Warrants

If a warrant is out for your arrest, you may be in immediate danger of being taken into custody. No matter where you are or what you are doing, law enforcement will have the authority to arrest you. The most important thing you can do in the face of a bench warrant or arrest warrant is to consult with a defense attorney and determine how to face this situation head on. The wrong thing to do is ignore a warrant and simply hope that it will go away. You have a far better chance at a successful outcome if you involve a lawyer who can represent your legal rights and interests.

Bench Warrants and Arrest Warrants

There are two primary types of warrants: bench warrants and arrest warrants. A bench warrant is the most common type of warrant and is essentially a legal document issued by the court that authorizes your immediate arrest. These warrants are most frequently issued for a failure to appear in court, failure to pay a court ordered fine or failure to perform community service. An arrest warrant is generally issued in criminal investigations when a person is suspected of committing a crime. Law enforcement must apply for an arrest warrant from a judge, based upon evidence that establishes probable cause that the defendant has committed the offense he or she has been accused of.

Should you decide to handle your warrant on your own, you may be at a significant disadvantage. You may go to law enforcement to surrender yourself, but you have to realize that at this point anything you may say or do will be used against you at a later date. You may go to court and if you do this, you may be at risk of immediate arrest. An attorney can handle your surrender to law enforcement for you or can represent you before a judge to seek a dismissal of your warrant or to ensure you do not unintentionally incriminate yourself in any warrant proceedings.