How to Deal With an Outstanding Warrant for Your Arrest

by Ambrosio Rodriguez | Aug 08, 2022 | Warrants

Finding out you have a warrant for your arrest can be a scary experience. You may not know what this means for you and what you can do. A knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer can discuss your next steps during a confidential consultation, and you should almost certainly contact an attorney for help if you have a warrant out for your arrest. Read this blog post for further insight into handling this situation.

Types of Warrants

There are different types of warrants, such as:

Search Warrant

A search warrant is necessary in most cases before police can search your property. Depending on what police uncover during the search, you may be arrested following the search. However, having a search warrant does not allow police to immediately arrest you, but it indicates that you are under investigation.

Arrest Warrant

Police can seek an arrest warrant by presenting sufficient evidence to a judge that a crime has been committed. The judge signs the arrest warrant, and the police can then lawfully carry out the arrest.

California law requires that the following information be included on arrest warrants:

  • The arrestee’s name
  • The crime the arrestee is accused of committing
  • The date and time the warrant was issued
  • The city and county where the warrant was issued
  • That probable cause was used to obtain the warrant
  • A signature of the person authorizing the warrant, their title, and the name of the court or other issuing agency

Additional documentation must be submitted to the court that states you were served with the arrest warrant.

Bench Warrant

A bench warrant is also an arrest warrant issued by a judge. However, it gets its name because it is issued by a judge on the bench, typically in response to the defendant’s actions in an existing case, such as:

  • Not showing up for a required court appearance
  • Violating probation
  • Not completing community service
  • Not paying court costs
  • Failing to pay a fine
  • Act in a disrespectful way that the court finds the defendant in contempt

What Does Having an Outstanding Warrant for Your Arrest Mean?

If you have an outstanding warrant for your arrest, you could be taken to jail if you interact with law enforcement. For example, if you’re stopped at a traffic checkpoint, and the police discover you have an outstanding warrant for your arrest, they can arrest you at the scene and take you to jail. Your vehicle could be impounded, and you could be responsible for paying fees to get it out.

How To Check If You Have an Outstanding Arrest Warrant

If you suspect that you may have an outstanding arrest warrant, there are ways that you can check this, such as:

Get a Background Check

A background check performed by the California Department of Justice may also help you locate an outstanding arrest warrant. There are other private companies that may provide similar information.

Search the Court’s Website

If you suspect you may have an arrest warrant out for you, you can search the court’s website. For example, if you think you have an arrest warrant in Los Angeles, you can go to the Los Angeles Superior Court website and see if you are listed in a pending case. You can then search for more details in the case to see if a warrant has been issued. You can also ask a court clerk to check if you have a warrant out for you.

Checking With Law Enforcement

You could also call the local police or sheriff’s department to check for warrants.

A knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer can check if you have any outstanding arrest warrants and can advise you on what to do next. It may be possible for your lawyer to negotiate with law enforcement not to take you into jail or to negotiate you turning yourself in after you have a chance to prepare your affairs.

Contact the Los Angeles Criminal Defense Law Firm of The Rodriguez Law Group Today For Help

For more information please contact the Los Angeles Criminal Defense law firm of The Rodriguez Law Group for a free consultation, give us a call at (213) 995-6767 or visit our convenient location:

The Rodriguez Law Group – Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney
626 Wilshire Blvd Suite 460, Los Angeles, CA 90017, United States