Having a warrant out for your arrest can be an unsettling event.
However, merely avoiding the warrant isn’t a wise idea; instead, understanding your rights and your responsibilities to comply with the law when a warrant for your arrest has been issued is critical.
At the law office of Millar Leonard, PC, our skilled Colorado criminal defense lawyers can help you determine what actions to take if you believe that a warrant for your arrest has been issued, and how to best protect your future. Call us today to get started.
What Is an Arrest Warrant in Colorado?
As explained by the Legal Information Institute of Cornell Law School, an arrest warrant is a document that is issued by a judge and which gives the police the right to take a person who has been accused of a crime into custody. In order for police to obtain an arrest warrant from a judge, the police must offer probable cause that the defendant named in the warrant is guilty of a criminal activity.
The probable cause standard means that, based on the evidence obtained, a reasonable person would believe that it is more likely than not that a crime has been committed. While an arrest warrant is often preferred, police are allowed to make arrests without an arrest warrant in some circumstances.
What Happens Next?
After a police officer offers probable cause to a judge regarding the likelihood that a defendant has committed a crime, and the judge offers an arrest warrant for the named person’s arrest as such, police then have the right to detain the defendant.
Depending upon the circumstances and the individual’s criminal history, where and when the police actually make good on the warrant and arrest the person can vary; often, the police will show up to a known location–such as the individual’s home–to make an arrest. When an arrest warrant is being issued based on the belief that the defendant has committed a serious crime, police may even have the authority to enter the defendant’s home without permission in order to make an arrest.
Out-of-State Arrests
When a warrant is issued for a person’s arrest, it can be hard to evade it. In fact, even if you go to another state, you could be arrested on a Colorado arrest warrant.
Similarly, if you have an arrest warrant in another state and come to Colorado, a Colorado officer could arrest you here. Police departments share this information, and if you interact with a police officer in any state, they will likely search your name in a database; if a warrant for your arrest has been issued, this information will be displayed, and the officer will likely make an arrest.
Do I Have a Warrant in Colorado?
If you have been accused of, or associated with, a criminal activity in Colorado, you may be wondering whether or not a warrant for your arrest has been issued.
Depending upon the county where the crime was committed, you may be able to search for your name online to see if there is a warrant for your arrest has been issued. For example, you can use the Denver County Court website to search your name.
If a warrant has been issued for your arrest, then you can be sure that any interaction with police will likely result in arrest. Further, police officers may show up to your home or place of work to make an arrest.
The best thing to do is to immediately retain the counsel of an experienced defense lawyer. An attorney can advise you in regards to turning yourself in, or representing you in court on your behalf.
Call Our Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer Today
Arrest warrants in Colorado should be taken seriously, and if a warrant has been issued for your arrest, the last things you should do are just “wait it out” or attempt to flee. Instead, working with a criminal defense lawyer in Colorado is a necessity.
At the office of Miller Leonard, PC, we are ready to serve you. We understand how terrifying facing criminal charges and the prospect of arrest can be, and want to offer you the defense that you are entitled to. Please reach us today by phone or online for legal help now.
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