What Should I do If I Have a Warrant for Arrest?

Cartoon image of a police officer executing a warrant for arrestAn arrest warrant is an official document, signed by a judge (or magistrate), which authorizes a police officer to arrest a person named in the warrant. Warrants typically identify the crime for which the warrant for arrest has been issued. The first thing you should do is verify that you actually have a warrant for arrest. If you’re located in Salisbury, North Carolina you can visit the Rowan County Sheriff’s website to confirm that you have a warrant for your arrest. If you are located in Charlotte you can visit the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s website to check if you have a warrant in Charlotte, NC.

Should I Turn Myself In If I Have a Warrant for Arrest?

Absolutely! Voluntarily surrendering (turning yourself in) has a wave of benefits. For starters, turning yourself in will save you from the embarrassment of getting handcuffed and arrested at work, church, school, social activities, or other public places.  Secondly, it limits the possibility of the police being rough with you while they attempt to exercise the arrest warrant. Lastly, it shows the judge, or the magistrate, that you aren’t a flight risk. This can result in a much lower bond.

What Steps should I Take Before I Turn Myself In?

  1. Talk to a lawyer. Arrange for a lawyer to come with you incase the police want to question you. Never go to a possible police interrogation without an attorney.
  2. Talk to an NC bail bondsman and arrange for the bail bondsman to come with you when you turn yourself in. You’ll want to contact a bail bondsman to limit the amount of time that you are at the jail.
  3. Generally you’ll want to avoid showing up during or right before a shift change at the county jail or police station. An NC bail bondsmen will know the best time to arrive. Generally between 8:00 AM and 3:30 PM.
  4. Don’t bring anything with you aside from your state identification card or NC driver’s license.
    1. Ensure that you don’t accidentally bring any weapons or other contraband.
  5. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes.

What Should I Do While at The Police Station

  1. Stay calm!
  2. Do not go without an attorney! If for some reason you do turn yourself in without a lawyer don’t answer any questions. Instead repeatedly say either “I want a lawyer” if you don’t have a lawyer or “I want to talk to my lawyer” if you have a lawyer already.
  3. You should cooperate with the police as it relates to fingerprinting, or answering questions in relation to your identity, such as name and phone number.

What Shouldn’t I Do If I Have a Warrant for Arrest?

  1. Don’t try to run or evade the police in any way.
  2. Do not turn yourself in during a weekend or on a holiday.
  3. Do not postpone or delay turning yourself in (unless it’s a weekend or a holiday).
  4. Don’t attempt to take any flight especially an international flight.

If you have a warrant for your arrest you need to contact Ryan Stowe for a free consultation today!

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