What To Do If You Have A Warrant In Maryland

Every year, Maryland issues thousands of warrants targeting individuals involved in criminal activity or civil lawsuits. Once a warrant is issued against you, it may remain active until it is served, recalled, quashed, or otherwise invalidated. What you do between when you become aware of your warrant in Maryland and when you are taken into custody to face a commissioner or a judge is crucial to your freedom.

Unfortunately, because some arrest-warrant records are not immediately open to public inspection, many people have no idea they have an outstanding warrant and only find out they had one after a law enforcement officer arrests and detains them during a routine traffic stop, or when the police visit them at home. In this post, we will examine the various types of warrants, show you how to check for outstanding warrants in Maryland, provide information on possible warrant recall in Maryland, and more.

Listen, we understand that having a warrant can be overwhelming and stressful. However, with the help of an experienced Maryland criminal defense lawyer, you can regain your freedom and resolve the case.

Grounds for issuing a warrant

An arrest warrant instructs police officers to arrest and take someone into custody when the legal requirements for issuance are met. The order can be issued by a judge or, in District Court, a District Court commissioner and authorizes law enforcement agents to detain the suspect.

In Maryland, several types of warrants can be issued, depending on the circumstances of the case. These include:

• Arrest warrants: This is the most common type of warrant and is usually issued by a court judge or District Court commissioner when there is probable cause to believe the defendant committed the offense charged and the other legal requirements for a warrant are met. These court records generally are not open to public inspection until the warrant is served and a return is filed or 90 days have elapsed, subject to exceptions and court orders.
• Bench warrants: These are court orders issued by a judge when a defendant fails to appear in court, misses a court date, violates probation, or refuses to comply with a court directive. They are usually available to anyone searching through public records.
• Search warrants: These are court orders issued by a judge, allowing law enforcement to search a suspect’s home, their person, vehicle, phone, or personal belongings to collect crucial evidence. While it does not directly order the suspect’s arrest, if law enforcement develops lawful grounds to arrest the suspect, they can make an arrest.

Your outstanding warrant will often determine your next steps. If you worry that you may be the subject of a warrant, speak with our warrant attorneys in Maryland to explore your legal options.

Actions you can take if an arrest warrant has been issued against you in Maryland

Depending on the type of warrant, you can either contact a criminal defense lawyer immediately and/or comply with the warrant’s terms. If law enforcement shows up at your doorstep with a valid search warrant, do not interfere with the search and call your attorney while they are carrying it out.

If you are dealing with a bench or arrest warrant, contact your lawyer and let them take it from there. In many cases, most people do not know that they are the subject of an arrest warrant until they are in cuffs. If this is your situation, the less you say, the better for your case.

However, if there is a bench warrant in Maryland issued for you, and you had a valid reason for the violation, no-show, or failure to comply, you can present it as proof. For example, let’s say you were hospitalized and could not be in court on the scheduled date; you can provide your medical records as evidence that your non-appearance was unintended.

This may support a request to have the warrant recalled, but the court decides whether to recall it. Your lawyer may also file a motion asking the court to recall or quash the warrant; expungement is a separate process that depends on statutory eligibility. Lastly, do not run from the law or ignore the warrant.

How to check for warrants in Maryland

Maryland does not provide the public with a single database containing all warrant information. Depending on the record and agency, possible sources include:

• Local police precincts or departments
• District or circuit court clerk offices in the county
• Local county sheriff’s office websites
• Maryland State Police
• Maryland Judiciary Case Search & Record Portal

You may also try independent third-party aggregation websites that provide warrant information to the general public.

Where can you be arrested if you have a warrant?

Individuals with active bench or arrest warrants can be picked up and taken into custody by police whenever they find you. This means law enforcement agents can make arrests at work, at home, while running errands, during traffic stops, or even while taking your evening walk.

However, absent exigent circumstances, officers generally may not enter a third party’s home to execute an arrest warrant unless a person with authority consents to law enforcement entering the home to arrest you or they possess a search warrant for the home.

Whatever the case, do not delay in seeking legal help if you become aware of an active warrant for you.

Why hiring a lawyer to handle your warrant issues is the safest approach

Whether you have a pending arrest warrant in Annapolis or a bench warrant in Maryland, hiring a criminal defense attorney can make a huge difference in your case. They can arrange a safe or walk-through surrender, which helps reduce the time you will spend in a cell, advocate for a lower bond, and protect your rights during the process.

They can also protect you from uttering self-incriminating statements, negotiate a case dismissal, and seek your release if you are already in custody. Additionally, they may even prevent you from being taken into custody by law enforcement and can handle the bond process on your behalf.

For an effective and speedy intervention in your outstanding warrant case, let our Maryland criminal defense lawyers at Drew Cochran, Attorney at Law provide you with insightful and experienced legal guidance specific to your circumstances.

Call now or fill out this contact form to schedule a consultation.