Last Updated on: 27th July 2023, 06:31 pm

Got a Hunch There’s a Warrant Out For Your Arrest in New York? Here’s How to Find Out

Imagine this: It’s been a few years since your last run-in with the law. You got busted for shoplifting, possession, maybe jumping some turnstiles. At the time, you were young and dumb and didn’t show up for a court date or two. Whoops.

But now you’ve got your act together. Steady job, apartment lease, even a 401k. You’re a reformed, contributing member of society.

That is, until one day you get pulled over for a busted taillight. The cop takes your license back to his vehicle then returns with bad news – “Sorry buddy, but there’s a warrant out for your arrest.”

Your heart drops. Apparently your past is coming back to haunt you at the worst possible moment.

This kind of scenario plays out all the time in New York. Old bench warrants lurking in the system, waiting to rear their ugly head and ruin someone’s day. Problem is, you usually don’t know about them until the cuffs come out.

But what if you could be proactive? What if you could find out if you have an active warrant so you can deal with it on your own terms? Turns out, you can. Here’s the scoop…

Checking for Warrants in New York 101

The first thing to know is that warrants can come from different courts in NY – criminal, family, housing, etc. Your safest bet is to search all of them for any open cases.

Here are a few options:

Call the Court Clerk

Seems obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people forget to just pick up the phone. The county clerk’s office has access to records across all courts and can perform a unified search.

Have your identifying info handy (full legal name, DOB, previous addresses) and ask if any active warrants come up. Easy peasy.

Visit the Courthouse

If you want to get real official, head down to the main county courthouse and ask to search their public records. They’ll look you up in the system and let you know if there’s an encore in your future.

Just be aware that showing your face in court to check *could* prompt an immediate arrest if there is indeed a warrant. Not ideal. A phone call is lower profile.

Online Statewide Search

For a comprehensive search across all 62 counties in NY, visit the online warrant lookup run by the state court system.

Simply enter your identifying details, click “Agree” and boom – any hits will pop up along with court and docket info so you can follow up.

Background Check

Various websites like TruthFinder and BeenVerified offer full background checks and will flag any outstanding warrants.

Costs a few bucks, but sometimes worth it for total peace of mind. Plus you get your full criminal history.

What To Do if You Have a Warrant

Okay, so you checked and sure enough – you’ve got a warrant holding up your name. Should you freak out? Nah. Here are your smart next steps:

DON’T ignore it. Doing nothing is your worst option. The warrant won’t go away on its own. Take control and deal with it.

DO consult a criminal defense attorney, stat. An experienced lawyer can negotiate with the court to help recall or quash the warrant so you can get booked and released OR work out an agreement to turn yourself in at your convenience.

DO get your affairs in order. Make childcare arrangements, request time off work, etc. before you surrender. Being prepared will reduce anxiety.

DON’T flee the state. Outrunning warrants never ends well. Face the music and put this behind you the proper way.

DO review the original case details so your lawyer can refresh your memory and build a defense strategy if needed. The warrant may stem from a bogus charge you can fight.

DO ask the attorney about clearing up other pending issues: canceling any remaining court dates, resolving fines/fees, reinstating your license suspension, etc.

DON’T wait any longer than necessary if the lawyer says you need to surrender to authorities. The sooner you deal with this, the better. Just get it over with.

While no one *wants* to be arrested, handling warrants proactively and intelligently can minimize disruption and prevent getting caught off guard at a bad time. Especially with an expert lawyer on your side!

If you find yourself in this situation anywhere in New York, reach out for a free case review. We have pre-eminent experience recalling warrants and negotiating optimal terms before our clients turn themselves in.

Don’t live under a cloud of uncertainty. Run that warrant check today and let us advise you on the best path forward!