How to Clear Warrants? Misdemeanor and Felony Warrant Clearance

There are several types of criminal warrants.

Arrest Warrants: When a person is charged with a crime by the district attorney’s office, an arrest warrant will often be issued. Generally, for more serious cases, like felonies, an officer will serve the warrant on the person at their home or workplace and take the person into custody. Bail is then set (see my previous blog about bail issues). A criminal defense attorney such as Jonathan Turner may be able to save you the embarrassment of being arrested at home or at work by arranging with law enforcement to have his client turn themself in at the jail or sheriff’s office. For less serious crimes, such as misdemeanors, a warrant letter may arrive in the mail. This letter will inform the person that charges have been filed and that the person must go to the sheriff’s office to get a court date.

Bench Warrants: Bench warrants are warrants issued by judges usually because a person has failed to show up for a court date. Generally, in felony cases, a defendant must personally appear at each scheduled court date. If they do not, a bench warrant will likely be issued which can only be cleared if the person turns themself in at the jail. In a misdemeanor case, a defendant may or may not be required to appear at each court date depending on the type of offense and whether they have a private lawyer as opposed to a public defender. If a bench warrant is issued in a misdemeanor case, it may be possible for a private attorney to put the case back on calendar and get the warrant recalled without the defendant having to return to jail.

Sheriff’s Warrant: Also, called a SOC warrant, these are often issued if a defendant fails to show up for jail or a jail alternative such as work project, work program, electronic monitoring, work furlough, alternative sentencing, community service, etc… Sheriff’s warrants are very serious and very difficult to get recalled without first turning oneself into jail where they may have to serve the rest of their sentence in custody.

If you have an outstanding warrant, no matter what type, it is key that you contact a top criminal defense attorney like Jonathan Turner. Contacting Sacramento Criminal Attorney Jonathan Turner when you have a warrant out may be the difference between going to jail and staying out of jail.