Warrant Categories

Entries into this file are based on the following warrant categories.

1.  Felony Warrant - This category is used when a felony warrant has been issued. A felony is a violation of a state law that calls for a penalty of imprisonment in state prison.

2.  Temporary Felony Want - This category is used when a law enforcement agency needs to take prompt action to apprehend a person who is to alleged to have committed a felony, but no warrant has been issued yet. The individual may seek refuge by fleeing across jurisdictional boundaries while circumstances prevent the immediate acquisition of a warrant. A warrant for the arrest of the individual must be obtained as soon as possible.  The Temporary Felony Want record must then be cancelled and a Wanted Person record must be entered. A Temporary Felony Want record will be automatically removed from file after 48 hours, with notification made to the originating agency as to its removal.

3.  Non-Felony Warrant-State Law - This category is used for entries that are misdemeanors, traffic warrants, etc., when the charge is based on a state law violation which calls for a penalty of a fine and/or imprisonment in a county jail for a period of less than 1 year.

4.  Temporary Misdemeanor Want - This category is used when a law enforcement agency needs to take prompt action to apprehend a person who is to alleged to have committed a misdemeanor, but no warrant has been issued yet. The individual may seek refuge by fleeing across jurisdictional boundaries while circumstances prevent the immediate acquisition of a warrant. A warrant for the arrest of the individual must be obtained as soon as possible.  The Temporary Misdemeanor Want record must then be cancelled and a Wanted Person record must be entered. A Temporary Misdemeanor Want record will be automatically removed from file after 72 hours, with notification made to the originating agency as to its removal.

5.  Civil Process-Local Ordinance – This category is used for entries when the charge is based on a local ordinance violation.

6.  Civil Process-Non-Criminal State Law Violation – Entries to this category are State Law Violations which call for a penalty of a forfeiture, rather than a fine or imprisonment.

7.  Juvenile Warrant – A warrant for a person who is under 17 years of age and has been declared delinquent for a violation of a state statute or local ordinance.

Warrant categories are very important to the warrant entry. Felony warrants, temporary felony want and juvenile warrant records entered will be automatically forwarded to the NCIC Files if the agency so specifies by choosing the appropriate warrant entry transaction.