An arrest warrant in Colorado gives the arresting officer the authority to arrest you. This is on the grounds that they believe that you are committing a criminal offense. The officer can then go into your home, workplace, or other places that he/she believes you may be in order to execute the arrest warrant and take you into custody.
Once you’re arrested, you may then be allowed out on bail. The bail amount in Colorado varies depending on the type and severity of crime that you’re accused of committing, along with a few other factors.
What is an Arrest Warrant in Denver, Colorado?
A judge typically issues an arrest warrant and gives law enforcement agencies authorization to arrest or detain a specific individual suspected of being involved in criminal activity.
When police officers don’t have enough immediate probable cause to actually arrest an individual, they must seek permission from the court to make the arrest. This permission is the arrest warrant.
However, in order to obtain the arrest record from a judge, a few things must first happen. First, they must present the judge with enough probable cause to justify the judge issuing the arrest warrant. This will either be based on the evidence presented by the law enforcement agency, district attorney, or, on rare occasions, with a grand jury.
According to the United States and Colorado law, a warrant must be:
- issued by a non-biased judge after being shown the probable cause
- a valid description of the defendant
- issued without knowing of any falsification by law enforcement.
The arrest warrant must also include certain information in order to show validity. Including:
- The defendant’s name
- The alleged criminal offense
- Time, date, and location of the warrant
- The judge’s signature.
An arrest warrant in Colorado is actually similar to a bench warrant. The exception is that the judge issues a bench warrant specifically for violating what a judge has already issued. For more information, check out our blog How to Learn Whether or Not You Have a Colorado Criminal Record.
Why Do I Have a Warrant in Colorado?
The reasons for having an arrest warrant out for you are listed above. Both the local law enforcement agencies and a judge believe you have committed a crime. One should note that probable cause is not necessarily rock-solid proof of a crime. This is similar to how an arrest warrant is not a conviction.
A police officer or District Attorney goes to a judge to ask for the legal authority to make an arrest. If accepted, the judge issues the arrest warrant. There doesn’t have to be an overwhelming amount of evidence for a judge to issue a warrant, either.
How Does Law Enforcement Execute a Warrant in Colorado?
Law enforcement officers typically have a set standard by which they make their arrests. Thus, judges issue warrants to arrest a specific individual at a known location during a certain time of day. The way that the law enforcement agency goes about the arrest will depend on various moving factors. The main factors include the type of crime and the suspect’s previous criminal history.
After the judge issues the arrest warrant, any further activity involving the police department will more than likely result in an arrest. This holds true even if the communication wasn’t against you necessarily.
So, if you are involved in a car accident and have to call the police, you’re arrested. Or if you had your house burglarized, once the police department finds out about your outstanding warrant, you’re arrested. Their job is to place you under arrest and take you to jail.
For more serious felonies, the police may take a different approach to make the arrest. This could include showing up to your house in the middle of the night or forcing an entry if you choose not to open the door and they have reason to believe you are inside.
What if I Have a Colorado Arrest Warrant and am in a Different State?
Simply because a judge from Colorado issued your warrant doesn’t mean you can’t be arrested in another state. On the flip side, just because you have an arrest warrant in a different state, that doesn’t mean you can’t be arrested in Colorado.
When a law enforcement agency issues a warrant for your arrest, no matter how small the crime may seem, it goes into a national database. Therefore, most police officers in every state will know if you have a warrant out for your arrest just by running your name, regardless of the state.
How Do I Get Rid of an Arrest Warrant?
If you want to clear your warrant completely, you ultimately have a few options. If you think you may need a criminal lawyer, give us a call, and we will let you know. For the first option, you can turn yourself into a law enforcement agency. They may then place you under arrest, and then you could spend a few nights in jail. After this, you could go before a judge to have your bail set if this is an available option.
Once you post your bond, you’ll be released and given a future court date.
In a few cases, your attorney can appear in court on your behalf. We have a full post dedicated to finding the right lawyer for you. This may help you avoid spending the night or a few nights in jail while still allowing you to take care of your active warrant. However, for most felony charges, you will have to appear in person.
Contact Denver Criminal Lawyer Jeff Weeden
Attorney Jeff Weeden believes wholeheartedly that there are two sides to every story, and everyone deserves the right to a strong, aggressive defense from an attorney who cares about protecting their rights and fighting for their future.
This holds true regardless if you’re innocent of the prosecution’s charges or if you’ve made a mistake. Jeff Weeden fights for you without any judgment, condescension, or lectures. At all times, Weeden treats his clients with respect and understanding.
If you’re wondering when to hire a criminal defense attorney, the time is now! Criminal cases are extremely time-sensitive, and the quicker you get a defense counsel on your side, the better. If you have a Colorado arrest warrant out under your name and believe you may need legal advice, give Attorney Jeff Weeden a call at 720-307-4330. Known as a trusted advocate during his nearly 20 years representing those accused of crimes, Denver criminal defense attorney Weeden represents clients throughout Colorado, including Adams, Arapahoe, Aurora, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Gilpin, Jefferson, Larimer, Morgan, Weld counties, and beyond.
