Honolulu County Warrant Search

A warrant in Honolulu County is a court-issued document that authorizes law enforcement, primarily the Honolulu Police Department (HPD), to carry out a particular action. The most common warrants in Honolulu County are arrest and search warrants. Other less common warrants in the county include grand jury warrants, parole revocation, and warrants issued under Hawaii's HOPE Probation program.

A warrant search in Honolulu involves reviewing the county's records, typically including law enforcement and court records, to determine if a person has a warrant in their name. The results of a Honolulu warrant search usually include the individual's name, the type of warrant, the date it was issued, and the current status of the warrant.

Why Conduct a Warrant Search in Honolulu County?

A warrant search can be conducted for several reasons. An individual may wish to verify if there are any active warrants for their own arrest. Alternatively, one might search for warrants issued for another person, especially in situations where they are concerned that someone is wanted by law enforcement or is evading arrest. Conducting a warrant search provides valuable information and enables one to contact the police if needed.

How to Perform a Honolulu County Warrant Search Online

Online search options for warrants in Honolulu County are quite limited. The primary warrant search system operational in the county is the Hawaii State Judiciary's eBench Warrant System, which provides access to traffic, criminal, and non-family court civil warrants issued in the state. However, the system is only accessible to law enforcement and criminal justice agencies.

The public can find information on outstanding arrest warrants on the Honolulu Police Department's Wanted Persons page. The page contains information on suspects sought by the police department for criminal offenses.

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

Searching for warrants in person is usually a more effective way of finding warrants in Honolulu County. Warrants are primarily maintained by the Honolulu Police Department, specifically the Records and Identification Division. Interested persons may visit the department to make an inquiry. The division usually requests a name to search for and may ask the requester to specify the type of warrant.

However, for arrest warrant inquiries, if an individual inquires about an arrest warrant and an active warrant is found in their name, they may be arrested immediately. To avoid the risk of arrest during in-person inquiries, individuals may choose to contact the division by phone at(808) 723-3258 instead.

Honolulu County Sheriff's Office Warrant Search Process

Honolulu County does not have a separate sheriff's office; instead, it is under the purview of the Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement – Sheriff Division, which serves all counties in the state. The Sheriff's Division is primarily involved in serving arrest warrants, while other warrants, such as bench and search warrants, are typically executed by local law enforcement agencies. Honolulu residents can generally find out if they have an active warrant by calling the Warrants Section at (808) 587-3632.

Accessing Public Records Related to Warrants in Honolulu County

Warrants typically do not function in isolation in Honolulu County. They often work in conjunction with other public records, such as arrest and court records. Arrest records detail the information of persons who were served an arrest warrant or arrested on view, while court records detail the proceedings arising from arrests or charges.

Court records associated with warrants are maintained by the clerk's office of the issuing court. Honolulu County falls under the Hawaii State Judiciary First Circuit, which includes District, Circuit, and Family Courts, all of which have the authority to issue warrants. To access a court record related to a warrant, an individual may visit the appropriate clerk's office and provide the subject's name. Additionally, researchers may search for the record on the Hawaii Judiciary eCourt Kokua Portal using a name or case number. However, users should note that confidential court records are not available on the portal.

The Honolulu Police Department keeps the records of arrests made in the county. Arrest records are public records under the Hawaii Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA), so anyone can access them. Individuals may request arrest records directly from the police department's office or check the department's Arrest Logs page.

Types of Warrants Issued in Honolulu County

There are several types of warrants issued in Honolulu County. These include

Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are released when a person is reasonably suspected of a crime, and the court determines that they need to be taken into custody. Arrest warrants can be used in both felony and misdemeanor cases.

Search Warrants

These warrants permit law enforcement to search a location, person, or vehicle for evidence, also authorizing the seizure of any evidence found. Search warrants in Honolulu County are restricted from the public before execution. They also have the shortest execution lifespan of all warrants.

Bench Warrants

Bench warrants are a sort of arrest warrant issued when an individual does not adhere to a court order or does not appear at a scheduled court hearing.

Traffic Warrants

Traffic warrants are usually issued when a person fails to appear in court or resolve a traffic-related offense (e.g, not paying fines).

Juvenile Warrants

These warrants are issued in cases involving juveniles. Juvenile warrants are generally confidential and may not be accessible to the public.

Grand Jury Warrants

Grand jury warrants (also called grand jury bench warrants) are arrest warrants issued by the Circuit Court after a grand jury formally decides to charge a person with a crime.

Parole Revocation Warrants

These are administrative arrest warrants issued by the Hawaii Paroling Authority, used to apprehend individuals suspected of violating the terms of their release.

Hope Probation Warrants

HOPE (Hawaii's Opportunity with Probation Enforcement) warrants are a specialized type of warrant issued when a probationer fails to adhere to the terms of their probation, such as missing a drug test or failing to attend an appointment. The warrant is generally intended for high-risk probationers.

How Long Warrants Remain Active in Honolulu County

The length of time a warrant in Honolulu County remains active depends on the type of warrant. Warrants may be valid for a few days, weeks, or may not have any expiration date at all. Most warrants for the arrest of an individual typically do not have a preset expiration date. However, according to Rule 41 of the Hawaii Rules of Penal Procedure, search warrants are an exception and must be executed within a timeframe specified by the judge, which does not exceed 10 days.

Although other warrants apart from search warrants do not have an expiry date, they usually become invalid once the conditions of the warrant have been fulfilled. In some cases, the court may quash or recall an active warrant, rendering it invalid even when the original conditions have not been fulfilled.

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

When an outstanding warrant is found after a search of Honolulu County police or court records, it is not always a cause for alarm. Still, it is a signal to take prompt action to prevent the situation from escalating.

The first step is to verify the type of warrant involved and the accuracy of the information through official sources, especially if the initial search was not conducted through an official channel. This verification can usually be done by contacting the Honolulu Police Department or the Sheriff's Warrant Section by phone.

The next phase is to understand the underlying cause of the warrant, as all warrants are issued when it is determined that a person may have violated the law or a court order. This understanding is crucial, as some warrants can simply be resolved by paying a fine or appearing in court for a hearing.

Following this, individuals may consider seeking appropriate guidance on how to resolve the warrant. The Sheriff's Warrant Section, in addition to providing warrant information, also provides details on the procedures for clearing warrants. It is also recommended to get legal counsel from an attorney who can guide one through the process.