How to Turn Yourself in for an Arrest Warrant
It can be incredibly stressful to find out that there is a warrant out for your arrest. However, not all warrants carry the same severity. For example, having a warrant for missing a court date due to a clerical error on behalf of the clerk of the court is not the same as having a warrant as the accused in a murder case. With the first example, police are unlikely to show up at your house or work to slap the cuffs on you, but that doesn’t mean that you should ignore the fact that you have a warrant.
Benefits of Turning Yourself In
Turning yourself in is often your best option, regardless of why your warrant was issued in the first place. It can go a long way towards getting some leniency in your case, as it shows that you are doing everything you can to cooperate with the court. Listen in silence as they read you your Miranda Rights, and follow any instructions you are given. Also, the sooner you turn yourself in, the sooner you can get your case resolved so that you can get back to your regular life.
Consult an Attorney First
Before turning yourself in, you should always consult your defense attorney. They will be able to determine what the warrant is for and if it is likely to affect any other open cases you currently have, like custody cases or ongoing probation. It is best to speak with your lawyer beforehand because it may be a while before you are able to be in contact with anyone once you have been processed into jail. Your lawyer will also be able to give you the best estimation of what to expect in terms of when you might be able to be released.
Get Out Quickly
When you turn yourself in, you obviously don’t want to stay in jail any longer than you have to, so you can also contact a bail bonds company, like Free at Last Bail Bonds before you go so that you can get out on bail as quickly as possible. Your bond amount may already be set before you head in, so you may be able to take care of your bail bond before you ever set foot in the jail. If the amount is excessively high, your defense attorney may be able to advocate on your behalf to get it lowered to a more reasonable level.
Here at Free at Last Bail Bonds, we do everything we can to get you out of jail and back to your family as quickly as possible, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with us before you turn yourself in. Even if you didn’t turn yourself in voluntarily, we can still help you get out, so call us for more information about our bail bonds services.