Unpaid parking tickets, skipping jury duty, failure to appear – all might lead to a warrant being issued for your arrest – but what are arrest warrants?
Once an arrest warrant has been issued, law enforcement can actively begin their search and conduct an arrest. If you have an arrest warrant, you might be arrested at home, school or work and at any time.
Law enforcement may choose to publicly announce arrest warrants – or not. Not all arrest warrants are public record. Publishing arrest warrants issued can help apprehend suspects and deter further criminal activity, but it can also violate privacy statutes and make it more difficult to get cooperation from the person for which the arrest warrant was issued.
Until you’re arrested, you might not know that a warrant was ever issued.
“Failure to appear,” also sometimes called “jumping bail,” is the most likely cause of your arrest warrant outside of suspected criminal activity. It refers to when you’ve been called before the court and don’t show up, whether accidentally or intentionally. This can lead to a misdemeanor or serious felony charges, and – if you were recently released from jail on a bail bond – failing to appear will cause bond forfeiture.
Clearing Your Arrest Warrant
The only way for an arrest warrant to be cleared is when the person for which it was issued is arrested or when a judge dismisses it. Likely, if you have an arrest warrant in Kansas, you will be arrested and taken into custody. Clearing an arrest warrant does not mean charges will be dropped.
First, contact an attorney to help you learn what charges have been filed against you, when the arrest warrant was issued and to help you during future hearings after you appear before the judge.
Second, contact Owens Bonding Co. at (866) 830-BOND (2663). We serve 95 counties across Kansas and can help you get out of jail after an arrest as long as you’re eligible for bail bond services. If you are denied bail or given a cash-only bond, Owens Bonding will not be able to assist you.