When law enforcement is investigating a crime, many of the searches that they will conduct can be planned well in advance, rather than in the heat of the moment. When they have the time to do so, police will often try to get a warrant for whatever it is that they are going to do. By getting a warrant to do what they want, they can act under the presumption that they are justified to do what the warrant allows them to do.
Typically, this whole process happens behind the scenes, out of your sight. However, it is not unheard of for someone to learn that there is a warrant out for their arrest. This can happen when the police are investigating a crime that involves not just you, but also several other people, as well. If one of these other people gets arrested, it’s sometimes possible for them to notify you or someone close to you that there’s an arrest warrant for you, too.
If you learn that there’s a warrant out for your arrest before police come knocking on your door, what you do with your next few hours can be crucial for how your case develops.
Secure a Criminal Defense Attorney Immediately
The most important thing to do is to find a criminal defense attorney that can represent you. If you do this immediately, and get a lawyer on your side as early as possible in the criminal process, it can result in huge dividends at the end. The second that you get taken into custody, law enforcement will keep track of your every move and everything that you say to help them build their case against you. By getting an attorney involved before this arrest even happens, your defense attorney can protect your rights, and make sure that you know exactly what you’re doing at this critical juncture.
Turning Yourself In
Unless you want to live on the run as a fugitive, turning yourself in on your own terms can make things much better in the long run. Turning yourself in signals to the court that you’re not a flight risk, which can help you get reasonable bail terms.
Even more importantly, turning yourself in also allows you to exert more control over the situation, rather than letting police come and arrest you on their time. This lets you make sure that your attorney is with you when you get taken into custody, showing police that you’re prepared for the process, and preventing them from trampling your rights.
Read More → Bail Violations and Your Rights to Bail
Contact our Criminal Defense Attorneys Today
If you hear that there’s an arrest warrant for you, then you don’t have much time to act. However, if you stay calm and collected and make the right decisions, it can greatly improve the outlook of your case by getting an attorney to your side at the moment you need one the most.
Call the law office of criminal defense attorney William T. Bly at (207) 571-8146 or contact him online.
Call 207-571-8146 or contact us online to schedule a consult with one of our highly skilled criminal defense & OUI lawyers, serving Southern Maine, today.
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