What is a Bench Warrant?
About Bench Warrants in Los Angeles, California
A bench warrant is a formal court order often issued when an individual fails to appear for a scheduled court date or is otherwise in "contempt of court." This means that he or she has willfully failed to follow a court order and thus interrupted the process of justice. When a bench warrant is issued against a person, law enforcement has the immediate authority to take that individual into custody and bring him or her to court to face the charges of the warrant. It is called a "bench" warrant because the individual is literally brought before the judge's bench to address the matter at hand. Although a failure to appear in court is the most common grounds for a bench warrant, a warrant may also be issued for the following:
- Failure to pay a court-ordered fine
- Failure to pay child support / spousal support
- Failure to complete court-ordered counseling or treatment
What Happens after a Bench Warrant is Issued?
Once a bench warrant is issued against you, you will be at risk of immediate arrest. In some cases, a person will not know that he or she has a warrant out for his or her arrest. This may turn a routine traffic stop into a situation where the individual is taken into custody by the Los Angeles Police Department. Law enforcement may arrest a person named in a bench warrant wherever he or she may be - even if at work, school or with family. This may be a frightening and embarrassing experience.
Bench Warrant Attorney Serving Los Angeles
If a bench warrant has been issued for your arrest, don't worry about what the future holds. Instead, take action and consult a Los Angeles bench warrant attorney with the knowledge and resources to help you seek a bench warrant recall - a reversal of the warrant against you. Barry Gerald Sands offers a free initial consultation to discuss your Los Angeles warrant with you; to determine how he can help.
Contact Los Angeles warrant lawyer Barry Gerald Sands today! |