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Do Arrest or Bench Warrants Expire?

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At Lotze Mosley, LLP, our criminal defense attorneys in Washington D.C. and Maryland are often asked about the arrest and bench warrants and whether or not they expire.

The short answer is, no.

Until the person who is listed on the warrant is apprehended, the statute of limitations has expired for the crime that led to the issuing warrant, or until recalled by the court, warrants generally remain active.

How Are Arrest or Bench Warrants Enforced?

Once they have been issued and do not expire, an arrest warrant can be executed by law enforcement officers whenever they encounter the individual named in the paperwork.

Sometimes, law enforcement officers know the person named in the warrant and may happen upon them on the street, where they will make an arrest.

Other times, they may visit the individual’s home, work, or another location he or she frequents to serve the warrant.

The most common way arrest and bench warrants are executed is during traffic stops, when the police officer who made the stop runs the driver or other occupant’s driver’s license or identification information, and the feedback is that there is a warrant on their record.

When this occurs, the police officer will take the individual into custody to start the legal process.

If you have been arrested on an outstanding warrant — whether it is a misdemeanor or felony warrant — contact our skilled criminal defense attorneys in Maryland and Washington D.C. today to learn more about your rights and any applicable statute of limitations to file charges.

How are Arrest Warrants Different from Bench Warrants?

Both arrest and bench warrants instruct and allow law enforcement officials to locate the person named in the warrant and take them into custody.

The difference is, an arrest warrant is typically issued after a grand jury indictment or establishing probable cause that an individual may have committed a crime.

Bench warrants are issued by a judge for a violation of a court order, usually for failure to appear at a required court date or mandatory court appearance.

Like arrest warrants, bench warrants do not expire.

If you have an active arrest or bench warrant, contact our skilled criminal defense attorneys to learn how we can help you face the consequences of the warrant while building the best defense strategy available for the impending charges.

Contact Our Criminal Defense Attorneys in Maryland and Washington D.C. Today

Contact our experienced criminal defense attorneys in Washington D.C. and Maryland at Lotze Mosley, LLP to determine the best course of action for your unique case by calling 202-393-0535 today.

 

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