Having a bench warrant or arrest warrant hanging over your head is stressful to say the least. Ignoring a warrant generally can have more serious consequences than dealing with a warrant by voluntarily going to court and facing the judge. The older the warrant is, the more likely the consequences will be harsher. WE CAN HELP! We have over 70 + years of combined criminal defense experience to assist you with recalling and clearing your warrant.

Bench Warrants

A Bench Warrant is the most common type of warrant that is issued by the court. There are several reasons for a court to issue a Bench Warrant:

• Failure to appear (FTA) in court on the date you were scheduled to appear
• Failure to show proof of Community Service or failure to pay a fine
• Failure to appear on an Open Case (that is, you fail to return to court prior to the resolution of your case)
• Failure to appear for Sentence or Conviction (that the warrant could have been issued after there was a plea or trial but before sentence was imposed).

A Bench Warrant authorizes law enforcement to arrest a defendant and bring you before the judge. If you believe there is an outstanding bench warrant for your arrest in California you have an obligation to return to court immediately. Until you return to court you are at risk of being arrested and brought to Court at any time the police choose to do so.

Arrest Warrants

An Arrest Warrant is different than a Bench Warrant. In an Arrest Warrant, law enforcement obtains a formal document signed by a judge requesting the arrest of a person. An Arrest Warrant is generated after an investigation by law enforcement whereby they have reasonable suspicion (probable cause) to believe that a crime has been committed and that a certain person (defendant) committed the crime. An Arrest Warrant authorizes law enforcement to arrest you. In most situations, people may not be aware that an Arrest Warrant exists until the police are in the process of arresting them. In some occasions, law enforcement officers may arrive at your workplace to make an arrest. Law enforcement can even come and enter your home to make an arrest.

Los Angeles Bench Warrant Attorneys

Contacting the right criminal defense lawyer can make a difference in your case. For example, the lawyer can contact the police and make arrangements for your surrender rather than surrendering yourself and giving statements to law enforcement. REMEMBER, ANYTHING YOU SAY CAN AND WILL BE USED AGAINST YOU!!!

If you choose to represent yourself in these types of matters, you are at a huge disadvantage. First of all, you may be arrested and taken into custody as soon as you walk into court. An experienced criminal defense attorney will be able to recall the warrant and in many cases avoid you being taken into custody. An experienced lawyer who has handled these types of cases before knows what information/documents the court requires in order to get a swift resolution to your case. A good criminal attorney also knows how to explain to the judge and the prosecutor why there was a warrant in the first place.

We Can Help!

If you have a warrant contact the criminal defense attorneys at Rodriguez, Lewis & Kahn to discuss the specific facts of your case and decide what is the best course of action. Please do not hesitate to call the firm's Los Angeles, California office at 213-223-2173, or toll-free at 800-788-8557 for a FREE CONSULTATION. We can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you prefer, you may e-mail the firm and an experienced criminal lawyer will be in touch with you as soon as possible.