>Williams County Warrant Search Online

Williams County, North Dakota Warrant Records

Are Warrants Public Record in Williams County, North Dakota?

Warrants are public records in Williams County, North Dakota, pursuant to North Dakota Century Code § 44-04-18, which establishes the state's Open Records Law. This statute mandates that all government records, including judicial documents such as warrants, shall be accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by law. The North Dakota Supreme Court has consistently upheld the public's right to access court records, including warrants, as fundamental to governmental transparency.

Members of the public may access warrant information through the Williams County Clerk of District Court or the Williams County Sheriff's Office. However, certain warrant information may be temporarily sealed by judicial order during ongoing investigations pursuant to N.D.C.C. § 44-04-19.1, which provides for confidentiality in specific circumstances where disclosure might compromise public safety or investigative integrity.

The public nature of warrant records serves multiple governmental functions, including promoting accountability within the criminal justice system and enabling citizens to verify their own legal status. Law enforcement agencies utilize this transparency to facilitate the execution of warrants by enabling community awareness of wanted individuals.

What Is Contents in Warrant Records in Williams County?

Warrant records maintained by Williams County authorities typically contain the following standardized information as required by North Dakota Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 4:

Full legal name and known aliases of the subject
Date of birth and/or age of the subject when available
Physical description including height, weight, and identifying characteristics
Last known address or location information
Case number and court of issuance
Date of warrant issuance and expiration terms if applicable
Nature of the alleged offense with statutory citation
Bond amount if bail has been predetermined
Name and signature of the issuing judicial officer
Special instructions for law enforcement regarding execution

Pursuant to N.D.C.C. § 29-06-15, warrants must specify the offense charged with sufficient particularity to inform the defendant of the accusation. The warrant record will indicate whether it is an arrest warrant, bench warrant, or search warrant, each carrying different legal implications and procedural requirements.

How to Check For Warrants in Williams County For Free

Williams County residents may verify warrant status through several no-cost methods established under North Dakota's public access provisions. The North Dakota Court System maintains public access terminals at the Williams County Courthouse where citizens may conduct free searches of court records, including active warrants.

Individuals seeking warrant information may:

Visit the Williams County Clerk of District Court office located at the Williams County Courthouse, 205 E Broadway, Williston, ND 58801, during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM)
Access the public search portal for North Dakota court records
Contact the Williams County Sheriff's Office at (701) 577-7700 for verification of active warrants
Submit a written request for records pursuant to N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18

The North Dakota Courts' public access system allows searches by name, case number, or citation number. Users should note that while basic information is available without charge, certified copies of documents may incur statutory fees as established in N.D.C.C. § 29-07-01.1.

Williams County Sheriff Warrants

The Williams County Sheriff's Office is the primary agency responsible for maintaining and executing warrants issued within the jurisdiction. Sheriff warrants in Williams County are categorized according to severity and priority, with violent felony warrants receiving highest execution priority pursuant to departmental policy and N.D.C.C. § 29-06-03.

The Sheriff's Office maintains a warrant division that:

Processes all incoming warrants from courts within the county
Enters warrant information into the state and national databases (NCIC)
Coordinates with other law enforcement agencies for warrant service
Maintains accurate records of warrant status and execution attempts
Provides verification services to the public regarding warrant status

Williams County Sheriff's Office
223 E Broadway, Suite 301
Williston, ND 58801
(701) 577-7700
Williams County Sheriff's Office

Pursuant to N.D.C.C. § 29-06-15, sheriff's deputies have authority to execute warrants throughout Williams County and, under certain circumstances, may pursue subjects into adjacent jurisdictions. The Sheriff's Office regularly updates warrant information in coordination with the North Dakota Court System to ensure accuracy of public records.

How to Know If You Have a Warrant in Williams County in 2025

As of 2025, Williams County has implemented enhanced digital access systems for warrant verification. Individuals seeking to determine if they are subject to an active warrant may utilize the following official channels:

Access the North Dakota Court Records search portal which has been upgraded to include real-time warrant status information
Contact the Williams County Clerk of District Court at (701) 577-6900 to verify court records
Consult with a licensed attorney who can access the complete court record system
Visit the Williams County Courthouse in person to use public access terminals

Williams County Clerk of District Court
P.O. Box 2047
Williston, ND 58802-2047
(701) 577-6900
Williams County Court Information

Pursuant to N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18.7, individuals may request verification of their own records without providing justification for the inquiry. The 2024 amendments to the North Dakota Court Records Access Rule have expanded online access capabilities while maintaining privacy protections for certain case types as specified in Administrative Rule 41.

How to Check For Outstanding Warrants in Williams County

Williams County maintains a systematic process for checking outstanding warrants in compliance with state transparency laws. Individuals seeking information about outstanding warrants may utilize several official channels:

Conduct a criminal case records search through the North Dakota Court System
Submit a formal records request to the Williams County Sheriff's Office Records Division
Appear in person at the Williams County Courthouse to access public terminals
Engage the services of a licensed private investigator authorized to access public records

When conducting searches, requestors should provide:

Full legal name of the subject (including possible aliases)
Date of birth or approximate age
Case number if known
Time period for the search

The Williams County Sheriff's Office processes warrant verification requests during regular business hours. Pursuant to N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18, responses to records requests must be provided within a reasonable time, typically within 3-5 business days for standard inquiries.

Search Warrant Records in Williams County

Williams County maintains comprehensive warrant records accessible through the North Dakota Judicial System. Pursuant to N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18 and the North Dakota Rules of Criminal Procedure, most warrant information becomes public record after execution or after the underlying investigation concludes.

The search process for warrant records involves:

Identifying the specific warrant information sought
Determining the appropriate records custodian (court or law enforcement)
Submitting a properly formatted request
Providing sufficient identifying information to locate relevant records

Williams County Courthouse
205 E Broadway
Williston, ND 58801
(701) 577-6900
Williams County Court Information

Researchers should note that certain warrant information may be temporarily restricted during active investigations pursuant to N.D.C.C. § 29-29.1-02, particularly for search warrants where premature disclosure could compromise public safety or investigative integrity. The North Dakota Child Support division also maintains records of civil warrants related to child support enforcement actions.