Warrants can be issued any time there is probable cause for your arrest: this could be something as simple as a series of unpaid parking tickets to much more serious matters. Regardless of the type of warrant, it will always mean that the police have the authority to arrest you and bring you into custody at any time, regardless of your current activity. Many people have no idea they even have warrants out for their arrest, especially when it is in regards to a minor infraction that might have been forgotten or even overlooked altogether by the person in question.
Types of Warrants in Texas
Depending on the seriousness of the offense, police officers may not actively look for you, but instead, wait for your license plate to pop up on an arrest scanner. Some can call for your immediate arrest. There are a few different kinds of warrants that might be sent out in Texas:
- Arrest Warrants: This allows law enforcement to seek out and detain someone accused of committing a crime. The arrest warrant is only sent out if a court has agreed that there is proof of probable cause, but you are not guilty simply because you have been arrested: it’s based on signed affidavits stating that the accused is most likely who committed the crime in question. This simply names you as a suspect, and legal proceedings will continue as normal after you are taken to the police department. It must specify the person who will be arrested, including their name and any other distinguishing traits, as well as the offense they are suspected of committing.
- Search Warrants: These authorize law enforcement to search a person’s home, workplace, car, or personal possessions in order to acquire evidence in connection with a crime. Any evidence yielded through this way can be utilized in a criminal case. A search warrant must specify the location to be searched as well as the people or goods to be seized: Weapons, contraband, drug paraphernalia, and other instruments used to commit a crime. Because a search warrant infringes on a person’s right to privacy, there must be reasonable grounds for the search and can only be ordered by the police.
- Bench Warrants: If you are found in contempt of court, meaning that you failed to appear in court for a scheduled hearing, defied a court subpoena to appear in court, or disobeyed a court order, this will result in your immediate arrest. Bench warrants essentially keep you from leaving any legal business unfinished.
- Blue Warrants: In Texas, anyone who serves a minimum prison sentence is subject to court monitoring and is placed on parole after their release. To be eligible for parole, a prisoner must agree to and follow specific court-imposed terms such as community service, gaining employment, and meeting with a parole officer. If a parolee in Texas violates his or her parole, a blue warrant is issued, calling for their immediate arrest. (Bit of trivia: it’s called a blue warrant because it is customarily encased in a blue jacket.)
What Should You Do If You Have A Warrant for your arrest?
Knowing that you have a warrant out for your arrest might be terrifying. Still, the worst thing you can do is try to avoid or ignore it. Whether you’ve been caught for a little traffic infraction or a more serious crime, delaying your surrender may only make things worse. If you learn that you have a warrant out for your arrest, your best move is to turn yourself in. After you’ve been arrested, your attorney can defend you in any subsequent court appearances. The Texas court system can be complicated, and there may be concerns with your arrest or the evidence acquired against you by police authorities.
When Can A-EZ Out Bail Bonds Help?
Getting arrested doesn’t mean you have to spend any unnecessary time in jail. If you (or a loved one!) are aware of any warrants out for your arrest in Dallas, Plano, Denton, Irving, Fort Worth, Arlington, or McKinney, A-EZ Out Bail Bonds can help you stay out of jail while you await a court appearance.