What Happens If I Have A Warrant In Another City?

What happens if you have a warrant in another city?

In this article, you’ll learn about:

  • the different types of warrants
  • which warrants cops need to come to get you in another city
  • if cops are allowed to come to get you in another city without a warrant
  • if you can get extradited to another city
  • will you get a warrant for your arrest for not showing up to court in another city

Let’s dig in.

Table of Contents

The Hive Law Has Been Featured In

Get A FREE Consultation!

We run out of free consultations every month. Sign up to make sure you get your free consultation. (Free $350 value.)

Key Points About Having A Warrant In Another City

  • The judge will issue an arrest warrant and an extradition warrant. 
  • Police will arrest you and extradite you to the city the crime was committed in. 
  • Police need the extradition warrant to transfer you to another jurisdiction. 

What Happens If I Have A Warrant In Another City?

If you have a warrant in another city, police will:

  • take you into custody
  • request an extradition warrant
  • transfer you to the city you committed the crime in

Let’s say that you:

  • have an outstanding warrant out for your arrest (arrest warrant)
  • get pulled over by law enforcement in another city
  • there is NOT an extradition warrant against you

Law enforcement will arrest you based on the arrest warrant from the other city.

But, they have to get you back to the city where the arrest warrant originated from.

Once you’re in custody, the law enforcement agency will reach out to the judge.

And the judge will issue an extradition warrant for you.

This allows the arresting officers to transfer you to the city you committed the crime in.

You need to stand trial in the city you committed the crime in because:

  • your court date will be in this city
  • the courts there will determine the applicable laws
  • they will determine the criminal charges
  • you will serve jail time in this city

This makes sure the laws and criminal charges are appropriate for your criminal case.

The judge who wants to have you arrested needs to issue two types of warrants:

  • an arrest warrant
  • an extradition warrant

What Is An Arrest Warrant?

Arrest warrants authorize the arrest of a person who committed a crime.

They get issued when there is probable cause you committed a crime.

The arrest warrant gives a police officer the authority to:

  • arrest the person named on the warrant
  • search the individual
  • search any of the individual’s property
  • seize any evidence related to the alleged crime

Without the arrest warrant, law enforcement officers only have the authority to:

  • investigate criminal activity
  • make arrests based on probable cause

The arrest warrant is a court order telling them to arrest you.

Read More: How Long Does It Take To Get A Search Warrant?

What Is An Extradition Warrant?

Extradition warrants orders arresting law enforcement agencies to transfer back.

If you have a warrant in another city, this is what they use to transfer you back.

Cops are not legally allowed to take you to another jurisdiction without an extradition warrant.

If they did, it would be a violation of your rights because it’s a “forced relocation.”

Forced relocations while in custody are prohibited under the Fourth Amendment.

Why Judges Need Both Warrants If You’re In Another City?

The judge needs to issue both an arrest warrant and an extradition warrant.

The arrest warrant legally justifies the arrest and establishes probable cause.

And makes sure the person getting arrested is the person named on the warrant.

The extradition warrant allows police officers to transfer you from one jurisdiction to another.

And makes sure the person gets transferred to the proper jurisdiction to:

  • make a court appearance to stand trial (i.e., an arraignment)
  • serve their sentence

An arrest warrant is still needed even if the judge issues an extradition warrant.

The arrest warrant will legally justify the arrest.

Then, the extradition warrant gets used to transfer you to the city your warrant is in.

What Other Types Of Warrants Are There If I’m In Another City?

You can get all types of warrants against you if you’re in another city.

If you have a warrant in another city, the police can arrest you.

But, they will still need an extradition warrant to transfer you to the original city.

Here are the warrants you could have against you if you were in another city.

Read More: How Long Do You Have To Turn Yourself In After A Warrant?

Misdemeanor Warrants

Misdemeanor warrants tell the police to arrest you based on a misdemeanor offense.

They get issued due to:

  • failure to make a court appearance
  • failure to pay your fines
  • probation violation
  • violation of court orders

Some examples of misdemeanors that could get you a misdemeanor warrant are:

Felony Warrants

Felony warrants tell the police to arrest you based on a felony offense.

Some examples of felony charges that could get you a felony warrant are:

Police will arrest you for these felony cases even if you’re in another city.

Then, they will transfer you back to the city you committed the crime in.

Search Warrants

A search warrant allows cops to enter and search your property.

Cops can submit an affidavit requesting a search warrant from a judge.

The judge has to specify the exact locations of the property that can get searched.

The judge can issue a search warrant even if you’re in another city.

But, they need probable cause that police will find evidence of the crime in the new city.

Let’s say they find evidence of a crime from a search warrant.

They usually won’t arrest you on the spot.

They likely still need to get an arrest warrant and an extradition warrant.

Then, they can take you back to the city the crime was committed in.

Bench Warrants

Bench warrants get issued if you fail to appear in court on your designated court date.

Failure to appear in court is “contempt of court.”

You will get arrested for a bench warrant even if you’re in another city.

Then, they will extradite you to the city where the court appearance needs to happen.

You should reach out to an experienced criminal defense lawyer.

You could face jail time if you miss court dates and have a bench warrant against you.

Active Warrants

Active warrants tell the police to arrest and detain someone accused of a crime.

These refer only to warrants issued for criminal offenses.

They get issued based on probable cause that the person has committed a crime.

Active warrants remain outstanding until:

  • the accused is arrested
  • the charges are dropped
  • the warrant is quashed

Outstanding Warrants

Outstanding warrants are arrest warrants that remain unserved.

Active warrants turn into outstanding warrants:

  • if the person named is not taken into custody
  • a few weeks have passed since the warrant got issued

Once the time period on the active warrant has expired, it becomes an outstanding warrant.

Police will still search for you, but with less urgency.

You are likely to get arrested at a traffic stop for a traffic violation.

Out-Of-State Arrest Warrant

Out-of-state warrants get issued when someone:

  • lives in one state
  • committed a crime in a different state

These warrants can get issued if the person:

  • committed a crime in a different state
  • failed to show up to a court appearance in another state

Do You Have A Warrant In Another City?

If you have a warrant in another city, fill out the form on this page.

Our experienced criminal defense attorneys:

  • know how to defend your rights
  • will minimize the penalties you face

After you fill out the form, we will schedule a free consultation.

Our criminal defense lawyers will walk you through how to handle your warrant.

So you get in less trouble and face less jail time.

Talk soon.

Get A FREE Consultation!

We run out of free consultations every month. Sign up to make sure you get your free consultation. (Free $350 value.)

Share This Post With Someone Who Needs To See It