I’ve Just Learned There is a Warrant Out for My Arrest- NOW WHAT?

You would be surprised how many people have asked this question (even people who’ve never been in trouble in their lives and yet they misplaced the date they were supposed to show up at court to fight a traffic issue); you’d be even more surprised to find that many attorneys don’t know the answer, or at least the best practice answer.

The chances are that if you’ve found this blog you are facing this very issue or perhaps someone close to you is facing this issue. It is a scary prospect to hear the word “warrant’ associated with “insert name here”. Well, there isn’t reason to panic just yet. The seriousness of warrants oftentimes varies as much as the difference between being charged with summary, misdemeanor, and felony level offenses. The seriousness of any particular warrant also varies with where the warrant is coming from, and who has issued that warrant. Sometimes a warrant is a simple matter of clearing up a clerical error with your local magistrate. Sometimes it’s a matter of simply assuring the issuing court that you will simply show up when you are called to return to answer for whatever the warrant is for. Still other times, a warrant is very serious and a stay in the local jail, even a brief one, is on the cards.

So, I’ve just learned there is a warrant out for my arrest- now what? Well, the first and most essential thing to do is to contact a criminal defense attorney. Lots of folks, especially those who have never interacted with the justice system before, might go to the attorney that their family is friends with, or maybe the attorney who handled your divorce because you had a good experience there. Is it possible you can go to them and they can help? Yes. But is it advisable? No. The criminal justice system is a complex engine with a lot of moving parts that will eat up attorneys who aren’t familiar with it. I’ve seen attorneys try and dabble in criminal defense work many times and every time I see the mess they are leaving their client it makes me cringe.

The second thing to do is a fairly open question. Lots of what happens from this point forward will depend on your particular case and your particular attorney. In general however, you will likely be preparing to turn yourself in to clear the warrant. Do not go and do this alone. No matter if your issue is as trivial as failing to report for court on a traffic ticket you never know what might happen and what sort of mood the judge you’re about to see has on a particular day. Generally, it is inadvisable to go and do this without an attorney with you. If not an attorney, at least bring a trusted friend or family member who can keep your important items, seek legal help on your behalf, and be prepared to post your bond or at least make sure you have money on your books if a stay in the jail is coming.

The third step is, again, an open question. If your warrant is cleared and you are able to go on home just make sure you show up for court with an attorney next time you come back! If you get held in the jail pending your ability to post monetary bail, you’ll see just how important it is to have a trusted family member or friend coming with you to deal with this warrant issue. If you’re held in jail and your bail is denied or a bail amount is imposed that you can’t pay, then it is time to get serious about finding a criminal defense attorney to help you deal with this mess. The less time you spend in the jail, the better.

So, what do I do when I find out there’s a warrant out for my arrest? My best advice is to call me ASAP. Pietropaolo Law can be reached at 412 407 3880 by call and text.

Be safe, be smart, and be prepared,

Domenic Pietropaolo, Esq.