How To Find Out If You Have a Criminal Warrant in Maryland
Finding out there is a warrant for your arrest is stressful and frightening, but it’s even worse if you think there is a warrant but you can’t find out for sure. The uncertainty can often be much more stressful than just taking care of the warrant and moving on with your life. Unfortunately, in Maryland, the judicial system is set up to keep many warrants sealed. The two types we have in this state are bench warrants and arrest warrants. So, what are the steps on how to find out if you have a criminal warrant in Maryland? Well, the expert Baltimore attorneys at the Law Offices of Nicholas J. Del Pizzo, a criminal defense lawyer in Dundalk, we are here to help walk you through the steps.
Two types of warrants:
Keeping in mind the two different types of warrants we have in Maryland; they are given for different reasons. Bench warrants are issued in cases where the defendant fails to appear or has violated a condition of his or her probation or pre-trial release. This can also occur when there is a failure to pay fines or court costs, but this is much less common. Arrest warrants are issued by court commissioners or judges upon receiving a charging document from the State’s Attorney’s Office, a police officer or a civilian. Arrest warrants are sealed for 90 days or until served, which means the public cannot look them up on the case search website.
The Steps To Take In Order To Find Out If You Have a Criminal Warrant in Maryland
Starting the search
If you think there may be an arrest warrant for you, there may be ways to confirm it, but this does depend on where your case is located. Some police departments such as Montgomery County are more than happy to check to see if you have a warrant, and even have warrants departments for this very purpose. Other counties like Baltimore County have a strict policy where they will only give out warrant information to the defendant in person by showing up at a precinct. Baltimore County and many other police departments in the state do not give out warrant information over the phone, even to a lawyer.
Next Steps
If you can find out there is an arrest warrant, the two most sensible options are to attempt to file a motion to convert the warrant into a summons or to surrender on your own terms. A criminal defense lawyer can file a motion to convert an arrest warrant into a summons as long as they can locate the case number. If the motion is denied, though, the next best option is to schedule a surrender at a police precinct or a commissioner’s office that is next to a jail or police station.
About The Law Offices of Nicholas J Del Pizzo
At The Law Offices of Nicholas J. Del Pizzo, III P.A. in Baltimore, Maryland, we make ourselves available for our clients when they are facing foreclosure of their home, bankruptcy, personal injury or medical malpractice. When you have a consultation at our law office, you meet with Nick Del Pizzo, a Baltimore lawyer, the founder of our firm. Your case is not passed off to a paralegal or less-experienced associate. You get the personalized attention you need from a local law firm. Whatever your legal need is, we are there for you, seven days a week. Your case becomes our cause, and we will seek the best resolution possible.
Ready to Speak to an Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer in Baltimore?
If you are facing criminal charges, you need a Baltimore criminal defense lawyer who is attentive and available for you. We work around the clock for our clients to ensure that they have a criminal defense advocate when they need one. Contact us today to learn more about how we can represent you or a loved one.