Queens Criminal Attorney

About Bench Warrants

Bench warrants are a form of arrest warrant typically issued in response to an individual's failure to comply with a court order or summons. The bench warrant gives law enforcement officers the authority to seek out and arrest the individual in question. This particular warrant is called a bench warrant because once arrested, the individual in question is brought before the judge's bench to answer for his or her actions or absence. If a bench warrant was issued for your arrest and you would like to take legal action, you should contact a criminal attorney immediately. Immediate action is absolutely essential in these kinds of situations, as matters will only deteriorate the longer you wait.

Understanding Contempt of Court

Failing to appear before court or to serve a jury summons is considered contempt of court, which is a punishable offense that should be avoided at all costs. The penalties for a contempt of court offense can be quite serious depending on the situation and circumstances behind your decision to flee. Though judges are ultimately responsible for issuing warrants, individuals can file an affidavit requesting a bench warrant for your arrest. An example of a situation in which an individual would want to file for a bench warrant is if a former spouse refuses to pay child support. The bench warrant would effectively bring the offending party before a judge to answer for his or her actions.

Call an attorney today!

While a general arrest warrant usually serves to bring in an individual suspected of committing a crime, bench warrants are issued to specifically bring an individual before a judge. At Musa-Obregon & Associates, our attorneys have a solid understanding of the laws and circumstances dictating the terms of a bench warrant. In order to avoid a further contempt of court charge it is important to deal with a bench warrant promptly and thoroughly.