How do I find out if I have an outstanding warrant in Utah?
An arrest
warrant
issued by a Utah court in a criminal case can remain
outstanding indefinitely until the defendant is arrested and brought to
court or otherwise addresses the warrant and underlying issues with the
court. A bench warrant can require police to arrest the defendant and
bring the defendant to appear before the court. Unless the defendant
can post
bail
or a
bond,
a defendant who has been arrested on a warrant
will usually be held in jail until the court can schedule a hearing on
the case.
If you believe that an arrest warrant may have been issued for you in a
Utah criminal case, Salt Lake City
defense
attorney Stephen Howard can help you locate outstanding
warrants using Utah's statewide warrant system, we can help you find
warrants anywhere in the state. More important, we can help you
determine
the best way to address the warrant and help resolve the
underlying legal issues.
Contact
us today for help.
Why does a court issue a warrant for my arrest?
Arrest warrants can be issued in Utah criminal cases for a variety of
reasons, including the filing of new charges, a failure to appear at a
required court date, or an alleged probation violation. Regardless of
the reason for the warrant, a defendant may be arrested by police and
held in jail until a court hearing has schedule.
Warrants in New Criminal Cases
Many warrants are issued immediately upon the filing of a new criminal
case. While prosecutors have some discretion regarding whether to
request a warrant or a summons, in most cases (other than minor
misdemeanor
offenses) it is common for a prosecutor to immediately
request a warrant.
A summons delivered to a defendant is intended to provide notice that a
criminal case has
been filed against the defendant. A summons will normally provide
instructions to a defendant to either appear in court on a particular
day and time, or to contact the court to schedule a court date within a
prescribed period of time. Many prosecutors involved in
felony
or serious misdemeanor cases will immediately ask the court to issue a
warrant rather than a summons, claiming that "there is reason to
believe that the defendant will not appear upon a summons."
If you learn that a new case has been filed or that an arrest warrant
has been issued for a new criminal charge, an experienced criminal
defense attorney can help you determine the best strategy to address
the situation. Waiting for the police to arrest you is not a solution
to the problem. An
experienced criminal lawyer
can help you determine the best way to address your case.
Warrants for Failures to Appear
When a defendant
fails
to appear for a scheduled court hearing, it is common
practice for the court to issue an arrest warrant. With only a few
exceptions, constitutional due process protections prevent a court from
taking action in a criminal case if the defendant is not present in
court. Instead of proceeding with the case, the court will suspend most
actions in the case and issue an arrest warrant. Once the defendant has
appeared voluntarily or been arrested and brought back to court, the
court will proceed with the case.
Consequences of failing to appear can include bail forfeiture,
re-arrest, an increase bail or bond requirement, as well as the
potential loss of the goodwill of the court and prosecutor. If you fail
to appear at a required court hearing, it is generally best to contact
the court before you are arrested. Promptly contacting the court is
generally advisable. But the assistance of an experienced criminal
attorney is also important, and can give you the best chance of
avoiding these negative consequences.
Warrants for Probation Violations and Orders to Show Cause
If a court receives reports that a defendant on
probation
has violated the conditions of probation or the terms of a
plea-in-abeyance
agreement, the court can issue an order to show cause and a warrant
requiring that the defendant be brought before the court to address the
alleged violations.
When an order to show cause is issued by a court, the court in some
cases will hold the defendant in jail while the alleged violation is
being adjudicated. In other cases, the court will allow the defendant
to remain out of custody either on an
own
recognizance release or by posting bail or bond. If you learn
that an arrest warrant has been issued in conjunction with an order to
show cause, you should contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer
to determine what options are available to you and the best strategy
for addressing the issues in your case.
Finding a Criminal Defense Attorney in Salt Lake City

Based in Salt
Lake City,
criminal defense
attorney Stephen Howard has successfully
protected his clients rights in cases ranging from homicide to DUI, and
virtually everything in between. If you are facing criminal charges in
Utah or believe that you may have an outstanding arrest warrant, the
assistance of an experienced defense lawyer can be vital to achieving
the best possible results in your case.
Contact us today to
arrange for an initial confidential consultation.
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