New Haven County Active Warrants

New Haven County bench warrants are issued by multiple judicial districts across Connecticut's second-largest county. With nearly 870,000 residents spread across major cities like New Haven, Waterbury, and Meriden, active warrant searches require knowing the right court. The Connecticut Judicial Branch maintains warrant records through its Paperless Rearrest Warrant Network (PRAWN) system. Residents can search for failure to appear warrants and violation of probation warrants through official online tools or by contacting the appropriate judicial district clerk.

New Haven County Judicial Districts

New Haven County has four separate judicial districts that handle criminal cases and issue bench warrants. Each district covers specific towns and cities within the county. The New Haven Judicial District is the largest and serves the county seat. The Waterbury Judicial District covers the western portion of the county. Meriden Judicial District handles central county cases. The Ansonia-Milford Judicial District serves the southeastern towns.

The New Haven Judicial District courthouse sits at 235 Church Street in downtown New Haven. The Chief Clerk's Office can be reached at 203-503-6800. This district serves New Haven, East Haven, Hamden, North Haven, and West Haven. All failure to appear warrants and probation violation warrants for these cities originate here.

The Waterbury Judicial District is located at 300 Grand Street in Waterbury. Call 203-591-3300 for the Chief Clerk. This district covers Waterbury, Wolcott, and Plymouth. Cases from these areas generate bench warrants that are entered into the PRAWN system. The Meriden Judicial District at 54 West Main Street in Meriden handles cases from Meriden, Middlefield, and Wallingford. Their Chief Clerk is at 203-238-6666.

The Ansonia-Milford Judicial District serves the southeastern portion of the county. Located at 14 West River Street in Milford, this court covers Milford, Ansonia, Derby, Orange, Seymour, Shelton, and Woodbridge. Contact the Chief Clerk at 203-877-4293 for warrant inquiries related to these towns.

Note: Connecticut does not have a county court system. Each judicial district operates independently and maintains its own warrant records.

Geographical Area Courts in New Haven County

Six Geographical Area courts handle lower-level criminal matters in New Haven County. These courts can issue certain types of bench warrants. G.A. 4 at Waterbury is located at 400 Grand Street and can be reached at 203-236-8100. G.A. 5 at Derby sits at 106 Elizabeth Street with a phone number of 203-735-7438. G.A. 7 at Meriden shares the building with the judicial district at 54 West Main Street and uses 203-238-6130.

G.A. 20 at Norwalk handles cases at 17 Belden Avenue and can be contacted at 203-849-3580. G.A. 22 at Milford is at the same location as the judicial district, 14 West River Street, with phone 203-874-1116. G.A. 23 at New Haven operates from 121 Elm Street and uses 203-789-7461. These courts handle arraignments and preliminary matters that may result in bench warrants for failure to appear.

How to Search New Haven County Bench Warrants

The Connecticut Judicial Branch provides online tools for searching certain types of bench warrants in New Haven County. The PRAWN system allows searches by name, town, or court location for failure to appear warrants and violation of probation warrants. This covers warrants issued by the judicial districts and geographical area courts within New Haven County.

To search for warrants online, visit the Connecticut Judicial Branch website. The warrant search tool requires at least a last name to begin. You can narrow results by adding a town or specific court location. The database includes active failure to appear warrants for criminal cases, motor vehicle matters, and infractions. It also contains violation of probation warrants.

Not all bench warrants appear in the online system. Connecticut law enforcement agencies may maintain separate warrant records. Municipal police departments in New Haven County can access the full PRAWN network. Contact the local police department in the town where you believe a warrant was issued for the most complete information.

The online warrant search does not provide legal advice. If you find an active warrant, consult an attorney before taking action. Some warrants can be resolved by contacting the court directly. Others may require appearing before a judge.

New Haven County Police Departments

Local police departments in New Haven County play a key role in executing bench warrants. They also maintain records of warrants issued within their jurisdictions. The New Haven Police Department is located at 1 Union Avenue in New Haven and can be reached at 203-946-6316. They maintain a Most Wanted list on their website showing individuals with active warrants.

The Waterbury Police Department sits at 255 East Main Street with a phone number of 203-574-6911. Meriden Police operates from 50 West Main Street and uses 203-238-1911. West Haven Police is at 200 Sawmill Road with contact 203-937-3600. Milford Police can be reached at 203-878-6551 from their location at 430 Boston Post Road.

Wallingford Police is located at 135 North Main Street with phone 203-294-2800. Hamden Police operates from 2900 Dixwell Avenue and uses 203-230-4000. These departments can verify whether a bench warrant exists in their systems. They can also provide guidance on resolving warrants.

Types of Bench Warrants in New Haven County

Connecticut courts issue several types of bench warrants in New Haven County. Failure to appear warrants are the most common. These are issued when a defendant misses a scheduled court date for criminal matters, motor vehicle cases, or infractions. The warrant authorizes law enforcement to arrest the person and bring them before the court.

Violation of probation warrants are issued when someone on probation fails to follow court-ordered conditions. These warrants can be issued by any judicial district where probation was imposed. The warrant allows police to arrest the probationer for a violation hearing.

Civil capias warrants are issued in certain civil matters. These are handled differently than criminal bench warrants. State Marshals typically execute civil capias warrants rather than local police departments. Contact the State Marshal's office for information about civil warrants.

Connecticut law requires bench warrants to include specific information. Each warrant must identify the person to be arrested. It must specify the offense or violation. The warrant must be signed by a judge or judicial authority. This creates a public record that can be searched.

Resolving Bench Warrants in New Haven County

If you discover an active bench warrant in New Haven County, take action promptly. Ignoring a warrant can lead to arrest at any time. The method for resolving a warrant depends on the type and the court that issued it. For failure to appear warrants, contacting the court clerk is often the first step.

The judicial district clerk can explain options for clearing a warrant. Some courts allow voluntary appearance to address the underlying case. This may result in the warrant being recalled. Other situations may require posting bond or appearing before a judge.

For violation of probation warrants, the probation officer may have input on resolution. Contact the probation department for the judicial district that issued the warrant. They can explain what steps are needed to address the alleged violation.

Note: Never rely solely on information from non-government websites when dealing with active warrants. Always verify warrant status through official court or police channels.

Cities in New Haven County

New Haven County contains numerous cities and towns. Each falls under the jurisdiction of specific judicial districts and geographical area courts. Major population centers include New Haven, Waterbury, Meriden, West Haven, Milford, and Wallingford. Smaller towns like Hamden, North Haven, East Haven, Shelton, and Seymour also have residents who may need warrant information.

Understanding which court serves your town is essential for warrant searches. The Connecticut Judicial Branch website provides a court locator tool. Enter your town name to find the correct judicial district and geographical area court. This ensures you contact the right office when searching for bench warrant information.