Oklahoma Warrant Search Records : How to View Warrant Records in Oklahoma

If you’ve recently been involved in an altercation or had a run-in with the law in Oklahoma in the past, you may have an active or outstanding warrant. Warrants in Oklahoma are often issued without notifying the subject of the warrant, and Oklahoma warrants typically do not expire. or outstanding warrant.

Checking for warrants in Oklahoma can help put your mind at ease. Conversely, discovering the presence of a warrant on your record early can facilitate decisive action on your part, which will stand you in good stead for a more favorable outcome in the long run.

In this article, we've examined some of the best ways of finding Oklahoma warrants. 

What is an Oklahoma Warrant?

A warrant is a document that gives law enforcement officers the authority to arrest, search, and detain people, actions that would otherwise be deemed illegal and unacceptable. In Oklahoma, only judicial officers hold the prerogative of issuing warrants.

Civilians and law enforcement officers may request warrants in Oklahoma, but arrest and search warrants are only issued to the latter. 

A law enforcement officer requesting either of these warrants must submit an affidavit clearly showing probable cause that an offense was committed and that the subject of the warrant request is guilty of committing the crime. The judicial officer being petitioned must then determine whether available evidence justifies the issuance of a warrant.

Only an officer of the law may execute the arrest of subjects listed on the warrants. Law enforcement officials are nonetheless permitted to enlist the assistance of civilians when they need to bring a suspect into custody.

In a warrant, you can find information that allows you to identify the suspect, including their name, gender, and place of residence. Those who run away will have a picture of the suspect in the central crime database with warrant information.

Types of Warrants in Oklahoma

Different types of warrants may be issued by judges and magistrates in Oklahoma depending on the circumstances of the case. Some of the most commonly issued warrants are:

Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants give law enforcement agents legal authority to arrest people suspected of involvement in criminal activity and bring them into custody. A complaint under oath must be made before a court or magistrate before an officer can get an arrest warrant. 

A written affidavit or witness statement demonstrating probable cause may be accepted. A warrant for an arrest may be issued if the court finds the information to be reliable.

Oklahoma arrest warrants may be executed by any law enforcement officer in the state, even across county boundaries. Arrest warrants in Oklahoma typically do not expire either.

Search Warrants

Search warrants are court-issued documents sanctioning the search of a property or area by law enforcement officers. Judges in Oklahoma issue search warrants at the request of the district attorney, who must submit a written application backed up by an affidavit from a credible witness. 

The contents of the affidavit include details such as the suspect’s name, probable cause for the search, a precise description of the place to be searched, and specific items being searched for.

Bench Warrants

Defendants who fail to appear in court in a criminal or civil case may be issued a bench warrant by the judge or magistrate. Essentially, it works like any other warrant. However, bench warrants have a shorter validity period than arrest and search warrants. 

The subject may be detained at any time, for example, during a traffic stop by the police. The establishment of probable cause is not necessary for the issuance of bench warrants. 

How to Find Warrants in Oklahoma

If you need to check your records for possible warrants, these are the best places to look:

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations is the central repository of criminal history information (which typically includes warrants) in the state, making it an excellent starting point for your search. 

If you’re interested in pursuing this option, you must fill out a criminal history request form and then send your request to the bureau in person or by mail to:

Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations,
6600 N. Harvey,
Oklahoma City, OK 73116

For any mail-in request, a postage-paid envelope must be included. Cash, credit cards, money orders, and cashier's checks are the only payment methods accepted by the Bureau of Investigations. A list of outstanding warrants for wanted individuals can also be found on the Bureau's website.

Oklahoma Courts

It is also possible to conduct a warrant search through the court system in Oklahoma. Clerks keep warrants as part of their records of official court proceedings. If you are looking for information on criminal records in Oklahoma, the court dockets database is a great source of credible information.

Local Sheriff’s Offices

If you want to look up general warrants, checking in at the office of your local sheriff is a good idea. Most sheriff’s offices in Oklahoma publish lists of wanted persons, and a few of them with an online presence have these lists on their websites.