An arrest warrant is a legal document signed by a judge (or magistrate) that allows a police officer to detain the individual mentioned in the warrant. Warrants usually specify the offense for which an arrest warrant has been issued. The first thing you should do is double-check that you have an arrest warrant. If you live in Salisbury, North Carolina, you can check if you have an arrest warrant by going to the Rowan County Sheriff’s website. If you live in Charlotte, you can check if you have a warrant by going to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s website.
Should I surrender if I have an arrest warrant?
Absolutely! Surrendering (turning yourself in) voluntarily provides a slew of advantages. For starters, turning oneself in will spare you the humiliation of being handcuffed and arrested at work, church, school, social gatherings, or other public locations. Second, it reduces the likelihood that the police will be violent with you while attempting to execute the arrest warrant. Finally, it demonstrates to the judge or magistrate that you are not a flight risk. As a result, the bond may be significantly reduced.
What should I do before turning myself in?
- Speak with a criminal defense attorney. If the police wish to question you, make arrangements for a lawyer to accompany you. Without a counsel, never go to a probable police interview.
- Retain the services of a criminal defense attorney for your initial appearance or bond hearing.
- Speak with a bail bondsman in North Carolina and make arrangements for the bail bondsman to accompany you when you turn yourself in. To keep your time in jail as short as possible, you should contact a bail bondsman.
- Generally, you should avoid turning up to the county jail or police station during or just before a shift change. A bail bondsman in North Carolina will know when the optimum time is to show up. Typically, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
- Apart from your state identity card or North Carolina driver’s license, don’t bring anything with you.
- Make sure you don’t bring any weapons or illegal items with you.
- Dress comfortably and wear comfy shoes.
When I’m at the police station, what should I do?
- Keep your cool!
- Do not attempt to represent yourself without the assistance of an attorney. If you do turn yourself in without a lawyer for some reason, don’t answer any questions. Instead, say “I want a lawyer” if you don’t have one yet, or “I want to speak with my lawyer” if you already have one.
- When it comes to fingerprinting or answering questions about your identity, such as your name and phone number, you should cooperate with the authorities.
- It’s important to remember that you have the right to remain silent.
What Should I Not Do If I Have an Arrest Warrant?
1. Do not attempt to flee or elude the cops in any way
2. Do not report to the police on a weekend or a holiday.
3. If it’s not a weekend or a holiday, do not postpone or delay turning oneself in.
4. Do not attempt to fly, particularly an overseas flight.
5. DO NOT TURN IN YOURSELF WITHOUT FIRST CONSULTING A LAWYER
