You may have found yourself in a situation you didn’t intend on ending up in and now there is a warrant out for your arrest. If this has happened to you, you may be wondering if you should wait to be captured by the police or if you should take the initiative to turn yourself in. It is somewhat common to receive a bond and be out of custody while your counsel is still tending to the matter. But will you receive a bond? It depends. One of the most important factors in determining whether you will receive a bond is how long the warrant has been outstanding.
While you may think it sounds like a good idea to simply let the police catch you, one of the downfalls of doing so is that people who are found by the police are often located because of another minor violation. This would leave that individual with two legal situations.
How Should I Prepare for Turning Myself In?
Prior to making any decisions, it is typically a good idea to consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney. You may also wish to reach out to a bail bondsman if you are given a bond when arrested. However, if you do not receive a bond, you should also be prepared for what you should do. Bond hearings occur after arraignment before a judge. It isn’t uncommon for it to take a few days for a lawyer to get on the court’s docket for such a purpose.
If you reside in a state other than the one in which the warrant was issued, you may end up spending more time in jail, accounting for the transportation back to the state of the warrant. Unfortunately, this could take days or even weeks.
If you are a member of the U.S. military, it is important to contact the individual who is your command in order for them to help you during the process of turning yourself in.
Before you turn yourself in you’ll also want to consider whether it is a weekend or holiday that occurs on a Friday or Monday. Should you elect to turn yourself in at one of these times and you do not receive a bond, it’s possible that you could be held until the following weekday that the court is open.
Choosing to ignore an outstanding warrant doesn’t do you much good. In fact, lawyers will not handle the matter unless someone has already turned him or herself in. The court looks at whether or not you have taken responsible measures necessary when making the decision of whether or not to grant you bail prior to your trial.
The Attorneys at Surovell Isaacs & Levy PLC Help Those with Outstanding Warrants in Virginia
You can determine whether or not there is a warrant out for your arrest by searching the outstanding warrants lists that each city provides. If you or a loved one is faced with an outstanding warrant, you deserve someone in your corner. At Arizona Lawyers, we work hard to reduce penalties and fines for your charge – and in some cases get your charge dismissed. To learn more or to schedule a free consultation, contact us today!