Finding out that there’s an active warrant out for your arrest can be quite overwhelming. Whether it’s a misunderstanding, an oversight, or something more serious, knowing what to do next is paramount. The first step is to verify the warrant information. Sometimes arrest warrants and bench warrants can be misconstrued. An arrest warrant is pretty self-explanatory, it’s a court order that tells law enforcement to arrest you immediately. A bench warrant, which sometimes results in arrest, mostly results in a court order to appear in court for a missed appearance.
Understanding Different Types of Warrants
The first step in resolving a warrant is to understand what type has been issued. An arrest warrant, the most serious of these, usually results in someone being arrested, booked, and placed in jail. An active bench warrant, which is much less serious, is not criminal in nature. It usually means someone missed their court appearance or failed a direct court order. While these are less serious, they can also lead to being arrested if ignored.
Confirming You Have an Active Arrest Warrant
- Contact the Courts: Many jurisdictions have online databases where you can search for active warrants using your name and other personal information. Since warrants are always issued by a judge or magistrate, they will have a record of this.
- Contact Local Authorities: You can also call the local police department or sheriff’s office. Be cautious, as visiting in person could lead to immediate arrest.
- Hire an Attorney: An attorney can conduct a more thorough search and advise you on the best course of action.
- Use a reputable third-party public records website. Since warrants are considered public records in the United States, there are many third-party providers that allow access to this information.
Steps to Take If You Have an Active Arrest Warrant
- First, confirm whether there really is an active warrant in your name. This can be done through an arrest warrant search. You can do this directly through the courts, by contacting the county sheriff department, or through third party websites. Since these are public records, you have a few options to verify if this is legitimate.
- After you confirm the warrant is legitimate, it’s usually a good call to hire legal counsel. A qualified attorney can help you understand what is going on, inform you of your rights, and give you some options for moving forward. An attorney can make a big difference in these situations, they can help mitigate your circumstances and plead your case to the courts.
- You may need to turn yourself in. By voluntarily surrendering yourself to the courts for the alleged crime you committed, you show compliance and that usually looks favorably to a judge. An attorney will let you know if this is your best option. You can always bond out if that is an option, until your court arraignment.
- Prepare your case for court. You will want to use your time wisely, with the assistance of an attorney, to gather any evidence and prepare your case. You will be defending yourself so make sure you have all the information you need and look sharp for your court appearance. This shows respect and that you are not wasting the courts time. It’s possible the charges will be dropped if you are not guilty or possibly get a reduced sentence by complying with the courts and having an attorney by your side.
