What Should You Do If Police Have a Warrant for Your Arrest?

 Posted on October 18, 2021 in Criminal Defense

If you live in Connecticut and suspect there is an active warrant out for your arrest, there are critical steps you should be aware of. Whether or not you have actually committed the crime, a warrant means that police have enough probable cause to believe you did, a prosecutor agreed, and the warrant was issued. Before contacting police, it is important to contact a Stamford criminal defense attorney first.

Types of Warrants

There are two types of warrants that may be issued – an arrest warrant or a bench warrant. An arrest warrant is issued by a judge and cites a specific crime the individual is being accused of. An arrest warrant does not expire and is valid until the accused is in the custody of law enforcement.

Bench warrants are issued if a person out on bail fails to appear for any scheduled court dates or fails to comply with any orders issued by the court. It is usually issued by the judge who is presiding over the case. A bench warrant can also be issued for failing to pay a traffic violation, failing to pay child support, or even failing to appear for jury duty. While a bench warrant may not sound as serious as an arrest warrant, the result is the same – the accused will eventually end up in police custody.

Is There a Warrant for My Arrest?

In some jurisdictions, an individual can access a state, county, or municipal website to see if their name is on an active warrant list. But that is not the case in Connecticut. In this state, only warrants issued for failure to appear in court or probation violation charges are listed on the state’s judicial website. The majority of outstanding warrants are not listed on any public sites.

If you suspect or know that there is a warrant for your arrest, do not contact the police yourself. Instead, have your attorney do it. Your attorney will be able to get the details of the warrant, including what the bond will likely be for pre-trial release. Your attorney will also work out the details for you to turn yourself in to police. It is much better to voluntarily turn yourself in than to have police show up at your door and whisk you away in a police cruiser in front of your family and neighbors.

Contact a Fairfield County Defense Attorney Today

If you suspect or have learned that there is a warrant out for your arrest, call Law Offices of Daniel P. Weiner at 203-348-5846 to meet with skilled Stamford, CT criminal lawyer  Daniel P. Weiner to find out what is the best way to deal with the warrant and subsequent arrest you will be facing. Call our office today to schedule a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.jud.ct.gov/