There will be times when a warrant is issued but the defendant has not been arrested, yet. These warrants can usually be cleared up with your client spending little to no time in jail. However, an in-depth knowledge of warrant types, requirements, and laws is useful in providing your client with helpful information that protects all parties.
Many Times, Your Client Can be Bonded With No Jailtime.
Dealing With Arrest Warrants
If your client is issued a warrant, they may have the option of a walkthrough bond. In these cases, the defendant turns himself in with the help of a bondsman and is processed and released on bond. This dramatically shortens wait times and stress and can be an option for most general warrants as well as some bench warrants.
Warrant Types
When your client is issued a warrant for arrest, the warrant type is crucial to the bonding process. General arrest warrants are warrants that are issued in response to a formal legal complaint. This is not an admission of guilt, and can typically be processed quickly with a walkthrough bond. However, bench warrants, otherwise known as capias and alias warrants, are not as easily processed and typically require more effort and time spent behind bars. These warrants are issued in response to a failure to uphold instructions given by the court system.
What is a Capias Warrant?
Alias warrants are generally issued when a defendant fails to appear in court or comply with a fine or fee. Capias warrants, on the other hand, are issued when a defendant has entered a plea and made arrangements but didn’t complete said arrangements. Capias warrants typically cannot be bonded and must be paid in full for release.
Completing an Arrest Warrant Bond
After finding out what type of warrant has been issued, your client may have a few choices. In misdemeanor cases, your client can usually be bonded out as soon as the booking process is finished and never spend time in jail. In felony cases, defendants can sometimes arrange a bond setting hearing before turning themselves in through an attorney. This may also help with a bond or fine reduction. Once the bond is set, the client can turn themselves in to be processed and released. Without an attorney’s help, the client may be forced to wait for a bond hearing in some circumstances, adding a few days to their stay behind bars. Each warrant has specific requirements and guidelines which must be followed perfectly. To get more information on arrest warrant bonding or to find out about specific charges or procedures, take advantage of the resources and professional directory in the Bail Bond Cooperative database.