Where Do I Turn Myself in on a Warrant in California?

If you have an active arrest warrant in California, you could be arrested at any moment in any place. An arrest warrant could be the result of a variety of different circumstances; however, the end result is that you may find yourself asking the question “where do I turn myself in on a warrant in California?”

There are several common ways in which you may find yourself with an open warrant for your arrest, including:

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• Investigation – Although some arrests are made on the spot when a law enforcement officer actually sees a crime occur (think DUI), many arrest warrants are only issued after a lengthy investigation by the police. In this case, the police will prepare a probable cause affidavit supporting an arrest warrant and present it to a judge. If the judge signs it a warrant for your arrest will issue. Often, you only become aware of the warrant when the police come to your home or work looking for you.
• Failure to Appear – If you fail to appear for court the judge may decide to issue a warrant for your arrest which is intended to bring you before the court to answer for your failure to appear.
• Probation Violation – If you are on probation and violate the terms of your probation your probation officer might file an official violation with the court. The judge may then issue a warrant for your arrest to answer to the alleged violation.

If you become aware that you have an active warrant for your arrest you should consult with an experienced California criminal defense attorney right away. Turning yourself in before the police have the opportunity to arrest you is usually the best option; however, you should plan your surrender with your attorney first. Of course, you can simply walk into the police station or county jail and announce you want to turn yourself in but you miss out on the ability to plan what happens after your surrender by doing it this way.

Depending on the reason for the warrant, there is a good chance that a bond review hearing will follow your surrender, meaning you will have the opportunity to effectuate your release soon after your surrender. You and your attorney should be able to capitalize on the fact that you turned yourself in when the judge considers bond. In addition, your attorney may be able to find out additional information about the reason for the arrest warrant prior to you turning yourself in to the police. For these reasons, it only makes sense to consult with your attorney before surrendering yourself.

For immediate legal help, contact San Diego criminal defense attorney Domenic J. Lombardo at (619) 232-5122 to schedule a free and confidential consultation.

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Domenic Lombardo

Domenic J. Lombardo, Attorney at Law and a member of California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (CACJ), graduated from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), earning a B.A. in Economics-Business, before graduating with his J.D. from University of California, Hastings School of Law. Mr. Lombardo has been practicing as a criminal defense lawyer in San Diego for nearly 30 years, having started at the San Diego Office of the Public Defender in 1991 and then opened the Law Office of Domenic J. Lombardo in early 1996 as a sole practitioner. His practice is dedicated entirely to the defense of individuals accused of crimes and university misconduct, including Title IX allegations. While Mr. Lombardo works as the primary attorney for all his cases, he does have a team of investigators, forensic consultants, and paralegals to call on to help achieve the best possible result in every case. When he is not working, Mr. Lombardo is a family man, triathlete, and world traveler.

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