Having a warrant out for your arrest can be an incredibly confusing and scary experience. Most of the time you will not even know that there was a warrant for your arrest until the police show up at your front door. However, there are several important steps to take in order to handle the situation appropriately and protect yourself, your family, and your future. Continue reading to learn what to do when a warrant is out for your arrest.
What Is A Warrant For Your Arrest?
If there is a warrant out for your arrest and you are just finding out about it, the first thing that you need to do is understand what that means for you. There are arrest warrants and search warrants.
A search warrant allows a police officer to search a certain location for a specific item (or items) and then take them into their possession. When there is a warrant for your arrest it means that the court has authorized the police to arrest you due to having probable cause that you committed a crime or that you missed a court hearing. Probable cause is obtained through sworn statements by individuals or police officers. If there is a warrant out for your arrest, a police officer could pull you over or come to your home at any time to arrest you.
What To Do If There Is A Warrant For Your Arrest
Many people are unaware that there is a warrant out for their arrest. However, if you are being arrested due to a bench warrant that was issued for missing court, you can call the court to schedule a hearing to have the warrant recalled. If the warrant was issued based upon evidence gathered from law enforcement (probable cause), then unfortunately the first time you will hear about it will likely be when the police come knocking at your door.
#1- Contact An Attorney
The first thing that you should do once you are arrested or find out that there is a warrant for your arrest is contact an attorney. A qualified criminal defense attorney can figure out whether a warrant is valid and why there is a warrant for your arrest. A valid arrest warrant will have probable cause, sworn statements by the police, and a description of the suspect. It will also have been issued by the court. If the warrant does not contain these things, the warrant may not be valid.
#2- Contact A Bail Bondsperson
If you are not immediately arrested after a warrant is issued, you should contact a bail bondsperson. A bail bondsperson can help arrange the posting of bail if that is an option for you after being arrested. Taking care of bail before getting arrested can greatly reduce the amount of time that you must spend in jail.
#3- Possibly Voluntarily Surrender
If the police show up at your door, it would not be prudent to try and escape arrest. It is best to go with the police and sort out everything later rather than get into more trouble by trying to evade the police. However, if you find out about a warrant and you have not yet been arrested, you should reach out to your attorney immediately.
Once you have made arrangements for your family and with your lawyer, you can turn yourself in as a voluntary surrender. This may be more tolerable than being arrested in daily life and can help you avoid other potential consequences. Make sure to surrender to the police precinct that issued the warrant in order to move through the process faster.
Are You In Need Of A Criminal Defense Attorney?
If you are in need of a criminal defense attorney, consider reaching out to me. My name is Zachary C. Holbrook and I am a licensed, professional criminal defense attorney. I have the legal knowledge, skills, and abilities to help improve your circumstances if you have been wrongly arrested or have a warrant out for your arrest. I can assist you in building a case that will help reach the best possible outcome. Contact me today for more information or for a case review.
