Have you been informed the police have been trying to contact you at work or home and believe you have a warrant for your arrest? Taking proactive steps to understand Georgia warrants and the arrest process can help you coordinate your response with your criminal defense attorney and gain clarity on your future. Let’s review your options when you have a warrant for your arrest in Georgia.
An Overview of the Warrant Types
Arrest Warrant
The most common form of warrant law enforcement use is an arrest warrant, which means the police believe you have committed a crime and a judge has signed a warrant. Code § 17-4-40 governs arrest warrants in Georgia. The arrest warrant will include a bond amount, and you can post the bond after your arrest process to stay out of prison while you await your court date. In cases where the judge did not include a bond in the arrest warrant, you’ll require the assistance of a criminal defense attorney to review bond options securing your temporary release.
Bench Warrant
Governed by Georgia Code § 17-7-90, bench warrants indicate you were supposed to appear for a court date but did not. The term “bench” warrant refers to the judge’s bench and is also known as a “failure to appear”. In the case of a failure to appear notice, you may be able to pay a fine rather than being held under arrest. In most cases, the consequences of ignoring a bench warrant are far-reaching and pertain to ignoring the judicial process, which could place you in further legal jeopardy with each day that passes from the moment your warrant is issued.
Probation Warrant
The court issues a probation warrant via your probation officer under Georgia Code § 42-8-23 when you violate the terms of your probation. In most cases, the court issues probation warrants when there are new charges against you or due to you not reporting to your probation officer. Probation warrants do not usually have a bond attached, and you will remain in custody until your court hearing unless your criminal defense lawyer can secure your release.
What Should I Do If I’m Unsure Whether There’s a Warrant for My Arrest?
If you suspect you have a warrant for your arrest but are unsure, a lawyer can help verify your warrant status. The lawyer will know the process and have the resources to confirm your warrant with the county clerk, local court, or sheriff’s office. The benefits of working with a lawyer to verify your warrant status include:
- Your lawyer can access details about the warrant and proactively build your defense strategy
- Your lawyer will protect you from potentially incriminating yourself in communication with law enforcement officials
- Your lawyer can protect your current location to help you maintain control over the timing of your arrest
What Can I Do to Avoid an Arrest after The Issuing of a Warrant?
When there’s a warrant for your arrest in Georgia, it’s rare to avoid arrest. Law enforcement officials will visit your home, your business, and known social venues looking for you. They will often show up in the middle of the night to surprise those with a warrant for their arrest.
A further consideration is your travel while you have a warrant against you. Police and other law enforcement teams will be tracking your license plate. If they pull you over, they will immediately see you have a warrant and arrest you. The warrant does not go away with time, so avoiding law enforcement processing is simply delaying the inevitable. Booking a free call with a Georgia criminal defense attorney can help prepare you for the future.
How Can a Criminal Defense Attorney Help with My Warrant?
One of the first steps a criminal defense lawyer will take is coordinating your communication with the authorities. Arriving at the police station of your own accord is often the best approach to avoid the police visiting your workplace and impacting your employment status. Voluntarily surrendering can help show you’re willing to engage in the legal process while still defending your case against prosecutors.
For those with a bench warrant against them, coordinating the response to the warrant with a criminal defense attorney can be vital to securing their future. Your criminal defense attorney can help prevent a prolonged detention as you await your court date. They can help you protect your employment and maintain your property while the case is ongoing. Criminal defense attorneys such as Jeff Manciagl will help you file paperwork and give you a semblance of control over your arrest and court proceedings while protecting your legal rights at each stage.
Call Atlanta Criminal Defense Lawyer Jeff Manciagli to Respond to Outstanding Warrants
Jeff Manciagli is a leading Atlanta, GA-based criminal defense lawyer with over 30 years of experience representing and advocating clients with outstanding warrants for their arrest. If you have any questions about the warrant process and require legal help for a case involving yourself or a family member, request your free, no-obligation case review with Jeff Manciagli today to explore your legal options.