An electronic, interlinked system that went online this year has revolutionized the way Kentucky law enforcement and criminal justice professionals access and serve warrants, summonses and related documents. It’s called Ewarrants, and it’s credited with helping police departments and other local agencies arrest more suspects who are wanted for violent crimes and other offenses. The system is now in use in Jefferson, Campbell, Scott and Bourbon counties. It’s expected to launch in Fayette County soon.
The traditional warrant process is expensive for police departments, courts and jurisdictions in a number of ways. Hundreds of thousands of police department personnel hours are spent annually on arrest warrants in every state. Automating the warrant process through an eWarrants system saves time and money for officers, police administrators, court clerks and judges.
An eWarrants system allows an officer to log on to the system using any device with secure Internet access, fill out the required information and have it automatically sent to the judge for review. It also allows the judge to review a warrant electronically, either on a computer or through a video conferencing link between an officer and a judge.
The goal is to improve the thoroughness and accuracy of warrant and protection order submissions for background checks in LEADS and NCIC. This is important for police officer safety, as well as public and private sector security. An eWarrants system also helps to reduce the amount of paperwork that is lost, mishandled or otherwise not filed at all.