How do I get rid of a warrant for my arrest?

It is important to know that if a warrant has been issued for your arrest it will not go away with time. In Canada, a warrant for a person’s arrest never expires. It continues to exist until you deal with the matter or until you encounter the police and are arrested. You cannot get rid of a warrant by simply “lying low” and hoping it disappears.

Unfortunately, aside from being arrested, the only way to get rid of a warrant is to turn yourself in. Depending on the seriousness of the charge, if you turn yourself in you may either be re-released with a promise to appear in court, or you may be held in custody until you are granted bail or your matter is resolved.

If you plan on turning yourself in, you should be cautious about the day that you choose to do so. If you turn yourself in on a Friday, for example, there is a chance that you could be held in custody until Monday when someone is available to do your bail hearing. As such, if you intend to take steps to get your warrant lifted, you may want to do so early on a Monday so you can ensure you avoid a situation where you may end up being held in prison over the weekend.

How can I get a warrant lifted without spending any time in jail?

While we cannot be certain that it is possible to avoid any time spent in jail without knowing the exact nature of your charges, the best way to lift a warrant while avoiding time spent in jail is by seeking the assistance of a criminal defence lawyer.

A criminal defence lawyer can look into your matter and speak with the Crown Prosecutor on your behalf to find out important details that you may not know. For example, a lawyer can inquire about the nature of jeopardy that you currently face, and whether the Crown will be seeking your continued detention or will be consenting to your release. A criminal defence lawyer can also accompany you to court, make submissions on your behalf, and facilitate the process of vacating your warrant in a manner that ensures you will spend the least possible amount of time spent in custody, if any at all.

If you have a warrant out for your arrest, it is in your best interest to contact one of our skilled criminal defence lawyers immediately. They will be able to help you get rid of the warrant for your arrest, and will work to ensure you remain out of custody where possible. Further, retaining a criminal defence lawyer before you attempt to get rid of your warrant will be to your benefit in the event that you have been charged with a serious offence and the Crown would like you kept in custody. By retaining a criminal lawyer prior to turning yourself in, you can ensure you will have someone already working on securing your bail and minimize the time, if any, that you will spend in jail. Our criminal defence lawyers not only have ample experience with warrants and bail, but we may be able to secure your release quickly and without a formal bail hearing.