If there is a warrant for your arrest in Indiana, contact a criminal defense attorney before turning yourself in. Depending on the warrant, charge, court, and your history, an attorney may seek to recall the warrant, arrange bond, or coordinate a surrender designed to minimize your time in jail.
Why Would an Indiana Court Issue a Warrant for Your Arrest?
Not every criminal case begins with someone being handcuffed at the scene.
Sometimes police make an immediate arrest. Other times, officers investigate first. They may interview witnesses, review evidence, or continue working on the case for weeks or months.
If prosecutors later decide to file criminal charges, a court may issue an arrest warrant.
That can create a strange situation. You may be living your normal life when you suddenly learn there is a warrant carrying your name.
Ignoring it usually does not make the problem disappear.
Can a Criminal Defense Attorney Get an Arrest Warrant Recalled?
Sometimes an attorney may be able to ask the court to recall a warrant.
This can be particularly worth exploring when the alleged incident happened months earlier and the defendant intends to appear voluntarily.
A defense attorney may contact the prosecutor or court and essentially make the point: the person knows about the case, has hired counsel, and intends to appear. Is an arrest really necessary?
Sometimes the answer is no.
Sometimes the answer is still yes.
Whether a warrant can be recalled depends heavily on the circumstances. Relevant considerations may include:
- The charge and seriousness of the alleged offense.
- The Indiana county and court handling the case.
- The defendant’s criminal history.
- Previous failures to appear in court.
- Whether the court believes the defendant will appear voluntarily.
Someone with no criminal history may present a very different situation from someone with repeated failures to appear.
There is no guarantee a judge will recall a warrant. The important point is that it may be worth investigating before simply walking into jail.
What Happens If the Arrest Warrant Already Has a Bond?
Some arrest warrants have a bond amount attached.
A bond is generally intended to help ensure that a defendant returns to court. Indiana’s criminal rules govern pretrial release and require courts to consider release and detention under the circumstances of the individual case.
If the warrant cannot be recalled, an attorney may help coordinate a voluntary surrender.
The goal is straightforward: avoid unnecessary surprises and unnecessary time sitting in jail.
Depending on the county and court, the bond arrangement might involve:
- A cash bond.
- A surety bond through a bail bondsman.
- A combination of cash and surety.
- Other release conditions ordered by the court.
For example, a court might require some money in cash and an additional amount through a bondsman.
The exact process varies. What works in one Indiana county may not be the procedure used in another.
Should You Contact a Bail Bondsman Before Turning Yourself In?
If a surety bond is required, it may make sense to arrange the bond before surrendering.
Think of it like arriving at the airport with your ticket already purchased instead of trying to figure everything out at the gate.
A defense attorney can determine what the warrant requires and explain whether a bondsman should be involved. If everything can be arranged beforehand, the surrender and booking process may move more efficiently.
That does not mean anyone can promise you will be “in and out” within a particular amount of time. Jail processing, court schedules, and individual circumstances can change the timeline.
The point is preparation.
What If the Warrant Cannot Be Recalled and There Is No Bond?
This is usually the situation people fear most.
A warrant may remain active, and the court may not have established a bond that allows immediate release.
Even then, planning matters.
An attorney may help select a surrender date based on the court’s schedule. Indiana courts have their own calendars for initial hearings, so timing a surrender closer to an upcoming hearing may reduce unnecessary waiting.
The strategy may be to surrender shortly before the court’s next available initial hearing. The defendant can then appear before a judge, where release and bond issues may be addressed.
There are no guarantees. A judge ultimately controls the release decision.
Still, there is an enormous difference between surrendering with a plan and waiting for police to make the decision for you.
Does Your Criminal History Matter When You Have a Warrant?
Yes. Your history with the court can matter.
Courts may consider whether someone has previously appeared as ordered and followed court requirements when making release decisions. Indiana’s criminal rules contain specific provisions governing bail and pretrial release.
Imagine two defendants facing otherwise similar situations.
One has never been arrested and immediately hires a lawyer after learning about the warrant. The other has repeatedly missed court dates.
Those facts can affect how the situation is handled.
This is one reason there is no universal answer to, “What happens when I turn myself in?”
The answer depends on the person, the charge, the warrant, and the court.
Should You Just Wait for Police to Arrest You?
Waiting can surrender control over when and where the arrest happens.
Police generally are not going to coordinate an arrest around your work schedule, childcare responsibilities, or weekend plans.
Addressing a known warrant with an attorney may provide an opportunity to determine whether it can be recalled, whether bond is already set, and how a surrender should be handled.
You cannot control everything about a criminal case.
You can at least try to avoid unnecessary surprises.
What Are the Next Steps After Learning You Have an Indiana Arrest Warrant?
Start by confirming the warrant and speaking with an Indiana criminal defense lawyer.
Your attorney can then determine what options may be available:
- Identify the court and criminal case.
- Determine why the warrant was issued.
- Review the alleged charge and your criminal history.
- Explore whether the warrant can be recalled.
- Determine whether a bond is attached to the warrant.
- Arrange a bondsman beforehand when necessary.
- Coordinate a voluntary surrender if the warrant remains active.
- Consider the court’s initial-hearing schedule when planning the surrender.
Having a warrant is stressful, but panic is not a strategy. Getting accurate information and developing a plan can make the situation far more manageable.
The Marc Lopez Law Firm handles Indiana criminal cases and warrant issues. If you have learned there is a warrant for your arrest, call 317-632-3642 to speak with a lawyer today.
And remember—always plead the 5th.