What to Do If You Have a California Arrest Warrant

Contacting a criminal defense lawyer Riverside, CA should be a top priority.

What to Do If You Have a California Arrest Warrant

If you are like most people, you may be confused and how and when the police can arrest you. As a general rule, there are two ways that you can be arrested: without a warrant, typically if the police see you committing a crime, or with a warrant, if the police suspect that you have committed a crime and ask a judge to issue an arrest warrant.

If you believe that there may be a warrant for your arrest in California, you may be incredibly stressed. A criminal defense lawyer Riverside, CA can help you determine if you do have a warrant, what the warrant is for, and the amount of bail associated with it.

Arrest warrants give California law enforcement officers the authority to arrest and detain a person that they suspect committed a crime outside of their presence. Judges issue arrest warrants based on evidence presented to them by a law enforcement officer and/or a prosecutor or after a grand jury indictment.

If the warrant is issued after evidence is presented by a law enforcement officer and/or prosecutor, the judge must find that there is probable cause to believe that a person committed a crime. If the warrant is issued after a grand jury indictment, then the judge does not need to find probable cause — because the grand jury already made that determination. According to a criminal defense lawyer Riverside, CA, the judge will likely issue an arrest warrant after an indictment.

The police can execute an arrest warrant at your home, work, or place of business. They do not need to bring a copy of the actual arrest warrant. They may also mail you a summons in lieu of an actual arrest warrant, which is a notice that you will receive in the mail or from a process server, giving you the chance to appear before a judge without being arrested. You may also simply be cited and released without being formally booked. However, if an arrest warrant is issued by a judge, the police must execute it and make an arrest.

According to a criminal defense lawyer Riverside, CA, if you have an arrest warrant, bail will typically be set. This is true unless you are charged with a capital offense, felony offenses involving violence or sexual offense, or felony offenses where you threatened someone with great bodily harm. If you post bail, you will be released. Otherwise, your criminal defense lawyer Riverside, CA may be able to convince the judge to lower your bail or even to release you on your own recognizance.

If you believe that you have an arrest warrant or one may be issued against you, the best thing that you can do is to contact a criminal defense lawyer Riverside, CA as soon as possible. There are strict rules that must be followed regarding arrest warrants under California law; your attorney can help to ensure that your rights are protected.

At the Chambers Law Firm, we defend clients charged with a range of California crimes. We help our clients through each step of the process, from the filing of the initial arrest warrant through trial and appeal. Contact us today at 714-760-4088 or dchambers@clfca.com to schedule a free initial consultation with a criminal defense lawyer Riverside, CA today.

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