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What to Do if There is a Warrant Out for Your Arrest

On Behalf of | Mar 4, 2017 | Criminal Law

Being arrested on a warrant can be an unsettling event. Moreover, having the police knock urgently on your door and demand entry, often in the early morning hours, can not only be disturbing, but dangerous, to you and your family. The police are wary about who they may encounter and what danger they may face, and often come in force and heavily armed. People who wake up to yelling and commotion and the presence of heavily armed intruders may assume they are facing home invaders, not the police.

In addition, having an arrest warrant executed by the police in front of your children or at your job can not only be embarrassing, but result in the loss of your job. Because of this, it is in your best interest to seek legal advice and representation if you learn or believe that a warrant has been issued for your arrest. Seek adequate and competent legal advice and representation from an experienced criminal law attorney to help you with your case.

What to Do if There is a Warrant Issued for Your Arrest

In New York, a warrant can be issued either as a bench warrant or an arrest warrant. A bench warrant is typically used when there has been a failure to appear in court on a case that’s already pending. Arrest warrants are typically used when the police believe there is probable cause that you have committed a crime and want to arrest you. If the offense for which the warrant has been issued is not serious, then more than likely the police are not constantly looking for you and you may not be aware that a warrant for your arrest exists until long after the warrant is issued. Often, you find out about a warrant for your arrest during a traffic stop or through word of mouth.

If you have been told that you have a warrant out for your arrest, you have a few options:

● Search online to see if there is a warrant that is present under your name,

● Contact the court or law enforcement to see whether or not there is a warrant for your arrest, or

● Seek legal advice from an attorney.

The most important of these options is seeking legal advice from an attorney. An attorney can often determine if a warrant exists through access to records and information that you may not have. More importantly, a lawyer can usually find out which court issued the warrant, get information on the charges and arrange with the police for you to appear voluntarily to surrender on the warrant. Doing so is not only safer for you and your family, but avoids the embarrassment of being arrested at work or in front of your loved ones, provides an opportunity to plan for posting bail if necessary and allows your attorney to be present during your contact with police and at your first appearance in front of a judge, when bail is set. Your chances of making damaging admissions that can be used against you are minimized, and your chances of being released on your own recognizance or on a bail you can make are thus greatly increased.

Need Legal Advice?

Having a warrant issued for your arrest can be overwhelming, especially if you are unsure of the event that made a warrant for your arrest possible in the first place. Though it may seem like your situation is hopeless, that is not true, and you are not alone. If you or a loved one have been charged with a crime in New York, contact experienced criminal defense attorney George F. Hildebrandt for a consultation about your case. He is dedicated to making sure that each and every case receives the utmost care and attention.

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