Bench warrants are issued when someone fails to appear in court. The bench warrant allows police to take you into custody and bring you into court if they come across you for another reason, such as a traffic violation or a DUI. A bench warrant is, essentially, serious. Below, Salt Lake City criminal defense lawyer Darwin Overson from Overson & Bugden will explain why you might have had a bench warrant issued against you, how you can find out if there is a bench warrant against you, and how you can obtain Darwin Overson’s legal assistance to get your bench warrant resolved.
Arrest and Jail Time for Bench Warrants in Utah
A bench warrant allows police to take you into custody, a reasonably severe action that requires you to have serious legal representation. After the police take you into custody for a bench warrant, you either will stay in jail until you have a chance to go to court, or you will meet with a judge immediately. Either way, the purpose of a bench warrant is to get you into a courtroom for a specific reason.
While you’re waiting for your chance to go to court to meet with a judge, you will be allowed to apply for bail. When a judge considers your application for bail, they will take certain factors into account, such as the circumstances of your case and your perceived risk of fleeing. If the judge accepts your bail application, you will be able to go home to await your court date. If you are released on bail and still fail to appear in court at your scheduled time, you will be charged with bail-jumping. Bail-jumping is a serious crime that can carry penalties of up to five years in jail.
Reasons You Might Have a Bench Warrant in Utah
Bench warrants are issued for a few reasons. One reason that a bench warrant might be issued is that you failed to appear in court. The reason that you were requested to appear in court can include an arraignment, trial, or sentencing. You may be issued a bench warrant if you have failed to adhere to certain conditions set for you, through either a restraining order or probation sentencing. Some bench warrants are issued because court fines were not paid.
A bench warrant does not permit police to enter your home to arrest you like they can with an arrest warrant. Bench warrants only allow police to take you into custody if they come across you for another reason—traffic violations and drunk driving incidents are the most common. It’s important to note that bench warrants have no expiration date. They can remain in effect for as long as the original violation is within the statute of limitations. Bench warrants can generally be renewed or reissued whenever a court desires, although this depends on the offense.
Note that bench warrants don’t expire and last as long as the original violation is within its statute of limitations. Courts can renew and reissue whenever they’d like, depending on the defendant’s charges.
How to Find Out If There Is a Bench Warrant Against You in Utah
You can find out if there is a bench warrant for you in a few different ways. Firstly, you can find out if you have a bench warrant by searching your name in the online search tool provided by the Utah Department of Public Safety. You can also find out if you have a bench warrant by placing a phone call to the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification. You can reach them at (801) 965-4445. The third way to find out if you have a bench warrant is to get in touch with the clerk of courts for your county. You can find out how to contact them by using Utah’s court directory system.
It’s also possible that you will be made aware of your bench warrant by a judge, police officer, or court official through either a phone call or a letter. If this happens, refrain from taking any action until you speak directly with a lawyer. It may be a scam, and a lawyer can help you determine whether it’s valid. If it is valid, a lawyer can help you resolve it.
What to Do if You Find Out That You Have a Bench Warrant in Utah
Get in touch with an attorney immediately if you find out that you have a bench warrant in Utah. An attorney can provide you with assistance throughout the entire process. It’s best to deal with your bench warrant immediately after you find out about it to prevent being taken into custody by police for another reason. If you use the help of a lawyer after you find out about your bench warrant, they can resolve it by scheduling a court date on your behalf. During this court date, you can request a recall of the bench warrant from the judge. If you show that you are willing to abide by the order that you have violated, the judge will likely grant your recall request.
Get in Touch with Our Salt Lake City Defense Lawyer
If you find out that there is a bench warrant out for you or someone close to you, get in touch with the Salt Lake City criminal defense lawyers from Overson Law. They can put their legal expertise to use to get your bench warrant resolved so you can live your life without worrying about being taken into custody by police. Call (801) 758-2287 today to schedule a consultation with our criminal defense lawyers.
