How to Resolve a Bench Warrant

Bench warrants give police the authority to arrest an individual

A bench warrant, also called an arrest warrant, is issued by a judge or magistrate in the United States. This order gives law enforcement personnel the authority to apprehend an individual and place him under arrest. Police officers bring the subject of the bench warrant to court to face the charges levied against him, and the individual might have to spend time in jail before his court appearance. Failing to resolve a bench warrant can result in higher fines and increased jail time.

Things You'll Need

• Driver's license or state identification number
• Social Security number

Instructions

1. Contact the court through which the bench warrant was issued. The procedure for searching for an arrest warrant differs depending on the state in which it was issued. In New York, for example, citizens can call the Warrant Section Telephone Inquiry Unit.

2. Provide the information required to search arrest warrants. You must provide your driver's license or state identification number, your Social Security number and any other identification requested.

3. Appear in court. Defendants must return to the court that issued the bench warrant to resolve it.

4. Pay the fine if necessary. For example, bench warrants issued in Texas for failing to appear in traffic court require the defendant to pay a fee in addition to the traffic ticket fine to clear the arrest warrant, according to the Harris County Justice of the Peace.

5. Schedule a court date. When a defendant resolves a bench warrant, the original charge does not disappear. The court will issue a new date to hear that case.

6. Post bond. The court may require you to post bond to resolve a bench warrant, depending on the severity of the original charge. If you are unable to post the bond in cash, you might require the services of a bail bondsman.

Tips & Warnings

• Resolve a bench warrant as quickly as possible after learning of its existence. A delay may increase the penalties.

• Hiring an attorney to help resolve a bench warrant might reduce the fines or jail time ordered by the court.

• Retain a copy of the bench warrant paperwork you receive from the court. It might take up to three days for an arrest warrant to clear the computer, and if you don't have the paperwork, you risk being arrested.

References

• New York Police Department, Frequently Asked Questions
• Harris County Justice of the Peace, Information About Traffic Cases