Criminal Defense Lawyer
Nobody wants to be in trouble with the law. Sometimes small infractions can lead to big time consequences if they are not handled properly. You should want to take care of your affairs because it isn’t a good idea to ignore or flee when a warrant is issued in your name. There are two types of warrants that can be issued against you. One is an arrest warrant and the other is a bench warrant.
Arrest Warrant
An arrest warrant is when a judge believes there is probable cause that you have committed a crime. A judge will come to this conclusion once the police have gathered enough evidence of any crime or crimes. Another reason a judge will issue an arrest warrant is if a grand jury indicts you for a crime.
If you have an arrest warrant, the police will be actively searching for you. They can arrest you at home, at work, or at any public place, which can be nerve racking. Once the police arrest you, the judge will have you arraigned and in most cases set a bond or have you detained until trial date.
Bench Warrant
The other type of warrant that can be issued is a bench warrant. A bench warrant is issued in both civil and criminal cases. For a civil case, a bench warrant will be issued to subpoena a witness to a trial. For a criminal case, a bench warrant will be issued when a defendant misses a scheduled court date.
The severity of the bench warrant will determine if the police actively search for you. However, if you are pulled over for a minor infraction while driving, you will be taken into custody and go before a judge.
Bench warrants are not to be taken lightly and should be responded to immediately so that you can avoid being embarrassed in the event that you call the police to get help for yourself. Bench warrants tell law enforcement that the judge wishes to see you in their court, and the only way to guarantee that you will appear is by arresting you since you may have a bench warrant for failure to appear at another court date you were summoned to previously.
Speak to an Attorney
Should you or someone you know have a bench warrant, be sure to speak with a criminal lawyer, like a criminal lawyer in Decatur, GA, as soon as possible. By speaking with an attorney you may be able to avoid jail time.
Thanks to The Lynch Law Group for their insight into the different kinds of warrants.