Having a warrant out for your arrest can be a scary prospect, especially if you’re hoping to avoid going to jail. Warrants are issued when charges are set against you, but the law is unable to find you. You might have failed to appear in court or violated the terms of your probation. No matter what the reason, you need to know how to handle the upcoming situation.
Here’s what you should do if there’s a warrant out for your arrest:
Get a Lawyer
If you’re facing a warrant for your arrest, the first thing to do is find representation. You might need an appeals lawyer or a defence lawyer. It depends on why the warrant was issued and what charges you might be facing. Having a good lawyer on your side from the beginning makes it more likely that you will face fewer extreme consequences.
Don’t Discuss Your Case
Even if you decide to turn yourself in, never discuss your case with anyone other than your legal representative. Lawyers are bound by client-attorney privileges, but police officers are not. You might admit something that would serve to implicate you in a crime.
It’s best to be cooperative and polite to police officers but decline the opportunity to provide statements without a lawyer present. This doesn’t mean that you need to be completely silent. You should answer basic questions (name, address, contact info). Just decline to answer anything related to your case.
Turn Yourself In
The easiest thing to do to get your issue resolved is to turn yourself in to the police so that you can set the wheels in motion to have the warrant removed. Keep in mind that they will arrest you on the spot when you do this, so be smart about when you head to the police station to make yourself known. You won’t want to do so on a night or weekend, so try to hold off until a Monday morning if you can. If you turn yourself in on a Friday, you may face spending the night or the weekend in jail.
If your lawyer can get you released or you post bail, you’ll be given a court date where you must appear to face your charges. Be prepared to pay a fee to get out of jail quickly, though in some circumstances, the authorities will be willing to release you on your reputation alone. An attorney can help you navigate this process.
Have Questions About Your Warrant?
For those who think that they may have a warrant out for their arrest, it’s important to seek out legal representation as soon as possible. Brodsky Amy & Gould can provide your go-to appeals lawyer in Winnipeg. We can help you face whatever may come next in your case, and we will make it our personal goal to help you get through it with minimal consequences.
