ They can be contacted in three different locations:

Tarrant County District Clerk
Tom Vandergriff Civil Courts Building
100 North Calhoun St – 2nd floor
Fort Worth, TX 76196

Phone: 817.884.1574

Tarrant County District Clerk
Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center
401 W Belknap – 3rd floor
Fort Worth, TX 76196

Phone: 817.884.1574

Tarrant County District Clerk
Family Law Center
200 E Weatherford – 3rd floor
Fort Worth, TX 76196

Phone: 817.884.1265

Warrant Types & What They Mean

Different warrants are issued in different situations, depending on what kind of order a judge wants the offender to comply with or the type of offense that was committed. In Texas, the most common ones are arrest, search, and bench warrants.

Arrest warrants are issued to authorize law enforcement to arrest a person. Usually, law enforcement shows probable cause and convinces the judge that that individual committed a crime and needs to be brought to justice.

Bench warrants are court orders issued against a person who failed to appear in front of the judge on a set date. Those people are already being tried for a crime they committed and can be arrested if a bench warrant is issued. Someone who’s arrested on such a warrant may face a second criminal charge, which would complicate their situation considerably.

Search warrants, on the other hand, are issued by a judge to authorize law enforcement to search an individual’s property and seize anything they might consider helpful to their ongoing investigation or court case.

Some warrants are particular to Texas in terms of how they’re named. Those are good examples:

• Blue Warrants: Those are issued when someone who’s living on supervised freedom in Texas fails to comply with the conditions of their release. Being arrested on a blue warrant may lead to that person’s conditional release being revoked or having the terms adjusted.
• Mental Health Warrants: Those are issued by judges for people who aren’t able to care for themselves and make reasonable decisions. If an individual shows signs that they may harm themselves or others and are refusing treatment or care, they may be taken into emergency detention to start treatment.

Regardless of what type of warrant is issued, whenever the court order remains pending, it’d be considered to be open, active, or outstanding. In other words, to say a warrant is active, for example, only informs that it still has to be executed, with no explanation of what that order is about.

How To Settle Active Warrants in Tarrant County Texas

When dealing with a warrant, it’s very important to be proactive and act as fast as possible. Anyone who believes there’s an active warrant against them and doesn’t know what to do about it should consider hiring an experienced attorney to help them.

A good lawyer can provide sensible counsel and walk that individual through the steps of dealing with a warrant. They can also speak on their client’s behalf with the courts and law enforcement, avoiding surprises and potentially resolving the warrant before it’s executed.

In some cases, a warrant can be resolved just by paying a fine or scheduling to appear in court. A lawyer can help figure out if that’s the case or if surrendering to law enforcement will be necessary.

If going to law enforcement is the best approach, people should consider making arrangements before being arrested. For example, they can communicate with family and friends. By letting them know what’s about to happen, they can find support and avoid making them worried about their whereabouts.

Also, working with a licensed bondsman can help expedite that person’s release. Therefore, it’s advisable to have a plan in place, making sure the person will stay in jail for as little time as possible.

In Tarrant County, citizens can post bond 24 hours a day at the Corrections Center.¹² They also inform over the phone if a bond has been set and how much it is. This is their contact information:

Tarrant County Corrections Center
Bond Desk
100 N Lamar
Fort Worth, TX 76196

Phone: 817.884.3000

The Arlington Police also offers means for individuals to pay for fines and bail online.¹³ If anyone wishes to contact them in person, they can do so at the following address:

Arlington Police Department
101 W Abram St.
Arlington, TX 76010

Phone: 817.459.6777

Running a Tarrant County warrant search is facilitated by the various tools available to concerned citizens; everyone should feel empowered make use of them whenever they believe there’s an open warrant against them or someone they care about.