Having a Las Vegas warrant subjects you to criminal prosecution, possibly fines, and incarceration. However, it may be possible to fight the warrant prior to the police making an arrest.
Some Nevada cities and counties allow you to search for your warrant status online. A few of these websites in Clark County are:
- Las Vegas Municipal Court warrant search
- Clark County case search
- Henderson Municipal Court warrant list
- Henderson Justice Court warrant list
- North Las Vegas Municipal Court warrant search
If you suspect you may have an outstanding warrant, contact a criminal defense lawyer right away. Below, our Nevada criminal defense attorneys provide a brief overview of Las Vegas warrants:
1. Arrest Warrants
Judges issue Las Vegas arrest warrants when law enforcement demonstrates probable cause that you committed a crime. Once an arrest warrant is active, police can actively search for you and apprehend you at your home, your workplace, or during a routine traffic stop.
Because arrest warrants never expire, it is critical to act quickly before the police find you. Your defense attorney can often help you avoid a humiliating public arrest by scheduling a station “walk-through,” securing your release, and challenging the state’s evidence.
Learn more about how to check your status, post bail, and fight a Nevada arrest warrant.
2. Bench Warrants
Judges typically issue Las Vegas bench warrants when you fail to show up to court or violate a court order in an ongoing criminal case. Unlike arrest warrants, judges can issue bench warrants on their own without the District Attorney having to request them.
Because bench warrants never expire, you can be unexpectedly arrested during a routine traffic stop at any time. To remove the threat of arrest, your defense attorney must formally petition the court to recall it.
Learn more about the steps to quash a Nevada bench warrant and avoid jail time.
3. Search Warrants
Judges issue Las Vegas search warrants to authorize law enforcement to search your home, vehicle, or digital devices for evidence of a crime. To get a warrant, police must prove to a judge that they have “probable cause.”
However, police must strictly follow constitutional rules when securing and executing these warrants. If officers search outside the bounds of the warrant, or if they conduct an illegal warrantless search, your defense attorney can petition the court to throw that evidence out.
Learn more about the rules for Nevada search warrants and how to suppress illegal evidence.
4. Comparing Warrant Types
| Type of Warrant | Purpose | Issued By | Based On |
| Search Warrant | To search a specific location for specific evidence of a crime. | Judge or Magistrate | Probable cause to believe evidence is present |
| Bench Warrant | To arrest someone who failed to appear in court or comply with court orders. | Judge | Failure to appear in court or follow court orders |
| Arrest Warrant | To arrest a person suspected of committing a crime. | Judge or Magistrate | Probable cause to believe someone committed a crime |
Legal References
- NRS 171.106. Woerner v. Justice Court of Reno Tp. ex rel. County of Washoe, (2000) 116 Nev. 518, 1 P.3d 377.
- See 28 U.S. Code 2241, 2254 and 2255.
- NRS 22.040. NRS 178.508. Jaeger v. State (1997) 113 Nev. 1275, 948 P.2d 1185.
- NRS 179.045. State v. Lloyd (2013) 129 Nev. Adv. Op. 79; State v. Camancho (2003) 119 Nev. 395; Grace v. Eighth Judicial District Court (2016) 132 Nev. Adv. Op. 51.
