If you had recently been in trouble and failed to appear for your court date, there is a good chance the court may have issued a warrant. There are two main types of warrants courts issue, but both types need to be addressed as quickly as possible. Here are several tips to help you know how to handle this.
Find Out If There Is a Warrant
The first thing you may want to do is spend time researching your case to find out if there is a warrant out for you. If you have already hired a criminal-law attorney, you could call him or her to find this out. Your lawyer would be notified by the court if they had issued a warrant. If you do not currently have a lawyer, you could try to look up your case on your local county website. Many counties in most states have websites that offer this information, and anyone can view the details because the information is a matter of public record.
Find Out What Type of Warrant It Is
The two main types of warrants are bench warrants and arrest warrants. If you have an arrest warrant and are found by the police, they will take you to jail. If you have a bench warrant, you may also be taken to jail, but this type of warrant is not as severe. In most cases, bench warrants are used simply to bring a person to court; however, you may have to wait in jail until the court has a date for you to appear.
Turn Yourself In
While you may not want to go to jail, you may have a better chance of getting a reduced punishment if you willingly turn yourself in. Running from the law is not a good idea because eventually you will be found and caught. If you turn yourself in, at least you are showing that you care about the law and your future, and the judge might view this in a more favorable way.
You can turn yourself in using one of two methods. You could either go to the sheriff's office that has the warrant on you or visit a criminal-law attorney's office. Both options will work, but visiting a lawyer's office might be better. With this option, you can seek legal advice for your situation while you are still free.
If you have any questions about a case you are involved in and would like legal advice, contact a criminal-law attorney, such as one at the Law Office Of Lori Crystal, LLC, today.
Share9 September 2016
Although I am far from perfect, I have focused on abiding by the local laws for the vast majority of my life. Unfortunately, about five years ago, I realized that I was being accused of a crime that I didn't commit. I thought about letting the trial run its course, but then I realized that fighting would be important to ensure my future. I teamed up with a great lawyer, and things became much easier overnight. My legal counsel told me what to do and what to avoid, and he was able to prove the facts in a court of law. This blog is all about choosing to fight charges.