felony arrest warrant what a lawyer can do to help

by Maynard Collins 8 min read

An experienced criminal defense lawyer can try to negotiate with law enforcement to reach a reasonable solution for the charges alleged in the arrest warrant, can check to confirm that there are no other warrants or outstanding warrants issued against you, and can determine if there are any defenses you can raise against the charges.

Full Answer

What do you need to know about a felony arrest warrant?

1 Felony Arrest Warrant. A felony arrest warrant is an order a judge has issued for law enforcement agencies to arrest and bring in a person accused of and charged with ... 2 Name and Description of Accused Person. ... 3 Judge or Magistrate Signature. ... 4 Accused Crime and State Laws. ... 5 Entering Home or Residence. ...

How do I handle a warrant without an attorney?

To handle a warrant, you must turn yourself into the court, with or without an attorney, and try to negotiate a recall of the warrant and a plea bargain on the Failure to Appear charge and any outstanding charges that caused the warrant.

How do I clear up an arrest warrant?

* This will flag comments for moderators to take action. In most cases, the only way to clear up an arrest warrant is to turn yourself in and appear before a judge on the warrant. Depending on the what the warrant is for, your lawyer may be able to arrange for you to appear on the warrant without being taken into custody.

Who is the employer of an arrest warrant?

The employer is a An arrest warrant is a warrant granted by a judge in a court of law to a law enforcement official granting that law enforcement official the right and ability to arrest a person of interest regarding a crime. An arrest warrant is acquired in a court of law by presenting a judge with probable cause for arresting the suspect.

What to do if you have a warrant?

Why is an arrest warrant issued?

How do I know if there is a warrant out for my arrest?

What are the requirements for an arrest warrant?

How to search for arrest warrants?

What to do if someone fails to consult an attorney?

What is a bench warrant?

See more

About this website

image

How long does a felony warrant stay active in Illinois?

three years for felonies, and. one year and six months for misdemeanors.

How do I get rid of a warrant in Illinois?

To clear a bench warrant, you'll need to appear in court, and your Illinois warrant lawyer can help you with that. If you've been charged with a felony, you're generally required to appear in court. However, misdemeanors can be dismissed if the related warrant wasn't properly served to you.

What is a felony warrant in PA?

Share. When a person commits a crime but is not arrested in the course of committing an unlawful act, the courts can issue a warrant authorizing the police to arrest and charge the suspect with a crime.

Do warrants ever expire in Illinois?

First, be aware that arrest warrants generally do not expire. Therefore, if the new state finds the old warrant, you risk spending up to 30 days in jail before you are turned over to Illinois. But there are steps you can take to clear up your problem.

What happens if you don't appear in court?

If an accused fails to appear in court on the specified date and time, a warrant of arrest (a document that authorises the arrest of the accused) will be issued by the court.

How do you get a warrant lifted in PA?

In order to lift the warrant, you will have to go through what is called a “preliminary arraignment,” or what is commonly known as a “bail hearing.” This is your first court appearance and it is also the first time that you will be facing a judge.

How long is a warrant good for in Pennsylvania?

If the judge issues a bench warrant, the police will likely hold you in jail until the case ends to ensure you show up to each hearing. A bench warrant never expires. You could forget about the case and be arrested years later if you don't resolve it.

What happens if you have a warrant in PA?

Once you know a warrant is issued for your arrest, it becomes necessary to work with the courts to avoid serious penalties. Regardless of which county the order was issued, the charges in Pennsylvania can be up to $15,000 and seven years of imprisonment, depending on the classification of the warrant.

What information is needed for a felony warrant?

A felony warrant must, at a minimum, contain this information: The name of the suspect or, if not known, a description clear enough to allow police to identify the suspect while minimizing the risk of arresting someone else. A detailed description of the crime. The signature of the issuing judge. If you learn that there has been a felony warrant ...

What are the requirements for a felony warrant?

The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution protects people from wrongful arrest. Although the process does not always work perfectly, the rules for issuing an arrest warrant attempt to ensure the correct person is charged with the crime. A felony warrant must, at a minimum, contain this information: 1 The name of the suspect or, if not known, a description clear enough to allow police to identify the suspect while minimizing the risk of arresting someone else 2 A detailed description of the crime 3 The signature of the issuing judge

What is the law enforcement permission to detain you?

Unless you have been caught while committing a crime, law enforcement agents need permission to detain you. This permission usually comes in the form of an arrest warrant issued by the court. A judge will issue a felony warrant if law enforcement officials show probable cause that a felony was committed. They must also have reasonable suspicion ...

Which amendment protects people from wrongful arrest?

The Fourth Amend ment to the Constitution protects people from wrongful arrest. Although the process does not always work perfectly, the rules for issuing an arrest warrant attempt to ensure the correct person is charged with the crime. A felony warrant must, at a minimum, contain this information:

Can a felony warrant be served in a different state?

Also, unlike many warrants, felony warrants can be served anywhere, not just in a specific geographic area. If the warrant is served in a different state, the issuing state must request extradition, that is, return of the defendant to the issuing state.

What to do if you have a warrant?

Finally, if you have any questions about an arrest warrant or are aware of an arrest warrant issued against you, you should contact a criminal defense lawyer immediately for further legal advice. Failure to cooperate with authorities during an arrest can result in serious consequences. A lawyer can advise you of the next steps you should take ...

Why is an arrest warrant issued?

The purpose of issuing an arrest warrant is to protect U.S. citizens from being unlawfully arrested, which is a constitutional right under the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The warrant is also meant to provide actual notice to ...

How do I know if there is a warrant out for my arrest?

How Do I Find Out if There is a Warrant Out for My Arrest? In some instances, a person may not know that there is a warrant out for their arrest until law enforcement shows up at their home or office to take them into custody. As a general rule of thumb, arrest warrants typically do not expire.

What are the requirements for an arrest warrant?

First, law enforcement must have sufficient probable cause to arrest a suspect and they must provide evidence that supports their belief that the suspect is in fact the person responsible for the crime committed.

How to search for arrest warrants?

An arrest warrant search can be done by checking local court records, contacting a local sheriff’s office, speaking to a bail bondsman, calling a local precinct directly (though not recommended), or by consulting a criminal defense attorney.

What to do if someone fails to consult an attorney?

An attorney can advise them of their next steps and help defend them against the charges. If a person fails to consult an attorney before they get arrested, then they should calmly and willingly allow law enforcement to arrest them and take them into custody.

What is a bench warrant?

When any of these acts occur, a court may issue what is called a “bench warrant”. A bench warrant essentially has the same consequences as an arrest warrant except that it is being issued for different reasons, namely, for being in contempt of court. Thus, some of the defenses to a bench warrant may differ than those for a standard arrest warrant.

What is a felony warrant?

A felony arrest warrant is an order a judge has issued for law enforcement agencies to arrest and bring in a person accused of and charged with a crime to jail or police custody. Before a felony arrest warrant is issued, procedure calls for the district/state attorney, a police officer and/or the alleged victim ...

What are the procedures that law enforcement must follow when a felony warrant is issued?

When a felony arrest warrant is issued, there are procedures law enforcement officers must follow in order for the warrant to be valid, such as listing the name or description of the accused person, and the crime of which she is accused.

What happens if a felony arrest warrant is not signed?

The magistrate or judge who signs the felony arrest warrant must also have her office information and location listed somewhere on the arrest warrant. If this part of the felony arrest warrant is not listed, the arrest warrant is invalid, and anything discovered during the time the invalid arrest warrant is served will not stand up as evidence in a court of law.

What is the difference between a bench warrant and a warrant for a felony?

What Is the Difference in a Warrant & a Bench Warrant? A felony arrest warrant may be issued to detain a person in police custody until an arraignment is scheduled. A felony is a higher level of criminal offense committed--usually punishable by a year or more in prison--such as possession of drugs, murder, kidnapping, ...

Why is the accused person on a warrant unknown?

Sometimes the arrest warrant lists the accused person as unknown, because the alleged felon has aliases he uses. That is why the proper procedure for the felony arrest warrant calls for a reasonably definite description of the accused.

What must be listed on a felony arrest warrant?

The alleged crime must be listed on the felony arrest warrant. The arrest warrant also must state that the person is being accused of this offense. In addition to the alleged crime, the felony arrest warrant must also list the laws state, showing why the named offense is illegal.

Who makes a sworn statement before a felony arrest warrant is issued?

Before a felony arrest warrant is issued, procedure calls for the district/state attorney, a police officer and/or the alleged victim to make a sworn statement that the accused person committed a crime.

Why is a felony warrant important?

A felony warrant becomes vital, in such cases, to alerting other law enforcement agencies that a suspect is wanted. Warrants do not always result in forcible arrests, however.

What is a warrant in criminal law?

A warrant is a legal document, issued in most cases by a judge after his consideration of evidence that has been provided by law enforcement officials. In particular, a felony warrant must include a signed affidavit of the crime committed, and the name of the accused. A felony conviction will typically result in a prison sentence.

What is a felony sentence?

Typically a felony is a crime for which the punishment, or sentence, is a year or longer in prison. Examples of crimes that may vary between felony and misdemeanor — depending on the laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime was committed — include illegal drug use, prostitution, and driving under the influence of a controlled substance.

What are felony crimes?

Though what constitutes a felony crime can vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, these are generally accepted to include violent crimes, such as rape and murder, as well as serious, non-violent crimes, like auto theft and robbery. Many so-called white collar crimes, which typically involve lying under oath and obstruction of justice, ...

Is a felony warrant needed?

Of the two broad classifications of crimes, misdemeanors and felonies, felonies are typically more severe. In many cases, however, when a felony is suspected to have been committed — and very often in cases where a law enforcement officer witnesses a crime — a felony warrant is not needed, as an officer can arrest a suspect based on ...

Does a white collar warrant expire?

This little known plugin reveals the answer. Many white collar crimes are felonies. A felony warrant generally does not have a set expiration date, and, rather, remains in effect until an arrest is made or until a countermanding order is issued by the court.

Is lying under oath a felony?

Lying under oath is typically considered a felony. A felony conviction will typically result in a prison sentence. A felony warrant authorizes the arrest of an individuals suspected of committing a crime. Many white collar crimes are felonies. Prostitution is considered a misdemeanor in some places and a felony in others.

Why is an arrest warrant issued?

There are a variety of different reasons as to why an arrest warrant has been issued: When an arrest warrant is issued, the suspect named on the warrant can be arrested at anytime, anywhere an officer notices them. It doesn't matter what they are doing at the time.

What is an arrest warrant?

An arrest warrant is a warrant granted by a judge in a court of law to a law enforcement official granting that law enforcement official the right and ability to arrest a person of interest regarding a crime. An arrest warrant is acquired in a court of law by presenting a judge with probable cause for arresting the suspect.

What happens when someone commits identity theft?

With the advent of identity theft across the country, thieves are stealing the identities of people without them finding out and then committing serious crimes in their name. Once the crime is committed and the suspect is identified then the arrest warrant can be issued.

Why do we need a bench warrant?

A bench warrant is issued by a judge for the arrest of a person because they failed to appear at a required court hearing. A bench warrant allows law enforcement officials the ability to arrest the suspect at their residence, their place of work, or anywhere else they are sighted.

Why is a warrant issued for the wrong person?

Sometimes the warrant is issued for the wrong person. The person it is issued for is incorrect because their identity had been stolen and used by someone else. This is tough to avoid. To avoid identity theft and subsequent legal problems because of it, be vigilant.

When do you need probable cause for an arrest warrant?

Arrest warrants are most commonly required when a crime is committed out of view of a police officer.

Is an arrest warrant the same as a bench warrant?

Is an arrest warrant the same thing as a bench warrant? An arrest warrant and a bench warrant are not one in the same. An arrest warrant is issued by a judge for an arrest of a person that has committed a crime. A bench warrant is issued by a judge for the arrest of a person because they failed to appear at a required court hearing.

What is the Difference Between a Bench and Arrest Warrant?

In Nevada, (just like most other states) a bench warrant is a judicial order giving police the right to arrest you for defying court orders such missing a mandatory court appearance or fine payments.

How Do You Quash a Warrant?

The first step we will do for you is to file a motion to quash the warrant in the correct Nevada court. This motion requests a hearing in front of a judge about whether the warrant can be removed or not. The judge will listen to the facts and evidence and depending on your circumstances will either grant the motion or deny it.

Warrant for my arrest?

Learning that you have an active warrant can be a terrifying experience. You may wonder why and wonder what impact this has on your life.

What is an arrest warrant and why do I have one?

A warrant authorizes law enforcement to arrest you. A warrant may be issued by a superior, city, state, or magistrate court judge. They may take several forms:

What to do about my Georgia Arrest warrant?

It is imperative that you resolve the warrant as soon as possible. There are several ways you can do that.

What NOT to do?

DO NOT run from your warrant or attempt to flee. Law enforcement will catch you and it will make your situation worse.

Why it is important to handle your warrant

If there is a warrant for your arrest, then you may be taken into custody at your home, your job, during a traffic stop, or anywhere else and even in front of your family, friends, and kids. Law enforcement generally serves warrants early in the morning when people are sleeping. Don’t be caught off guard.

What to do if you have a warrant for arrest?

If a warrant was issued for your arrest for a situation such as missing a court date, etc then you may want to consider hiring a local attorney to represent you. It may be possible for your attorney to contact the courts and negotiate that the warrant be dismissed in return for your promise to appear in court at a later date and/or pay fines.

How to handle a warrant?

To handle a warrant, you must turn yourself into the court, with or without an attorney, and try to negotiate a recall of the warrant and a plea bargain on the Failure to Appear charge and any outstanding charges that caused the warrant. Doing so voluntarily will result in a better outcome than being brought in cuffs to court after arrest on the warrant. Effective plea-bargaining, using whatever legal defenses, facts and sympathies there may be, could possibly keep you out of jail/prison, or at least dramatically reduce it. If this is a felony, the defendant must be personally present at every court hearing and appearance. If this is a misdemeanor, the attorney can appear in court without the defendant being present. Unless you're competent to effectively represent yourself in court against a professional prosecutor trying to put you in jail, most people hire an attorney who can.

How to get a warrant removed?

The only way to have a warrant removed is to appear in court to sunder yourself. In some instances, where the charges are minor misdemeanors an attorney can appear on your behalf, if there are logistical reasons why you cannot appear yourself. Report Abuse. Report Abuse.

Can a prosecutor recall a warrant?

Only the prosecuting attorney could recall the warrant. Generally, if the warrant is issued, you will be arrested. You will then have the opportunity to defend against the charges and depending on the defense could have the charges dismissed.

Who could recall a warrant?

Craig W. Elhart (Unclaimed Profile) Only the prosecuting attorney could recall the warrant. Generally, if the warrant is issued, you will be arrested. You will then have the opportunity to defend against the charges and depending on the defense could have the charges dismissed.

Do warrants go away?

Warrants don't go away unless a judge recalls it or you're arrested on it. You don't say why a warrant was issued for you, but either you're going to have to appear in court (with your lawyer) or in certain circumstances, your attorney may be able to appear for you.

Can a lawyer appear in court?

Many times a lawyer can appear in court for you (and if a misdemeanor warrant) you may not have to even appear in person. The lawyer can ask the judge to recall the warrant and enter a plea of not guilty and then defend you in your case.

What to do if you have a warrant?

Finally, if you have any questions about an arrest warrant or are aware of an arrest warrant issued against you, you should contact a criminal defense lawyer immediately for further legal advice. Failure to cooperate with authorities during an arrest can result in serious consequences. A lawyer can advise you of the next steps you should take ...

Why is an arrest warrant issued?

The purpose of issuing an arrest warrant is to protect U.S. citizens from being unlawfully arrested, which is a constitutional right under the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The warrant is also meant to provide actual notice to ...

How do I know if there is a warrant out for my arrest?

How Do I Find Out if There is a Warrant Out for My Arrest? In some instances, a person may not know that there is a warrant out for their arrest until law enforcement shows up at their home or office to take them into custody. As a general rule of thumb, arrest warrants typically do not expire.

What are the requirements for an arrest warrant?

First, law enforcement must have sufficient probable cause to arrest a suspect and they must provide evidence that supports their belief that the suspect is in fact the person responsible for the crime committed.

How to search for arrest warrants?

An arrest warrant search can be done by checking local court records, contacting a local sheriff’s office, speaking to a bail bondsman, calling a local precinct directly (though not recommended), or by consulting a criminal defense attorney.

What to do if someone fails to consult an attorney?

An attorney can advise them of their next steps and help defend them against the charges. If a person fails to consult an attorney before they get arrested, then they should calmly and willingly allow law enforcement to arrest them and take them into custody.

What is a bench warrant?

When any of these acts occur, a court may issue what is called a “bench warrant”. A bench warrant essentially has the same consequences as an arrest warrant except that it is being issued for different reasons, namely, for being in contempt of court. Thus, some of the defenses to a bench warrant may differ than those for a standard arrest warrant.

image