What Do I Do if There is a Warrant for my Arrest?
At Thomas & Paulk, P.A. we are often asked the above question. Understandably, clients are unsure of what action they should take if they learn that they have an outstanding warrant issued by a court in Florida. If you find yourself in this situation, it is important you speak with a criminal defense attorney about your case. For clients who are unsure about why the warrant was issued, we can research the warrant and help you find the best way to deal with the warrant.
Many times we find that a client missed court because they did not receive proper notice of the court date. When we discover this is the reason why you did not appear in court, we can file a motion with the court. We then present evidence in court that you did not willingly fail to appear. If the court finds that you did not receive notice for your court date, the court can withdraw the warrant for your arrest.
If you did have notice of your court date but failed to appear for another reason, a Tampa criminal defense attorney at Thomas & Paulk can still help you try to get your warrant resolved. We can get your case before the court and explain the reason that you missed the court date and request the court withdraw your warrant. It is important that the court know that you are ready to appear in court to face your charges. If you wait until after you have been arrested on the outstanding warrant, it is always more difficult to explain your reason for missing court and argue that you are ready to face the consequences. It may also take several days or weeks for your case to get before the court if you are arrested on your warrant.
A warrant may also be issued for your arrest if there is an alleged violation of probation. If you are on probation and your probation officer has filed a violation of probation affidavit with the court, a warrant will likely be issued for you arrest. In these cases it is import that you contact one of our lawyers as soon as you become aware of the alleged violation. Most warrants for violation of probation are issued with no bond. If your warrant has no bond, you will be held in jail until your case comes before the judge that issued the warrant. Again, it can take days or weeks for your case to come before the court. At Thomas & Paulk we can help you get a court date set before the judge on your case so that you can resolve the violation as soon as possible. As discussed earlier, it is always better to take steps to show the court that you understand the violation and have taken steps to resolve the situation. Dealing with a violation in this way can also save you the embarrassment of having law enforcement arrest you at home or work.
If you have a warrant for your arrest in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco or Polk County, contact a Tampa criminal defense lawyer at our office for a confidential and free consultation. We know that having a warrant for you arrest is a stressful situation and we are ready to help you today. Call one of our attorneys at 813-221-4200.
