The Texas police have no obligation to inform you there is a warrant out for your arrest. If you suspect there might be a warrant out for your arrest, you should take steps to confirm whether this is true.
If there is a warrant out for your arrest in Texas, the police can arrest you without notice. You could be surprised at work, school, or home. Texas law enforcement agencies take warrants very seriously; it is not something that you should ignore. If you discover that there is a warrant out for your arrest, the first step you should take is to contact an experienced local criminal defense attorney.
You can find out if there is a warrant out for your arrest in Texas in the following ways:
- Contact an Attorney
A local Sugar Land attorney can complete a warrant search for you. Criminal defense attorneys have the resources to quickly confirm whether or not there is a warrant out for your arrest. If there is a warrant, having an attorney involved in the early stages is invaluable. He or she can help resolve the matter as quickly and painlessly as possible. An attorney can ensure that you aren’t humiliated by a public arrest.
- Receive a Courtesy Card from the Constable’s Office
If your criminal warrant was issued in Fort Bend County from the Justice Court, the Warrant Division will send a courtesy postcard to the address they have on file. It will inform you of the situation and how to take care of the warrant. If you did not receive a postcard, it does not automatically mean there is no warrant.
- Search Online
There are several online warrant search tools. The Texas Department of Public Safety offers a state-wide online search for warrants resulting from a violation of Chapter 706 of the Texas Transportation Code. This includes warrants issued because you failed to pay a fine or appear in court for traffic issues, parking violations, driver’s license violations, and DWIs.
Some Texas counties, like Harris County and Travis County, have warrant search tools on their sheriff’s office’s website. You need to search each individual county. A warrant issued by Harris County will not show up in the Fort Bend County Records, or vice-versa.
In addition to the sheriff’s office, you can search Texas county court websites. For example, you can search civil, felony, and misdemeanor records on the Fort Bend County Court site. In the court record, it will show whether there is an active warrant on existing felony cases and all misdemeanors. In Fort Bend, you will not be able to see any felony warrants online unless they have been executed, i.e. the person has been arrested.
In addition, several non-government sites offer warrant searches, like Texaswarrantroundup.org. Some people use these sites as an opportunity to steal your information. If the website asks you to pay a subscription or does not look official, you should avoid it. It is important to do due diligence before entering your credit card information.
If you do not show up in a search, it does not preclude the possibility that there is a warrant for your arrest. There is no one database that searches for all warrants in Texas.
- Contact the Sheriff’s Office
You can contact the sheriff’s office in the county where the warrant was issued. Fort Bend County Sherriff’s Office is located at 1840 Richmond Pkwy, Richmond, TX 77469. Going to the sheriff’s office is risky because they could arrest you on the spot. It is not a good idea to surrender yourself before speaking with an attorney.
Even calling the sheriff’s office is dangerous because they could trace your call or ask questions about your location. If you do call the sheriff’s office, you should never lie to a law enforcement officer. Lying can make your situation much worse.
- Receive Letters in the Mail from Bail Bond Agencies
Some Texas bail bond agencies are continually searching warrant databases to solicit business. If you suddenly start receiving an unusual amount of mail from these agencies, you likely have a warrant out for your arrest. You should contact an attorney before responding to any advertisement. You and your attorney can together decide who to contact and when to do it.
Your Sugar Land Criminal Defense Attorney
If you have a warrant out for your arrest, you should reach out to an experienced and client-focused Sugar Land criminal defense attorney. Adam Capetillo is a Fort Bend County native who can confirm whether there is a warrant out for your arrest and help you plan your next steps. Call Capetillo Law Firm today for a free consultation.
