What Can Happen if I Ignore an Arrest Warrant in Arkansas?

As outlined in our blog What To Do If You Have An Arrest Warrant in Arkansas, the first step when learning you have an arrest warrant should be to contact a criminal defense attorney.

Ignoring an arrest warrant and not contacting an attorney can result in major implications:

Sudden Arrest

Once an arrest warrant has been issued, law enforcement officers have the authority to arrest you. This sudden arrest can occur at any time and without a prior warning. There is no legal requirement for law enforcement to notify the individual, and this arrest can happen at your home, work, during a traffic stop, etc. To avoid any of these unfortunate situations and save yourself from a sudden arrest, it is best practice to not ignore an arrest warrant once one has been issued against you.

Indefinite Expiration

Arrest warrants do not have an expiration date; avoiding an arrest warrant will not make it disappear. An arrest warrant remains active until they are served by law enforcement, executed by the court, or recalled and quashed by a judge. To get a warrant quashed, you or your attorney will have to file a motion with the court presenting the judge with a valid reason as to why the warrant should be canceled. Therefore, it is important to address the issue of an arrest warrant when you initially find out about it, because ignoring it will only bring more issues.

Increased Bail/Denial of Bail

If you ignore an arrest warrant the judge will be significantly more likely to set a higher bail or to deny bail altogether. The reasoning behind increase/denial of bail is because the act of ignoring an arrest warrant in the eyes of the court is disrespectful and means you are at a greater chance of being a flight risk. Thus, to avoid issues with increased or denial of bail, it is best to address the problem of an active arrest warrant as it arises.

Extra Risks of Ignoring a Warrant in Arkansas

Besides the main implications listed above, there are additional issues that may arise when you ignore an arrest warrant including extradition and trouble with background checks. Extradition occurs when you are arrested in another state and then are transported back to the state where the warrant was issued. Further, an active warrant can appear on background checks. This can have potential impact on your ability to secure employment and housing in the future.

Learn More About Arrest Warrants in Arkansas

To learn more about checking for an arrest warrant and the proper steps to take if you have an arrest warrant in Arkansas, check out our blog What To Do If You Have An Arrest Warrant In Arkansas.

Contact The Law Group of Northwest Arkansas Today

Contact The Law Group of Northwest Arkansas PLLC to schedule a free, initial consultation with one of our Criminal Law attorneys. You can also contact us by using our online contact form or calling 479-334-3389.