Nassau County Warrant Search

A warrant is an official writ that directs enforcement officers to carry out specific instructions—such as seizing property, arresting an individual, or searching a location. A Nassau County warrant search typically involves looking up active or outstanding warrants from official record custodians. A warrant search is usually conducted by individuals or criminal justice agencies to verify that the subject does not have any active or outstanding warrants issued against them for criminal actions, civil suits, or disregard of court injunctions.

The information found during a warrant search may include the full name of the subject, the date of issuance, the reason and obligations for the warrant, the issuing court, case details, and instructions for the arrest, seizure, or search of an individual/property. In Nassau County, a warrant search may be possible at the Sheriff's Office, an online repository, or a court clerk's office.

Why Conduct a Warrant Search in Nassau County?

A warrant search in Nassau County may be necessary for various legal, educational, or personal reasons. Most individuals may carry out a warrant search to ascertain their compliance with court orders and obligations. In addition, employers, creditors, and lessors may also perform a warrant search to verify that a person or business entity is not wanted for any criminal action or civil misconduct. Criminal justice agencies within Nassau County may conduct a warrant search to confirm if a named individual is a fugitive or defaulting on any court-ordered obligation, such as payment of child support or community service. Furthermore, a warrant search could be done by researchers seeking to understand the issuance and warrant resolution processes in Nassau County.

The information obtained from a warrant search may help concerned persons prevent unpleasant situations such as an arrest in a public space (e.g., one's office or at a routine traffic stop). A search could also enable record subjects to discover and resolve underlying issues such as an unpaid fine, failure to appear in court, outstanding child support payments, or violation of probation terms. Warrant search information may help with risk assessments for potential employees and influence hiring, rental, or loan decisions.

How to Perform a Nassau County Warrant Search Online

In Nassau County, one may look up warrants online via the search portals provided by the respective record custodian.

• Warrant information for bench warrants, arrest warrants, and search warrants issued in Nassau County may be obtained by reviewing court records and case files featured on the New York State Unified Court System WebCriminal portal. To use this portal, interested persons may be required to create an account, log in, enter search criteria like a case number, name, or filing date, and pay the required fees—usually $5 per name search for two years.
• One may also find warrant information online by performing a criminal history record search using the direct access program managed by the New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA). This service costs $95 per search and requires the searcher to provide a valid name and date of birth. Note that information retrieved from this search is not certified and cannot be used in place of a Certificate of Disposition.
• The Nassau County Police Department publishes wanted persons information on its Crime Stoppers Webpage. Concerned persons may retrieve warrant information by reviewing the data published on the NCPD’s official website.
• Online access to Nassau County tax and child support warrants is available via the New York State Tax Warrants search portal and the State Child Support Enforcement Warrant Notice System respectively. Both portals are maintained by the State Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF). Search criteria required to turn out results from these portals typically include a name, warrant status, or issuing date.

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

A typical outstanding warrant check in Nassau County typically begins with furnishing the record custodian with necessary search information like the subject's full name, date of birth, docket number, or date of arrest if known. The custodian then checks for the requested information and returns it to the requester if available.

To check for outstanding warrants in Nassau County by phone or in person, interested persons may visit or phone the Criminal Division at the Nassau County Court Clerk's Office, the County Police Department, the Sheriff's Department, or any local police unit/courthouse in the County. The relevant contact information needed is outlined below.

Note the following:

• For in-person visits, a valid form of identification may be required alongside the necessary search criteria
• The Sheriff's Office may not provide warrant information via phone calls, but may require the requester to make in-person requests at the physical office location.
• The processing time for requests usually spans between three and 10 business days unless otherwise stated
• Fees may apply and vary depending on the record custodian

Nassau County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Search Process

The Enforcement Division of the Nassau County Sheriff's Department handles the execution of issued warrants in the County and makes warrant information publicly available under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) policy. A warrant search at the sheriff's department may furnish the requester with warrant information such as the name of the individual, the issuing date, the charges, and warrant status (active, outstanding, or resolved).

To search for warrants via the Sheriff's department, interested persons may fill out the FOIL request form and submit it via email or make in-person requests at 100 Carman Avenue, East Meadow, NY 11554. It is important to note that the sheriff's department typically does not give out warrant information via phone calls. In addition, a valid means of identification and adequate information or descriptions of the requested records may be required to ease the search process.

Accessing Public Records Related to Warrants in Nassau County

When searching for warrants in Nassau County, one may likely need to access other related public records such as arrest logs, court records, criminal history records, incident reports, and police reports. These records are typically publicly available under Article 6, Sections 84-90 of the New York Public Officers Law. However, sealed records, records about juveniles, and those exempt by law or court order may not be available for public inspection.

A search at the county court clerk's office, the sheriff's or police department, and a local courthouse may furnish inquirers with the necessary information and records related to warrants in Nassau County. Most record custodians provide searchable online repositories or allow requestors to make in-person, mail, or electronic requests. Generally, a valid means of identification, appropriate fees, and search criteria are the usual requirements for accessing public records related to warrants in Nassau County. It may be helpful to verify the availability of a desired record and the specific requirements before sending out requests to the relevant custodian.

Types of Warrants Issued in Nassau County

In Nassau County, the most common types of warrants issued are arrest, search, bench, tax, and child support warrants. Understanding how these various warrant types work and their legal significance may help concerned persons resolve them effectively and prevent future occurrences.

A brief description of the various types of warrants available in Nassau County is provided below.

• Arrest warrants: These are issued when a judge establishes probable cause that the person involved has committed a crime. These warrants are typically issued for serious criminal actions and permit law enforcement officers to apprehend, detain, and bring the named individual before a court to answer for a crime.
• Search warrants: A judge, based on a sworn affidavit, substantial proof, or reasonable testimony, orders peace officers to search a person/location or seize property with the intent of securing admissible evidence for a criminal investigation.
• Bench warrants: usually issued when a person fails to make an appearance for a scheduled hearing date, violates their probation requirements, or defaults on court-ordered fines and obligations. It authorizes law enforcement to arrest the subject at any time or place and bring them before the issuing judge.
• Child support and tax warrants: these warrants are both civil warrants filed against defaulters of tax or child support payments by the State’s Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF). This warrant permits the DTF to place a lien on the subject’s property, initiate wage garnishments, or ultimately reclaim the property to settle outstanding debts or child support arrears.

How Long Warrants Remain Active in Nassau County

The expiration period of an issued warrant in Nassau County typically depends on the warrant type, court actions, or the internal policies of the enforcement agencies. Generally, arrest and bench warrants do not expire; they remain active until they are resolved— the defendant is arrested or makes an appearance in court. If a court recalls the warrant or the defendant dies, an arrest/bench warrant may become invalid. Search warrants, however, must be executed and returned to the court within ten days after their issuance, else they risk becoming void (CPL § 690.30).

A Nassau County tax or child support warrant may typically remain active, enforceable, and part of a law enforcement agency’s database until it is resolved. To resolve a tax or child support warrant, the defendant will be required to appear before a family court to resolve the underlying issues responsible for its issuance and settle all outstanding debts or child support arrears. A tax or child support warrant may be enforceable for as long as 20 years from the date the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance filed the warrant and may be extended if both the department and defendant reach an agreement.

What To Do if You Find an Outstanding Warrant in Nassau County

Once a person discovers there is an active warrant against them, it might be important to resolve such a warrant as soon as possible to avoid further legal consequences and implications. A person with an active warrant may start by verifying the information retrieved during a warrant search from the relevant record custodian such as the County Court Clerk's Office. If the subject has an idea why the warrant was issued, it might be helpful to either make an appearance in court or pay outstanding debts and arrears. In cases where the reason for the warrant is not known, the next step may be to hire an experienced attorney or legal professional to help understand the implications of the warrant and how to resolve it.