There are several reasons why a judge would issue a warrant. For example, a warrant could be ordered if you fail to appear for a scheduled court date.
Having a warrant, though, does not mean you are guilty of a crime. It only means that a judge has a legal order authorizing law enforcement to take specific action, usually to arrest you and bring you before the court. In other words, there is a legal reason the Illinois court wants you brought into the judicial process.
Whether you know you have a warrant or you believe you might have one, this is not an ideal situation. Waiting and worrying about being arrested is a tough position to be in. If you speak with an attorney, though, you may be able to remedy your legal predicament.
If you have a warrant, call the Chicago criminal defense attorneys at Glasgow & Olsson today. Our legal team has the resources and expertise to secure the best possible outcome for you.
Types of Warrants
The specific details of your underlying criminal charges will largely determine which type of warrant is issued against you. Also, how you are able to manage your warrant and find the most optimal way of minimizing the consequences will depend on the nature of your warrant. For instance, a missed court date bench warrant may be handled much differently than a felony arrest warrant.
Therefore, understanding the types of warrants can be beneficial.
Bench Warrants
In Illinois, a bench warrant is typically issued by a judge when a person fails to comply with a court order or does not appear in court when they were scheduled to. Bench warrants get their name because they are issued from a judge from the bench versus being ordered because law enforcement requests it while doing a criminal investigation.
Arrest Warrant for a Criminal Charge
Arrest warrants authorize the police to take you into custody and bring you before a judge to address your charges. These warrants are issued based on alleged criminal conduct.
Traffic-Related Warrants
Traffic-related warrants are issued in connection with a traffic case rather than a more serious criminal investigation.
Remember, if a warrant is active, it is not wise to ignore it. This is because warrants don’t just fade away and expire over time. If you ignore a warrant, you should know that the longer your warrant remains outstanding, the greater your chances are of being arrested during even a routine interaction with law enforcement. Getting ahead of such a situation by speaking with a lawyer is going to be your best course of action.
Get Qualified Legal Help Today
For more information on warrants in Illinois, please speak with our Schaumburg criminal defense attorneys at Glasgow & Olsson today and learn how decades of trusted experience can protect what matters most to you.
Our law firm is widely recognized as a leading authority in criminal law. For this reason, Attorney Thomas T. Glasgow is a trusted legal voice who is regularly invited to appear on major networks, including ABC, CNN, NBC, CBS, and Fox News.
When your rights and freedoms are on the line, having an attorney on your side with an excellent reputation and unimpeachable experience matters.