Having an arrest warrant is a serious problem that can be motivated by a variety of situations, from missed court summons to criminal offenses. In some cases, you may not even know you have a warrant, which means you could be stopped at a routine traffic check, at the office, or in your own home. Resolving the problem of your arrest warrant is essential to avoid the accumulation of fines and other complications. There are several ways to find out if you have an arrest warrant, and understanding your options will help you better solve the problem.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Search for an arrest warrant
Step 1. Search official government websites
If you have access to the Internet, then you can quickly find out whether or not you have a local arrest warrant. Go to the federal, state, county, or city website where you think you might have an arrest warrant. Government websites are kept up-to-date, which makes them a reliable way to obtain information.
- All federal government websites end in.gov, while state websites can end in.gov or.us.
- Look under the "Legal" or "Health and Safety" sections to see if they offer the arrest warrant search process.
- Also, try entering a phrase like "arrest warrant" in the search bar on the home page of the website.
- Some counties do not offer arrest warrant searches online. In that case, look on your local police department or sheriff's page for contact information.
Step 2. Call the court clerk
If you want to speak to someone, you can call the court directly. Since states maintain a database of arrest warrants that one can access from any state court, you will have the ability to call any court in the state where you think you have one. Don't identify yourself as yourself; instead, simply ask if there is an outstanding arrest warrant for person “X” (at that time you indicate your name) in any criminal or civil case. Have the following information ready: case number (if you know it), name, date of birth, and social security number.
- The clerk of a circuit court may not be able to give you information if you have an arrest warrant from a different circuit court.
- Note that you may not be able to find information through the court clerk in certain cases, such as juvenile and family delinquency cases, and domestic violence cases involving protection, peace, or restraining orders. However, the clerk can inform you of an arrest warrant, even if he cannot give you specific information about the case itself.
- Most criminal cases are in the public domain, therefore, you should have no problem obtaining information about such cases. However, some types of civil cases are not in the public domain, such as juvenile and family delinquency cases, and domestic violence cases involving protection, peace or restraining orders. For these types of cases, consider consulting with an attorney or bail bond agent.
- You can also call your federal, state, or county court office.
- Keep in mind that if you call from your own phone, the cops could locate and arrest you. They can trace the phone number to an address or to whatever billing information is associated with that phone number. If you feel nervous about calling yourself, ask a friend or family member to call for you.
Step 3. Review the public records at a county courthouse
You can use county court computers to search for arrest warrants. If doing it yourself makes you uncomfortable, have someone do it for you (a friend, family member, attorney, or bail bond agent).
- Most misdemeanors will not lead to immediate arrest. You may be able to pay a fine and resolve the matter quickly.
- However, you should know that if you have an arrest warrant, there is a risk of being arrested.
Step 4. Use a third party online service
There are many websites that can perform an arrest warrant search for you. Some are free and others charge a fee.
These services are quick and easy; however, they may not give you all the information you are looking for. For example, they could provide you with data from the civil registry and property ownership, but not from arrest warrants. For this reason, these services should be a last resort
Part 2 of 3: Know Details
Step 1. Find out when the order was issued
Sometimes people may be completely unaware that they have an arrest warrant. Knowing when the arrest warrant was issued could give you information on some important details.
- There may be penalties associated with your charge that have accumulated since the order was issued. These fines will appear with the information from the arrest warrant. If the order was issued a long time ago, you will need to resolve the matter as quickly as possible before incurring further penalties.
- In some cases, the person could no longer be prosecuted for the crime if the arrest warrant was issued a long time ago. It is not that the order expires, what happens is that the limitation period (period in which a suspect can be prosecuted) for some crimes is limited. So if you think you may have an arrest warrant for a minor incident that occurred more than two years ago, check the charge listed on the arrest warrant (or something similar) to see if there is a time limit on which the order would be valid.
Step 2. Research the charges
If you know what they are accusing you of, you can prepare your answer in a more appropriate way. Important information includes the date of the crime, details of the charges, and the type of case (for example: felony, misdemeanor, traffic ticket, etc.).
- If you pay a fine, you may be able to avoid being arrested.
- The severity of the charge could influence your choice of legal representation.
- Also take into account any conviction, sentencing, ruling, and probation dates if they apply to you.
Step 3. Take into account the amount of the deposit
If you are concerned about going to jail, knowing the predetermined bail amount for your position may help you raise funds to avoid jail time while you await your trial.
Part 3 of 3: Responding to an arrest warrant
Step 1. Resolve the arrest warrant issue as soon as possible
Regardless of the title, the best thing you can do for yourself is to respond quickly. Being proactive with your warrant will help you avoid being arrested publicly and at inopportune times. Likewise, this will limit any quota that accrues.
Step 2. Contact an attorney
If a felony warrant has been issued, you will most likely need to contact a criminal defense attorney. An attorney can help you understand your arrest warrant and make suggestions for possible next steps. In addition, an attorney may accompany you to the local court to inquire about your order. Bring the order number and all the relevant information you have up to that moment.
- Find a lawyer who specializes in your type of case (you will find out the type of case in the order information; see step 2 of part 2).
- Don't pick the first name you see in the phone book or any other advertisement. Instead, get a referral from someone who has been in a similar situation or someone who knows a good attorney.
- You can also find lawyers by checking the website of the Bar Association. In this link http://shop.americanbar.org you can find a directory of said institution.
- Meet with the attorney first to make sure they are someone you feel comfortable with and trust.
- If you cannot afford an attorney, contact the public defender's office in the county where your order was issued. Ask to speak to the attorney on duty and explain that you would like to expunge your arrest warrant.
Step 3. Introduce yourself
Introducing yourself can help streamline the process and reduce the risk of more severe penalties and fines. Also, in some cases it can prevent a criminal record from being created.
- Introduce yourself to the clerk of court to get started. Ask for information on what steps to take next, but make sure you are in front of the correct clerk. For county and state orders, talk to the county clerk; For federal orders, speak to the clerk of the United States district court.
- Bring an attorney or legal representative with you for advice. Some misdemeanors and charges can be handled without the need for a hearing.
- If you report yourself to a police station, you may end up being taken directly to jail until the agreed time in court.
- You will be provided with a court appointed attorney if you introduce yourself.
Step 4. Don't ignore an arrest warrant
The arrest warrant will just catch up with you. The next time you park for speeding or even when you go to the county clerk's office for routine business, you could be arrested at the same time.
Advice
- Find out when the judge will see people in your county and introduce yourself the day before. This is how he will attend you the next day.
- If you have an identity theft problem, try to handle the arrest warrant over the phone. While you may not have committed the crime, the warrant will still legally carry your name.
- If you think you have an arrest warrant and are prepared to present yourself, you can simply ask a police officer. Police officers have access to special databases and can tell you if you have an outstanding arrest warrant. This method is quick and will undoubtedly lead to your arrest if you have one.
- If there is an attempted arrest against you, do not resist. Resisting arrest can be considered a felony or a misdemeanor.