Run a Free Idaho Warrant Search (Look Up Any Resident)

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Free Idaho Warrant Search

Find out if you or someone else has a warrant out for their arrest in Idaho, free of charge.

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Perform a free Idaho warrant search by utilizing public lookup tools and searchable databases that can readily be accessed. A warrant in Idaho is typically issued by a magistrate, judge or justice, authorizing law enforcement officials (e.g., a police officer or sheriff) to arrest someone or conduct a search.

This resource provides thorough guidance to find out if someone currently has a warrant in Idaho. This article will also help address any concerns regarding a warrant in a safe, lawful and responsible manner.

Does the Public Have the Right To Search for Warrants in Idaho?

Within the framework of the state’s Public Records Act, any member of the general public has the right to perform an Idaho warrant lookup.¹ This ensures transparency and fairness in the state’s law enforcement activities and judicial processes.

However, the disclosure of active warrants may be refused under specific conditions and circumstances. Under Section 74-124 of Idaho Statutes, warrants surrounding an investigation of a crime may not be open to the public, to avoid affecting the ongoing operations and to ensure the safety and privacy of the individuals involved.

Furthermore, the public does not have the right to access pre-sentence investigation reports, unreturned search warrants or arrest warrants (that have not been served and duly returned to the issuing court).

Similarly, details of Idaho warrants that are part of sealed or exempt court records, juvenile justice records or expunged adult criminal records are restricted from public inspection.² On the other hand, bench warrants and summonses, even when they are issued in criminal cases, may be released at the discretion of the designated agency.

Locating Warrants in Idaho (An Overview)

Those wishing to run a free warrant check on themselves or someone else, need to furnish a few basic details including the first and last name of the person in question. Searches can be narrowed down by using filters, such as the offender’s age, where they reside, and the county or city where the offense is believed to have occurred.

Public availability of information may differ based on the type of warrant (as mentioned in the previous section), the underlying charges and the jurisdiction where it was ordered. Many active warrants lists are already publicly available in Idaho state and local warrant databases, some might be held in national criminal information databases like the NCIC, to be accessed only by authorized personnel.

Curious persons may begin with a state-level search to obtain broader results and then proceed with county and city-based searches to check for warrants on a local level. Checking multiple sources will increase the chances of finding the information sought.

How To Conduct a Free Idaho Warrant Search Online

To complete a warrant search on the state level in Idaho, citizens may find the following sources particularly helpful:

• The Bureau of Criminal Identification
• Idaho State Courts’ iCourt portal
• Idaho Department of Corrections

The Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI), a division of Idaho State Police, handles public requests for statewide criminal record checks, including a person’s previous warrants, arrests, charges and convictions (if any).

The BCI allows applicants to run fingerprint-based searches or name-based background checks for a variety of purposes including employment screening, licensing or personal reasons, costing a base fee of $20.00 per search.³ The BCI maintains records of arrests related to felony and serious misdemeanors, and allows Idaho residents to conduct a warrant search on an individual.

The request can be hand-delivered or mailed (by post) to the following address:

Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI)
700 South, Stratford Dr., Suite, 120
Meridian, ID 83642

Phone: (208) 884-7130

Those looking to perform a free arrest warrant check, can use the State Judiciary’s iCourt portal—an online court records search tool.⁴ Searches may be performed by county, the first and last name, case record number, without the need to register on the portal or to pay any fee.

Users can filter their searches by case types, filing date range and case status (such as “Active”, “Failure to Appear-Misdemeanor/Felony”, “Active – Pending” or “Warrant/Detention Order”). By selecting a name that appeared on the search results, people can access basic case information and also read through the “Events and Hearings” to see if the case history includes any warrants.

Here are the ‎Public Record Search FAQs to find out which court records are made available to the public and how to conduct a statewide search for the most currently updated information.⁵

Another option is to run a free warrant search through the Idaho Department of Corrections‘ Resident/Client Search — searchable by name/partial name or IDOC number.⁶ This statewide database includes persons who are on court probation or are under IDOC jurisdiction, either imprisoned, or on probation or parole.

The search results will reveal lists of the persons, their age, status of IDOC warrants, whether they have completed a probationary period or are still in custody/supervision. Furthermore, the IDOC’s Special Investigations Unit has made its Most Wanted Fugitives List open to the general public on its official website.⁷

Despite the state agencies’ efforts to make warrants and crime-related information public, as the Idaho Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) itself suggests on its website, in some instances a record of arrest may not be found through a statewide database, but instead, can be discovered by doing a search on a local level.

Access Warrant Details via County Agencies & Courts in Idaho

Local arrest and search warrants are executed by the city police and county sheriff’s departments. To find out if you have a warrant in a county/city, visit the local law enforcement agencies’ website.

Ada County: All are welcome to view warrant information in Ada County, Idaho. The Ada County Sheriff’s Office provides a Public Warrants Lookup Tool without charging any fees.⁸ It allows users to look for most warrants issued by the county’s district court. By entering a name charged with a traffic or criminal offense in Ada County, ID.

People can expand their searches by using the current arrests and inmate rosters to find offenders recently arrested and the type of warrant ordered against them.⁹

Those interested in finding a specific court record, or inquire about an upcoming hearing or court event information, can contact the Ada County Clerk’s Office. They can also view the Daily Court Calendar for Infraction, Misdemeanor & Felony Cases online or choose to make a trip to the courthouse. Please refer to the directory of all Idaho courthouses.

Canyon County: The Warrants Unit of the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office is tasked with handling warrants issued by Idaho courts.

While the website does not have a warrant lookup feature, the department provides listings of Canyon County jail roster and current arrests where anyone can view individuals held for different types of offenses including parole violation or civil contempt cases.¹⁰

Those wishing to make a thorough inquiry about a specific case may check the County’s online daily court schedule or remotely request a court record filed in Canyon County, ID through its Court Support Services.

Note: The Canyon County warrant lookup tutorial provides in-depth yet concise guidance on finding desired information on wanted individuals.

Kootenai County: Active Felony Warrants and Active Misdemeanor Warrants that are in custody of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, have been made available online to the public for free.¹¹

People can contact the Deputy Court Clerks of the District Court in order to resolve citations issued in Kootenai County or to inquire about matters related to criminal and civil case filings. Contact information has been provided on the page linked above.

Twin Falls County: There is an up-to-date online database of active Twin Falls county warrants on the county sheriff’s website. Searchers can find related information including listings of individuals arrested and booked, those scheduled for arraignments following a criminal citation or arrest, and also offenders currently incarcerated in the county jail.

Bannock County: The Bannock County Sheriff’s Office provides a Current Inmate List where the “Offense Description” includes warrants of arrests as well as the associated charges against the defendants (e.g., whether it’s a probation or parole warrant).

In addition, residents can refer to their Daily Activity Press Releases to find if someone is in jail or being pursued in Bannock County, Idaho.

Those looking to find all information in one place, can use third-party public record search websites to run a background check on themselves or someone else in Idaho. These sites offer readily available data collected from various information sources on the internet.

This helps the users learn more about their new roommate, a neighbor, a potential date or acquaintances so they can be more aware about the people around them and make better decisions about their personal safety.

Locate Arrest Warrant Details via Cities Throughout Idaho

Idaho city police departments like the Boise Police may accept requests for public records, besides having programs like BPD ID Me, a public tips and information platform pertaining to open investigations in the city.

There are several other online resources that can be freely accessed, such as the Blackfoot Police Department Most Wanted Persons, Mountain Home Police’s Active Arrest Warrants, the Pocatello City Police Department’s Most Wanted List etc.¹²

These city warrant search databases are useful if the suspect is believed to be staying/living in a local jurisdiction.

Sometimes when the arresting agency is a city police department, the warrants and arrests could be listed on a county sheriff’s website. The Ada County Sheriff’s website displays “Current Arrests” that include persons pursued by Boise City Police Dept., Meridian City Police Dept. and also Garden City Police Dept.¹⁴

However, the data available online should not be relied upon for making any personal or legal decisions, so, the viewers are always advised to verify the details/status of a warrant by contacting the relevant department. Furthermore, online warrant searches are not allowed in all counties.

In that case, the inquirer can get in touch with the local sheriff or police department. Here is a directory of law enforcement agencies in Idaho and complete lists of police departments that the searcher can reach out to, if they have legitimate concerns regarding a warrant issued in Idaho.

As discussed earlier under the state level search options, anyone can initiate an Idaho warrant lookup through the existing court data available for free on state’s iCourt Portal. To get more information about a specific case that appears on the portal, interested parties can reach the clerk’s office or the county courthouse where the case is handled.

Retrieve Federal Warrant Information for Idaho & All Other States

The Idaho local police or sheriff’s office may keep the most current state government-issued warrant lists. Even so, they cannot provide information on warrants issued by other states or the federal judiciary. Below are some of the resources that list federally issued warrants including some of the most wanted criminals in the United States.

• FBI Ten Most Wanted List
• DEA’s Wanted Fugitives Search Tool
• U.S. Marshals Fugitives List
• Secret Service Most Wanted Fugitives List
• ICE Most Wanted Persons List

Each of these lists contain names of the wanted criminals, aliases, their offenses, sex, date of birth, race, and physical description—color of the eyes, hair etc. All individuals listed have multiple active warrants issued on them for felonious, large-scale crimes.

Researchers can also use PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) to search a person’s name and find if they have any federal arrest and search warrants. Please refer to the PACER FAQ section to understand how to use the service or register for an account.¹⁵ PACER charges a nominal fee, but it is useful for conducting nationwide court record searches.¹⁶

Main Warrant Types in Idaho & What Each Means

Not all warrants are created equal, so how they should be addressed depends on the nature and severity of the offense charged. These are some of the most common types of warrants encountered in Idaho:

Arrest Warrants: Idaho arrest warrants authorize a police officer/peace officer to make an arrest if there is a “probable cause” to reasonably believe that the target of arrest has committed a crime, either with or without the presence of the officer.

Depending on their seriousness, offenses are classified into different categories: felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions. If the warrant involves a serious criminal offense or ‘felony’, a police officer can apprehend the suspect any time – day or night.

As per Idaho Code Title 19, “Criminal Procedure”, Chapter 6, common reasons for the issuance of a warrant of arrest are: felony, or high-level misdemeanors such as assault, battery, domestic violence, first and second-degree stalking, violation of a protection order, violation of a no contact order, or threatening violence on school grounds.¹⁷

According to Idaho Code Title 19-604: any person can arrest another when a criminal offense is being committed in the former’s presence. An Idaho judge or magistrate may issue a fugitive warrant or a “fugitive from justice” warrant to a convicted felon who has escaped from his own state to avoid prosecution or confinement.

Agent’s Warrants: A probation or parole officer can, without a warrant, detain a parolee or probationer for failing to comply with the conditions of their supervision/release.

The appointed officer can also pass on a probation and parole warrant, as an “agent’s warrant” to the police, authorizing them to make the arrest and transport the offender to the appropriate jurisdiction.

Search Warrants: District court judges or magistrates can issue Idaho search warrants, allowing a law enforcement officer to conduct a search for venues or properties that serve as either evidence of a crime or have illegal items (e.g., drugs and weapons) or items obtained by illegal means.

Bench Warrants: Criminal as well as civil cases can involve a bench warrant. Some instances of contempt charges that may result in the issuance of a bench warrant are: failure to pay for a traffic ticket, failure to appear at a child-support hearing and not being able to fulfill court-ordered financial obligations.

Fail to Pay Warrant: A fail to pay warrant is a special type of “warrant of attachment” issued by the judge to command the defendant to settle a specific fine/penalty previously imposed by the court following which, the warrant can be cleared or “dismissed”.

Minor traffic offenses or “infractions” do not attract heavy fines or jail times in Idaho. However, if a citation is past due for a misdemeanor traffic offense, the defendant can be arrested for “failure to appear” in court as directed on the citation, as laid by the Idaho Misdemeanor Criminal Rules.

Arrest warrants in Idaho do not expire and last till it has been executed by law enforcement officials or quashed/lifted by a judge. On the contrary, a search warrant must be carried out and then returned to the issuing authority within fourteen days, failing to serve it within the stipulated time will make the warrant invalid.

For more information on issuance and execution of warrants, searchers may refer to the Idaho Supreme Court’s Clerk of the District Court Manual.¹⁸

Dealing With Warrants & Notifying or Reporting Persons of Interest in Idaho

For people who believe they know/have come across a person who has an outstanding warrant, their first instinct is usually to share this information with a friend or a family member. However, it is advisable to take their own safety as well as the safety of others into consideration.

Civilians are discouraged from attempting to act too quickly, to approach, follow or apprehend a fugitive themselves. Moreover, the state and federal laws prohibit people from disseminating or misusing criminal history records information.

If someone can recognize an individual after running an Idaho warrant check, they may contact applicable authorities – the local law enforcement agency or probation officer for confirmation.

Then they may share the whereabouts of the persons of interest, or submit an anonymous tip only if they can provide specific and reliable information. Here is a directory of law enforcement agencies in Idaho to submit anonymous tips on wanted criminals.¹⁹

Those who have found themselves on a list of Idaho warrants may contact an attorney to understand the nature of the charges and details of any scheduled hearing or proceeding.

Besides, warrants are issued prior to an arrest or search, and it does not indicate the innocence or guilt of a person, or whether there will be an acquittal or dismissal of a charge. So, navigating a delicate legal situation is best done in consultation with an attorney.

Idaho State Bar Lawyer Referral Service can be used in order to locate a relevant attorney in a specific area. For free legal help in civil cases, low-income residents can reach out to the Idaho Legal Aid Services.

People can also refer to the Misdemeanor Flow Chart and Felony Flow Chart to have a general understanding of the criminal justice system. Inquisitive readers may wish to understand what typically happens when someone is charged with a misdemeanor-level offense in Idaho or how to employ a bondsman or bail agent service to bail someone out of jail.²⁰

The objective of these detailed recommendations for Idaho warrant searches is to ensure safety, transparency and wellbeing within the state and in local communities; expand a search to include far more information on anyone in the state via the steps for finding ID arrest and criminal records as well as the instructions for accessing all free public records in Idaho (court cases, property ownership, parole, etc.)