Are You Facing A Bench Warrant?

Are You Facing A Bench Warrant?
Have you ever wondered what happens to people who get a traffic ticket and fail to appear in court or attend a trial? The impact can be significant and add unnecessary expenses and a lot of headache. The first thing that will happen when you fail to show up is that the judge will issue a bench warrant.

What is a Bench Warrant?

A bench warrant is a written order issued by a judge authorizing the arrest of a person charged with some contempt, crime, or misdemeanor. A bench warrant is typically issued in the case of a failure to appear for trial or “FTA.”

Bench Warrant Vs. Regular Warrant

When a more serious crime is committed, a regular warrant might be issued. With a regular warrant, there is an attempt to find the defendant, arrest him or her immediately, and place them in jail.

A bench warrant is a little different. The person’s name is placed in a database. Law enforcement will not immediately come and get you to put you into jail, however, they will eventually find you.

For example, if you were to get into an accident, even when it wasn’t your fault, the law enforcement would see your name in the database and would arrest you immediately.

Do You Have a Bench Warrant?

If there is a bench warrant for you, there are a few options that you have. You will want to call the clerk, the court, or the local police department to find out how to come in and pay the bail so that the warrant will be evoked. This will be the best option for you. Make sure to check with them to see what kind of payments will be accepted.

Additionally, it is important to realize that it is possible to lose the bail money that might have been paid before the missed court date. It is possible to persuade the judge into letting you get your bail back if you have a very good reason for why you were not at the court and you did not call.

Posting Bail

If you have been taken into custody based on a bench warrant, authorities will require you to post bail before you can be released. For a typical bench warrant, bail will be a combination of fines and the court costs for your current FTA. You will most likely also have to cover costs for your original offense. In addition, you will be given a new court date and have the start back from the beginning.

Benefits of a Defense Attorney

Having a criminal defense lawyer on your side arguing on your behalf will help a great deal. It will communicate to the judge that you take the charges seriously, that you are doing something about the charges, and that you feel remorseful about your failure to appear.

In conclusion, if you are facing charges of any kind, having an experienced defense lawyer in your corner will prove invaluable. In a case of failing to appear for the court and having a bench warrant in your name is an issue that will cause added expenses and headaches.

If you have a bench warrant out for you right now, call us today to start getting yourself back on the right track.

248-348-7400 or 586-530-1000