Free Fairfax County Warrant Search: Find Out Who’s Wanted

Perform a Fairfax County warrant search for free via multiple options. The right to conduct these types of searches is afforded through the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

Warrant searches may be conducted for many different reasons; you may want to learn more about someone in your family, a colleague, or a neighbor. Searches can also be useful to ensure you have no outstanding warrants yourself.

While these are a couple of examples, you don’t need a specific reason to conduct a warrant search.

However, you do need to know how to find this information and which agencies or databases host it. This article gives you a better understanding of warrants and walks you through the process of searching for these details in Fairfax County, Virginia.

This resource was written by Attorney Robert Bailey Jr, who holds a Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law.

A Synopsis of Checking Free Warrant Information in Fairfax County Virginia

If you are planning on searching for warrant information, you should first understand how this type of information is made available and what you need to make an inquiry. An overview of warrant information will allow you to conduct a more effective and efficient search in Fairfax County.

As previously stated, the Virginia Freedom of Information Act provides general access to warrant information.¹ This access includes many different types of warrants. As you will find out in later sections, you can access more than one kind of warrant in Fairfax County.

While general access is available to information, there are restrictions depending on the type of warrant and certain exceptions.

For instance, search warrants (where law enforcement is looking for evidence of a crime) are generally not available to the public until they are fully executed. They fall under a larger exception, which allows government agencies to restrict information from the public if it may hurt an ongoing investigation by law enforcement.

Warrant information may be accessible in a variety of ways. A citizen can access warrant information through online databases, in-person searches, and requests via email, mail, and phone. However, before you begin a search, you need to know the type of information typically needed to find the warrant data you are looking for.

If you are looking for warrant information in Fairfax County, first confirm that an agency in this county actually issued it. Otherwise, you will be wasting a lot of time looking in the wrong place. Once that is confirmed, you will at least need to know the person’s full name to conduct a warrant search.

You will also want to have a general idea of where the person resides (county, city, address).

Of course, if you have a case or warrant number, you will be able to quickly locate this information. There is also other data that can assist you in this process. For instance, a description of the reason for the warrant or physical characteristics of the person can be helpful in your search process.

This is especially the case in situations where you are working with someone at a government agency to help you locate the warrant record.

The record custodian for warrant information can change from one county to the next. In Fairfax, the primary record custodian of warrant information is the Fairfax County General District Court and Circuit Court. You may also be able to obtain information from the Fairfax County Magistrate’s Office, as they are responsible for executing these warrants.

Some counties have cities and towns with government agencies that issue and maintain warrant information. In Fairfax County, there are no cities or towns that handle warrant information independently.

In the next section, we will talk about how to use this information to conduct your warrant search.

Fairfax County Warrant Search: See Who Is Wanted

Once you are ready to conduct a warrant search, you can start by accessing criminal records through the Fairfax District Courts online search tool.² They are responsible for handling misdemeanor cases and traffic violations.

Start by selecting the Fairfax County General District Court, then select the name search option. You can now enter the person’s name you are seeking warrant information on and click “search” to view your results. The results page will contain the case number, party name and the charges brought against the person.

To get warrant information and the complete online criminal record, click on the case number. The primary section where you can view warrant information is in the “Hearing Information” section. Here, you can view when a warrant was issued, the type, and any other related information.

For additional warrant information for a criminal record with the Fairfax County District Court, you can contact the criminal division at 703-246-3305, by email at [email protected] or go to the address below:⁵

Fairfax County District Court
4110 Chain Bridge Rd.
Fairfax, Virginia 22030

You can also conduct a search with the Fairfax County Circuit Court for warrant information.⁶ The Circuit Court is responsible for handling serious criminal cases referred to as felonies. The Circuit Court does not have an online case search tool, so you will have to access the records in person or by submitting a request.

Criminal files are located at the Fairfax County Courthouse and can be accessed in person. You can go to the address below to search or request records:

Fairfax County Courthouse
4110 Chain Bridge Rd. Ste. 409
Fairfax, Virginia 22030

There are also older records available at the Circuit Courts Offsite Records Center, which can be reached at 703-246-6656. You can also submit an online file review request form to obtain older criminal records with warrant information.⁸ They are available Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and are located at the address below:

Fairfax County Circuit Court – Records Center
2730 Prosperity Ave. Ste. 100
Merrifield, Virginia 22031

For additional warrant information or questions about conducting a search with the Fairfax County Circuit Court, you can contact them by phone at 703-691-7320.

As a last resort, you might want to consider contacting the Fairfax County Magistrate’s Office, as they are responsible for executing warrants.⁹ You can call them at 703-246-2178 or go in person to the address below:

Fairfax County Magistrate Office
10520 Judicial Dr.
Fairfax, Virginia 22030

Warrant Types & Their Meanings

There is more than one kind of warrant in Fairfax County. Understanding the various types of warrants, how they are issued and what they are used for can give you a better understanding of what to look for during your search process.

In Fairfax County, a popular type to search for is the arrest warrant. As the name implies, when this type of warrant is issued, law enforcement is authorized to take a person into custody for the alleged committing of a crime. An arrest warrant is issued by a Fairfax County judge once law enforcement presents enough evidence that establishes probable cause that a person committed a crime.

In addition to the commission of a crime, an arrest warrant may be issued for a probation or parole violation. When a violation occurs, it can be determined that your probation or parole is revoked, and you will be taken back into custody through the issuance of an arrest warrant.

A bench warrant can also authorize law enforcement to arrest a person but for a different reason. A bench warrant is not issued because of probable cause but rather because a person failed to show up for a hearing date or otherwise failed to follow a court order. For instance, a person may be out on bail for a crime and not show up on the date of their trial.

This type of warrant can be seen in anything from a serious felony to a traffic violation that has not been resolved by the Defendant. A bench warrant can also be used for individuals who fail to pay child support.

A search warrant is different from these previous two warrants in that it involves the potential seizure of evidence as opposed to a person. However, it is similar to an arrest warrant in that a judge will only issue it if law enforcement provides him or her with probable cause that evidence of a crime is located in a particular area. Of course, the evidence uncovered from a search warrant may lead to an arrest warrant.

How To Handle Outstanding Warrants in Fairfax County

There is one more possible step you may need to take after conducting a search of warrant information in Fairfax County. While you know how to search for warrants and the various types there are, you also must know what to do with the information you now obtain.

Of course, if you find information about an active warrant about someone else, you are not under a specific obligation to take action. However, you may want to consider informing the person if you know them so they can resolve the issue.

If you do not have a good relationship with the person, you could still let a family member or friend know so they can notify the person.

Now, if the warrant is for a serious matter (e.g., a felony), you should probably change course and simply notify law enforcement with any information you have about the person’s whereabouts. Here, you can contact the Fairfax County Police Department to let them know any information you have.¹⁰

Or you may be in a situation where you find out that the active warrant is for you. If this is the case, you may want to determine the severity of the situation and your next steps by contacting a licensed criminal law attorney in Fairfax County. If it’s a minor situation, you may be able to have the warrant quashed by scheduling a new hearing date or setting up a payment plan for a fine.

If you must turn yourself in, it’s important you know your rights. You will also want to reach out to a bail bondsman to get everything set up in case there is the possibility for immediate bail. Lastly, do not forget to notify your family.

The last thing you want is your family panicking because they do not know where you are.

While situations may vary, these are the basic steps you should take when dealing with information found during a Fairfax County warrant search; use the information outlined in this article to discover more about anyone wanted.