Search Washington County Bench Warrants
Washington County bench warrants are issued by the 10th Judicial District Court when a person misses a court date or fails to comply with a court order. The Washington County Sheriff's Office in Stillwater handles all bench warrant tracking, service, and arrests across the county. You can search for active bench warrants through the sheriff's office, the statewide court records system, or by visiting the courthouse. Washington County is part of the Twin Cities metro area and includes the city of Woodbury along with several other suburbs. If you need to check on a bench warrant, there are fast and reliable ways to get the information.
Washington County Overview
Washington County Sheriff Warrant Services
The Washington County Sheriff's Office handles all bench warrants issued in the county. When a 10th Judicial District judge issues a bench warrant, the sheriff's office receives it and adds it to their active files. Deputies serve warrants across the county and handle bookings at the county jail. You can call the sheriff's office or visit their location in Stillwater to check on active warrant status.
| Office | Washington County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 15015 62nd St N Stillwater, MN 55082 |
| Phone | (651) 438-4700 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Washington County is one of the more populated counties in Minnesota. The sheriff's office processes a significant volume of bench warrants across felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor cases. Being part of the metro area means the office works closely with nearby county and municipal agencies on warrant service. A phone call with a name and date of birth is the fastest way to check during business hours.
How to Find Washington County Warrants
Call the sheriff at (651) 438-4700. Give a full name and date of birth. Staff will check their files and let you know if a bench warrant exists. This is the most direct approach during office hours.
You can also search online for free through Minnesota Court Records Online. This system covers all 10th Judicial District cases, including Washington County. Search by name or case number. The system shows case type, status, and hearing dates. A failure to appear entry in the case timeline usually means a bench warrant was issued. Some criminal case information may be restricted in remote access searches, which means results can be incomplete for certain case types. It is still a solid free tool and a good starting point.
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension runs a statewide criminal history search for $8. It covers records from all Minnesota counties and shows both current and past bench warrants along with their outcomes. Results come back within minutes.
Note: Washington County shares the 10th Judicial District with several other metro-area counties, so check all relevant jurisdictions when searching.
Washington County Warrant Records
Warrant records in Washington County are public data. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, most warrant and arrest information is open to anyone who asks. You do not need to be the person named on the warrant. The sheriff's office shares basic warrant details over the phone or in person at their Stillwater location.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety provides statewide warrant and law enforcement resources that cover Washington County.
The Washington County District Court is at 14949 62nd St N in Stillwater. Call (651) 430-6263 for case information. Court staff can look up case numbers and confirm bench warrant status. Certified court document copies cost $10 and plain copies are $8. Walk-in requests are handled during business hours.
Washington County Bench Warrant Penalties
A bench warrant in Washington County means you can be arrested at any time. Officers check names during routine traffic stops. An active warrant shows up right away. You go to jail.
Under Minnesota Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 3.01, the court must issue a warrant when a defendant fails to appear after getting a summons. There is no discretion. The warrant stays active until you appear before the court or the judge recalls it. Minnesota bench warrants have no expiration date. A warrant from years ago carries the same legal weight as one issued this morning.
Missing court also means extra charges. For felony cases, intentionally skipping court can add up to half the maximum sentence for the original charge. Misdemeanor failures to appear are charged as a separate misdemeanor. Petty misdemeanor no-shows count as a guilty plea under state law. All of these stack on top of whatever you were already facing in Washington County court.
Some bench warrants in Washington County qualify for sign and release under MS 629.415. In these cases, an officer gives you a notice with a new court date instead of taking you to jail. Whether this applies depends on the type of warrant and the judge's instructions.
Resolving Washington County Warrants
The smartest move is to handle it yourself. Call the sheriff at (651) 438-4700 to find out the bail amount. Then turn yourself in at the Washington County jail with valid ID and the bail in cash. You will be processed and given a new court date. Taking care of it voluntarily looks much better to the judge than getting arrested unexpectedly.
A lawyer can file a motion to recall the bench warrant and ask for a new hearing date without an arrest. This is an option worth exploring if you can afford counsel or qualify for free legal aid. LawHelpMN has a directory of legal aid programs in Minnesota. The Minnesota Self-Help Centers can help you find the right forms and understand the process for resolving a warrant on your own.
- Call (651) 438-4700 to check bail amount
- Bring exact cash and valid ID to the county jail
- Get a new court date from the clerk
- Appear for the hearing on time
Washington County Legal Resources
Track custody status through VINE. This free service sends notifications when someone is booked or released from the Washington County jail. It runs around the clock in over 200 languages. Register online or call 1-866-277-7477.
The Minnesota Department of Corrections maintains a public fugitive list for people on supervised release who have left the system. This is separate from county bench warrants but adds another search option. Between the county sheriff, state court records, and corrections databases, you have multiple tools for checking warrant status in Washington County.
Cities in Washington County
Washington County includes Woodbury and several other east metro communities. Bench warrants for all cities in the county go through the Washington County Sheriff's Office and District Court.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Washington County. Each has its own sheriff and bench warrant procedures.