What Is an Arizona Arrest Warrant?
An arrest warrant is a document signed by a judge that authorizes the police to take someone into custody. The person that is taken into custody is accused of committing some sort of crime. Before a warrant is issued, the prosecutor presents evidence to a judge, who decides if there is probable cause to arrest the individual.
There are different types of warrants, including:
Bench Warrants: A bench warrant is generally issued if you failed to appear in court at a certain date and time or failed to follow another court order. This could include failing to appear for a traffic ticket or failure to pay child support.
If a bench warrant is issued, you may be charged with a separate offense for failing to appear on top of the underlying charge. Depending on whether the offense for which you failed to appear is a misdemeanor or felony, you could be charged with a Class 1 Misdemeanor or Class 5 Felony.
Arrest Warrants: An arrest warrant is issued after a judge determines there is enough evidence against you to demonstrate you committed a crime. If an arrest warrant is issued, you could be arrested at any time, and taken into police custody. The arrest warrant does not mean you are guilty of the crime at issue. It just means there is enough evidence to support there is probable cause the crime was committed by you.
Search Warrant: A search warrant is a document giving the police authority to look through your personal property to find and collect evidence that a crime has been committed. A search warrant does not give police the authority to take you into custody.
How Do I know If I Have a Warrant Issued Against Me?
You don’t have to sit around and wonder if the police are waiting to arrest you. There are several ways to find out if a warrant has been issued against you in Arizona.
You can easily find out if a warrant has been issued against you by doing an online warrant search through the Public Access Case Look Up. The Public Access look up is the easiest way to find out if a warrant has been issued. The only information you need is your first and last name and date of birth.
The following courts do not have warrants listed on the Public Access Case Look Up:
- Maricopa County:
- Chandler Municipal
- Gilbert Municipal
- Justice of the Peace Courts
- Maricopa Superior Court
- Mesa Municipal
- Paradise Valley Municipal
- Tempe Municipal
- Pima County
- Pima Consolidated Justice
- Pima County Superior Court
- Arizona Supreme Court
- Court of Appeals-Division 1
- Court of Appeals-Division 2
If you suspect that there may be a warrant issued from one of the courts listed above, you can contact the court directly to obtain information on locating warrants.
You can also find information on outstanding warrants by calling the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Their phone line is dedicated to finding warrants for individuals. You can call 602.223.2233 and provide your name and date of birth. If there is a felony warrant issued in Maricopa County, you can also call 602.506.8575 to obtain information.
But the most effective way to find out if a warrant has been issued is to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney. With over ten years of experience, Stewart Salwin can help you determine if you have an outstanding warrant in the State of Arizona.
What Do I Do If I Find I Have an Arrest Warrant?
If you find out you have an outstanding warrant, don’t panic. You want to act swiftly by contacting an experienced criminal defense attorney who can help to minimize the damage. An attorney will act by obtaining information about the warrant and may be able to appear on your behalf. If an arrest is unavoidable, hiring an attorney can minimize the impact your arrest has. The attorney will prepare you for the arrest, court appearance and any questions you might be asked by police or the court.
If you do nothing, you risk serious consequences. A simple traffic stop could land you in jail on an outstanding warrant.
How Long Will the Warrant Remain?
A warrant in the State of Arizona does not expire. That means that until it is resolved, it will remain hanging over your head. You will be at risk for getting picked up and taken into custody at any time.
Can I Get the Warrant Withdrawn?
The process of having a warrant withdrawn is called “quashing” the warrant. You can seek to quash the warrant on several grounds. If you never received the court summons notifying you of your court date or miss the court date due to other circumstances, you may be able to have the warrant quashed. You should contact an attorney immediately before trying to quash the warrant on your own.
How Do I know Which Attorney to Call for Help?
You want an experienced attorney who is familiar with the courts and judges. Stewart Salwin has over a decade of experience in representing individuals charged with crimes throughout the State of Arizona. His experience and straightforward, honest approach will provide you the best defense possible.
He can help. Don’t delay and call him for a free consultation today.
Stewart Salwin
Stewart Salwin is the founder and lead attorney at Salwin Law Group, a criminal defense law firm based in Scottsdale, Arizona, just outside of the greater Phoenix area. He is a graduate of Georgetown University and Harvard Law School, where he was taught criminal law by world-renowned defense attorneys.
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