Your Bench Warrant Lawyer and Unfortunate Mistakes

A bench warrant lawyer assists in responding to and arguing against a judge's demand for their clients' arrest. More often than not, this missive is issued in response to a client's failure to appear in court. This lack of appearance is treated as a crime in and of itself, and charges can be levied against the defendant in addition to whatever they were charged with in the first place. While it's always wise to avoid this by making your scheduled court appearance, sometimes life gets in the way. Having a good attorney by your side can ensure that your side of the story gets told, possibly in an effort to avoid additional charges.

Here are some mistakes you should avoid:

Ignoring the Problem

There aren't too many areas of life where this is a good strategy, and it is certainly not one that any decent bench warrant attorney would recommend. The stance of the police on your impending arrest will differ depending on your underlying charges. If you're being hauled into court for unpaid parking tickets, chances are the police aren't going to put out an APB. If you're wanted on kidnapping charges, however, they are going to take it a bit more serious. Regardless of the severity of the charges, however, the issuing decree isn't going to go away. It might be three hours or five years before you are arrested, but you will eventually be brought in.

Waiting to Be Arrested

If you learn that a command has been issued for your arrest, you aren't doing yourself any favors by waiting around for the police to show up. If you've missed a date with the judge, chances are you have an arrest waiting for you. Don't wait for the cops to bring you in. You'll likely face a more lenient judge if you go ahead and turn yourself in. Talk to your bench warrant attorney about the best way to go about this, but chances are he is going to offer the same advice. The faster you can get back before the judge, the faster you can put this business behind you.

Representing Yourself

Hiring a bench warrant attorney is a wise choice if you're in such a situation. You wouldn't think of representing yourself in your primary criminal case, so don't make the mistake of doing so for this new charge. In some instances, no further charges will be brought against you, but it's better to be prepared. Remember, an attorney isn't only there to "get you off". He's also responsible for making sure your rights are protected. This is an essential aspect of the Constitution, and to waive your rights to have counsel would be foolish.