Magistrates are a part of the judicial branch of government and are required to exercise independent judgment in the issuance of arrest warrants. The United States Supreme Court has determined that persons issuing warrants must be "neutral and detached" from the law enforcement function.

JURISDICTION OF THE BUTLER COUNTY WARRANT MAGISTRATE'S OFFICE IS AS FOLLOWS:

• Misdemeanors - Offenses occurring in the Greenville City limits and in the County.
  All Misdemeanors that occur in Georgiana must be handled through their municipal court.  We only handle their misdemeanor cases through the county if a felony charge is also involved in the same incident or if it is an extraordinary circumstance.
• Felonies - Offenses that occur in Butler County and the City of Greenville.
• Traffic - Offenses that occur in Butler County: State Trooper/Sheriff Department/Greenville Police Department. (Tickets written by the Georgiana Police Department are handled through their Municipal Court)
• Worthless Checks - All Checks received in Butler County.

HOW TO OBTAIN A WARRANT:

We have several employees in the office who have been appointed as magistrates. Prior to obtaining a warrant, you will need to file an incident/offense report with the City of Greenville and they will give you a case number to bring to the Clerk's office. If the offense happened in the county you will need to file an incident/offense with the Butler County Sheriff's Department.

*** NOTE: All felony warrants must be investigated and obtained by an officer. ***

You will be required to fill out an Affidavit and Information Form in the Clerk's Office.  Once your Affidavit has been completed, a magistrate will then decide as to whether there is probable cause for the issuance of a warrant.  If probable cause is found, an arrest warrant is issued.  There is no cost involved in this process.   Please make careful consideration before you have someone arrested as we do not drop charges except in extenuating circumstances and you may be required to pay costs of court.  An arrest warrant is NOT a matter of public record until it is served.  If someone suspects that a warrant has been issued against them, they must appear in person at the Butler County Clerk's Office with a valid ID.  This information will not be released over the phone.