A bench warrant is issued when someone has failed to show up for a scheduled court date. If there is one out for you, you can be arrested at any time anywhere. This article is about getting it resolved with the help of a bench warrants attorney.
If you've got a warrant out for your arrest,
it might be a good idea to contact a bench warrants attorney. This type of warrant is one that is used to apprehend someone who has failed to make a court date. It is issued either by a judge or someone else on the "bench," and that's where it gets its name. It is similar in some ways to an arrest warrant.
How a Bench Warrant Can Hurt You
If you're in this position, you should contact a bench warrants attorney because this warrant can really hurt you. It is different from an arrest warrant in one way. With an arrest warrant, you've been charged already with a misdemeanor or felony and indicted by a grand jury. With this type, you haven't been charged but are only suspected of a crime. By not appearing in court, you are guilty of contempt of court.
While the police will not be actively searching for you, it can still cause you problems. If you're trying to get a job, it will show up on your background check and keep you from getting hired. Even though they may not be looking for you, police officers can still arrest you. If you run into a law enforcement officer and they look at your identification, they can arrest you on the spot.
Who Is Served with a Bench Warrant?
There are several cases where you may have this type of warrant. If you were given a citation to appear in court by an officer of the law, your non-appearance will lead to one being issued. Another case would be where you were arrested once and released from custody with a promise to appear in court and did not appear.
In some cases, this type of warrant will be issued if you're in a rehabilitation program and you failed to make the appearance to show proof of progress. You'll also be issued one if you fail to show up for a conviction. Basically, even something as similar as a speeding violation can lead to this type of warrant being issued if you fail to appear for a scheduled court date.
The result can be very damaging. It could mean jail time, fines, suspension of your drivers' license and denial of bail. Each state's regulations differ, so it largely depends on where you live.
How To Deal with a Bench Warrant
When it comes to dealing with your warrant, you have three choices:
1) Contact the court and get the process of clearing it up started;
2) Contact a bench warrants attorney and hire them to handle your case
3) Stay on the run. Every state has a procedure for clearing these up and the court can advise you on how to do this. Staying on the run is risky and can lead to further problems.
Your best bet is to hire a bench warrants attorney. They can handle the court on your behalf and get you the best settlement possible. They'll walk you through the steps. In many cases, they can "quash" the warrant, rendering it moot so that you don't have to suffer the consequences.
If you don't hire a bench warrants attorney and get it cleared up, you may be living in fear of your next encounter with a police officer. The judicial system understands that these things happen, and this is why they have a process for getting it resolved. Start getting it taken care of right away.
