Arrest warrants come in all shapes and sizes. Felony warrants for serious crimes like murder or arson are frequently a top priority for law enforcement. Many law enforcement agencies have entire divisions dedicated to executing warrants on high-risk or high-profile suspects.
Misdemeanor warrants are usually much lower on the priority list for the police. While officers will not hesitate to make an arrest based on a warrant, some jurisdictions have hundreds of outstanding misdemeanor warrants that are largely ignored by law enforcement.
This puts the people that are subject to these arrest warrants in a strange position. While a judge has ordered their immediate arrest, the reality is that the police may never come looking for them. That does not mean ignoring a warrant is necessary wise, given that people get picked up on warrants following traffic tickets or car accidents every day. So what does a warrant mean for you, and how do you go about turning yourself in for a misdemeanor warrant? Read on below.
Turning Yourself In for a Misdemeanor Warrant – A Practical Guide
If you receive notice of a warrant out for your arrest, the steps you take can reduce the legal jeopardy you might face. In some cases, you could avoid an arrest entirely. Consider these following steps for turning yourself In For a misdemeanor warrant
The Best Day to Turn Yourself Into Jail
The best days to turn yourself into jail are Tuesday and Wednesday. Keep in mind, every jail works differently, meaning there are circumstances where this might not be the optimal time. However, Tuesday and Wednesday are generally the best days to turn yourself into jail on a warrant for a number of reasons.
Mondays are problematic because court is not in session over the weekend. That means everyone arrested and awaiting arraignment from Friday night until early Monday morning are typically waiting for a judge. It is not unusual for Mondays to be the busiest day of the week. Likewise, Friday has its own risks. If a judge cannot see you on Friday afternoon, you could find yourself waiting in jail all weekend.
The Best Time to Turn Yourself Into Jail
In general, the earlier you turn yourself into jail, the better. The officers will generally process people in the order they come in, so the earlier you arrive the earlier you are likely to be processed. The risk of waiting until the afternoon is that you could find yourself spending the night if you wait too late in the day.
What happens when you turn yourself in for a bench warrant?
There is no way to guarantee what will happen when you turn yourself in for a bench warrant. For starters, largely depends on what kind of warrant it is. If it is a “no bond” warrant, the police will not release you without first going before a judge. These warrants are common in serious cases or situations where you have missed court before.
Most of the time bench warrants are for things like the failure to appear at a court date following a traffic ticket. While this is a serious situation, it is not uncommon for someone turning themselves in for a bench warrant to avoid arrest. However, there is no guarantee you will not be booked in on the warrant when you show up to clear the situation up.
The safest way to deal with a bench warrant is to hire an attorney. An attorney can appear on your behalf or even file a motion to quash the warrant. If you have a valid reason for missing court, your attorney might be able to have the warrant quashed without you ever appearing in court. This is one of those situations where the cost of an attorney is usually worth avoiding a worst-case scenario.
See Also: If the police let you go can they charge you later?
Verdict
If you are subject to a misdemeanor warrant, the odds are good that the police are going to catch up with you eventually. Dealing with the consequences of a warrant proactively not only lets you do it on your time but could result in a more favorable outcome compared to facing arrest.
One thing is for certain: if you are subject to an arrest warrant through a mistake of the court, it is vital that you take care of it right away. It is usually straightforward to clear up these mistaken warrants, but the longer you wait the more likely things are to go wrong.
