What to Do if You Have an Arrest or Bench Warrant
If you have a Chicago defense lawyer, he or she can help you to find out if you have a warrant out for your arrest or a bench warrant from the court. If not, and you find out that you do have either type of warrant, it may be a good time to secure the services of a Chicago defense lawyer to represent you and help you turn yourself in, especially if you think you are facing serious criminal charges or consequences.
An arrest warrant is usually obtained by a police officer who has probable cause to believe that you have committed a crime. It authorizes the police to seek you out and arrest you, take you to jail, and press charges leading to your indictment. Warrants for arrest are often affidavits that are sworn before the court in reference to the commission of serious crimes. A warrant is not necessary for a police officer to arrest a suspect who he believes, due to his own witness or the testimony of others, to have committed a serious crime.
You can find out if there is a warrant out for your arrest by contacting the local court to see if it is on file. Turning yourself in when you have an arrest warrant is advisable in most cases, especially if you have the assistance of a Chicago defense lawyer who can represent you beforehand and assist in logistics.
A bench warrant is another instrument of the court that is issued when you fail to acquiesce to the demands of the court, such as failing to show at hearings or other court dates or to meet the conditions of probation or parole. Bench warrants further complicate cases and usually infer further charges and can result in the retraction of previous agreements with the court, such as bond or probation.
The best recourse you have if a bench warrant has been issued on you due to your own negligence is to contact your Chicago defense attorney as soon as you possibly can and seek to remedy the situation. Prosecutors and the courts regard flight or failure to appear as a sign of guilt, but will often assist you in rectifying missed court dates if you have a good explanation and make every effort to apologize to the court and explain your situation. In these kinds of circumstances, the probability that you will be able to rectify the situation without further penalties is significantly greater if you have a Chicago defense lawyer in your corner.
Chicago Defense Lawyer – No matter how straightforward or complex your criminal charge, Andrew M. Weisberg is a Chicago criminal defense lawyer known for tough, aggressive defense. A former felony prosecutor, Attorney Weisberg has extensive experience in handling all types of criminal cases, from sex offenses and violent crimes to theft-related crimes and traffic violations. To contact Mr. Weisberg, visit http://www.chicagocriminallawyer.com/ or call his cell phone 24/7 at (773) 908-9811or Text LAWYER to 25827 for prompt call back. The consultation is free.
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