November 15, 2014
If there is a warrant out for your arrest, it needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. Ignoring the issue will only worsen your situation, and possibly lead to further legal troubles. The last thing you will want is the embarrassment of being taken into police custody in public. Follow these steps to deal with your arrest warrant.
What is an Arrest Warrant?
An arrest warrant is a warrant issued by a judge that allows authorities to arrest and detain a certain individual under the suspicion that they have committed a crime. There are generally two scenarios under which a judge will order a warrant.
- The judge is requested by the police to sign the warrant when there is probable cause that an individual has committed a crime.
- An individual is required to appear in court and fails to do so. The judge will issue a warrant for their arrest. This is also known as a bench warrant or capias.
How Do I Know if There is a Warrant Out for My Arrest?
In most cases, you will find out if you have a warrant out for your arrest soon after it is issued. The police will most likely be attempting to find you. However, if they are unable to locate you, it is possible that you are unaware of your warrant. There are a few ways to check if there is a warrant out for you arrest.
- Go online. Searching the Internet is probably your best bet for learning about any warrants. Check the local police, sheriff and county websites to see if they have a list of outstanding warrants. There are also online databases (both free and paid services) which can tell you if you have a warrant.
- Call the county court clerk or local Sheriff’s office. If you are unable to go online, call the clerk’s office or local Sheriff’s office. You will be able to speak directly to someone who will have access to your records. However, this is not the ideal method, as they may not be able to give out this information over the phone.
- Go to the courthouse. If you have a minor arrest, go directly to the courthouse where the warrant would be issued. This should be kept as a last resort option, as going to the courthouse with an outstanding warrant may result in your arrest.
What Steps Should I Take?
If you learn that there is a warrant out for you arrest, do not ignore it! This may only worsen the issue and lead to more legal troubles. If there is a warrant out for your arrest, follow these steps:
- Learn all the information you can. The more you know about the warrant and the charges, the better you can deal with the situation. Find out who issued the warrant and for what reasons.
- Contact an attorney. Bring everything you know about the case to a specialized criminal attorney. You will be able to start building a defense and your attorney can advise you on how to best handle the charges.
- Turn yourself in. Ignoring an arrest warrant will only worsen your situation. Additionally, you will save yourself the inconvenience and embarrassment of potentially being arrested in public. Bring your lawyer with you to the courthouse. Some warrants can be dealt with immediately, and you may not even be arrested.
Do not gamble with your freedom. If you or someone you know has a warrant issued for their arrest, call the Khonsari Law Group attorneys immediately. Our dedicated team is experienced at handling all types of criminal cases. Call today and learn how KLG attorneys can fight for you!