The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office administers and executes warrants for wanted individuals facing serious criminal charges and for those who have failed to appear in court. Defendants can find out if they have an arrest warrant by calling the Hennepin County Warrant Hotline where they can schedule a court date to resolve the warrant.
However, not all warrants can be addressed in this way – some must be dealt with in person at the Hennepin County Public Safety Facility in Minneapolis or by calling the sheriff's office.
Reasons for Having an Active Warrant
There are a few ways that an individual can face criminal charges in Minnesota. They will typically receive a ticket for minor offenses, but they will receive a complaint for more severe crimes in the form of a summons or warrant. Under most circumstances, an individual gets a summons in the mail, which notes their court date.
If the court doesn't reach a defendant with a summons, or they fail to appear in court, the court will issue a warrant, authorizing law enforcement to arrest the individual. After detaining that person, law enforcement will bring them before a judge where they will learn the conditions of their release, including the amount of bail or bond. Defendants do not receive notification of a warrant's issuance.
Hennepin County's Warrant Search Hotline
The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office does not have an online database for looking up outstanding warrants. However, in 2019, Hennepin County District Court launched a warrant hotline, allowing defendants to find information about warrants they may have and schedule a court date to address their case. The hotline is available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
If a defendant schedules a court date by calling 612-543-WRNT (9768), the warrant remains active until they appear in court. However, not all court dates can be scheduled through the hotline. Warrants that are ineligible for online scheduling include:
- Those issued for missing a court hearing date.
- Those issued for violation of probation or conditional release.
- Complaint warrants.
- Those issued for failing to appear at Hennepin County Workhouse or Adult Correctional Facility.
In case of ineligibility, the defendant will likely be asked to voluntarily turn themselves in to the law enforcement agency at Hennepin County's Public Safety Facility at 401 S. 4th Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Upon arrival, they will go through a weapons screening.
Calling the Hennepin County's Sheriff's Office
Another option is to call the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office at 612-348-2000. Individuals will need a warrant or case number to receive information. If they don't have a case or warrant number, they should call the Hennepin County District Court at 612-348-2040 with their full name and birth date. A deputy will inform them as to how they can resolve their warrant and will give them the bail or bond amount.
Defendants can post cash bail or bond seven days a week, 24 hours a day at the county's Public Safety Facility. To do this, they must have their case or warrant number and bring the exact amount of bail money with them. The facility does not have an on-site cash machine, does not give change, and does not accept credit or debit cards.
References
Writer Bio
Michelle Nati is an associate editor and writer who has reported on legal, criminal and government news for PasadenaNow.com and Complex Media. She holds a B.A. in Communications and English from Niagara University.