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  • By: Jonathan Lowe, Esq.
Criminal procedure and legal authority in Tarrant County, Texas - The Lowe Law Office, PLLC

In this article, you can discover…

  • What to do if you discover that you have an arrest warrant.
  • Why it’s best to never ignore an arrest warrant.
  • How a criminal defense attorney can help defend your rights in light of an arrest warrant.

What Should I Do If I Have A Warrant Out For My Arrest In Tarrant County, TX?

The first thing to keep in mind is that you should NOT talk to the police. Speaking with an officer or detective alone can cause irreversible damage to your case. Instead, call a criminal defense attorney near you who can help advise you on how to move forward.

Generally, your attorney can reach out to the detective to determine if you do, indeed, have a warrant, what the warrant is for, if there is an amount recommended by the judge who signed the arrest warrant, and if it might be possible for you to turn yourself in without being arrested. This way, you may be able to avoid being arrested at home, at work, or in public.

Next, you and your attorney will decide where and when to turn yourself in. Ideally, you may be able to simply turn yourself in and spend little to no time behind bars. Your attorney can also work with a judge, a local bail bondsman, and other legal resources to help you spend the least amount of time in jail possible for your case.

What Are The Consequences Of Ignoring An Arrest Warrant In Tarrant County?

In the short term, ignoring an arrest warrant is risky because it gives you no control over where or when you are arrested. Many times, you will be driving and a license plate reader will scan your license plate, and nearby officers will get a “ping”, giving the officer the ability to pull you over and arrest you on the spot. Then, you might go to a city jail or the county jail, but you will most likely be in custody for a lot longer and you will not have set up ahead of time the resources needed to make bail once bail is posted.

This is likely to leave you sitting in jail longer than you would have if you had chosen to turn yourself in and been prepared ahead of time.

In the long term, ignoring an arrest warrant can harm your case. To the prosecution, delaying turning yourself in can look like an awareness of guilt or an attempt to get away with a crime. But when you voluntarily turn yourself in, your attorney can argue that your cooperation is a sign of reasonableness and innocence, helping strengthen your defense from the beginning.

Is There A Way To Resolve An Arrest Warrant In Texas Without Going To Jail?

Yes, but it depends on whether a case has been filed, what jurisdiction the arrest warrant is in, and what your goal is in how to resolve the case. If no case has been filed, then you can work with the judge and the jail to do a “walk-through” so that you “walk through” the jail without being booked into the jail. You would still have to post bond, but all the paperwork would be done ahead of time. If a case has been filed, then it is still possible to do a walk-through, but your defense attorney could alternatively speak with the prosecutor and argue as to why you should not be arrested, why you don’t need to go to jail (and why you should be given probation) or why your case should be dismissed. Whether this is successful depends greatly on what the warrant is for, whether it’s a new offense, and how simply the issue behind the warrant can be resolved.

For example, if there is a warrant out for your arrest over something relatively minor, such as unpaid probation fees or a technical violation, your attorney may be able to talk with the prosecutor or the probation officer, arrange for those fees to be paid or make right what they said you did wrong, and for the case to be dismissed. Once the case is dismissed, the warrant is automatically recalled.

What Are My Rights If I’m Arrested On A Warrant In Texas?

You have Miranda rights, meaning that you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in court. You also have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, the court will appoint one for you.

When you have a warrant, it’s always best to stay silent rather than talk to the police or answer their questions. The police have already obtained a warrant, and a judge has already signed off on the warrant, meaning that both the police and the judge believe that you have likely committed a crime.

Why talk to people who are presuming your guilt? Assert your right to remain silent and assert your right to have an attorney present with you during police questioning. Your attorney can then advise you, based on the evidence and their conversations with you, whether you should give a statement to the police or not.

In Texas, once you are arrested, the law states that you are to be taken in front of a judge without unnecessary delay, typically within 48 hours of your arrest. A judge will then determine if there is probable cause to detain you, set the bail amount if you are entitled to bail, read you your Miranda rights, and set conditions of your release, known as “bond conditions”.

If you do make bail while and get out on bond, you must comply with all bond conditions, such as no contact with the alleged victim, no committing new crimes, no traveling outside of the county where you were arrested, and any other conditions set by the judge.

What Can A Criminal Defense Lawyer Do To Help If I’m Arrested On A Warrant In Tarrant County, TX?

When arrested, you should always ask for an attorney, ideally immediately after your arrest. There is no harm whatsoever in asking for a lawyer, and asking for an attorney to be present before you speak to the police can not be held against you legally and will not hurt your case. In reality, having a lawyer present can only help you.

Request an attorney from the very beginning, and do not answer the officer’s questions without a lawyer present. A lawyer can help you avoid incriminating yourself, advise you when you are questioned, and help protect your rights at each step of the legal process.

What Should I Do If I Have An Outstanding Warrant But I’ve Already Waited To Turn Myself In?

If you have a warrant out for your arrest, call a defense attorney immediately to discuss whether you should turn yourself in. Failing to turn yourself in can seriously harm your case. Refusing to turn yourself in for months or years makes you a fugitive, and this can make plea bargains with the prosecution more difficult. The judge and jury will also consider your fugitive status when assessing a punishment and determining if you deserve probation.

What’s more, if you don’t turn yourself in voluntarily, you could wind up being arrested at work, which is embarrassing and could cost you your job. Or, you could wind up being arrested at home, early in the morning, in front of your children. And when arrested, you may have to spend more time in jail as your family isn’t prepared to bond you out. It’s always best to turn yourself in sooner than later and on your conditions (i.e. with a bail bondsman ready to post your bond as soon as it is posted), as the short-term and long-term consequences will be far better.

Still Have Questions? Ready To Get Started?

For more information on How To Handle An Arrest Warrant In Tarrant County, Texas, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (817) 660-7601 today.

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