Welcome back and thanks for joining us again for this discussion on arrest warrants in Michigan. In the previous article we discussed the types of warrants that exist here in Michigan, and what it means when there’s a warrant out for your arrest. If you’re just joining us now we recommend you take a few minutes to get caught up. Otherwise, let’s just dive right in!
How do the police execute a warrant in Michigan?
Once an offer has a warrant, whether it’s for someone’s arrest or for search and seizure, it means they have the right to follow up on it whenever and wherever in Michigan. However, police officers can only act in the jurisdiction where they are authorized. For example, a Michigan State Police Trooper is authorized to act anywhere in Michigan. Tribal Police can act only on tribal land. The county Sheriff can act only in their own county. Federal officers (FBI, ATFE, Secret Service, etc.) can act anywhere in the USA.
Arrest warrant:
If the police have a warrant for your arrest, they often begin searching for you. This can mean coming to your house, or to your place of employment, to arrest you. They can even enter a third party premises, like your friend’s or parent’s house if they think you’re hiding there.
One the police have entered a place to arrest you, they can collect any evidence found in plain sight that will support their case. However, if the officers don’t happen to find you, or they’re not actively searching, any other encounter with an officer can lead to your arrest. This includes basic traffic stops and even being questioned by an officer because of an unrelated event.
Search and seizure warrant:
If the police have a search and seizure warrant for your home or property, or your work, if yo0u are present, they’re required to show the document to you before they can legally start the search. Once inside, they can search every part of the property or building that the warrant specifies.
This might include digging in your yard, searching in your attic or crawl space, and also looking through barns, garages, or any other buildings on your property. An aggressive criminal defense attorney often challenges the validity of a warrant or the evidence seized during a raid.
What about Michigan’s statute of limitations?
The statute of limitations refers to the period of time after a crime has been committed, that a person can be legally charged for it. After the fixed period of time passes, if a person is charged with a crime they can have the charges against them dismissed. However, there are some crimes that have no statute of limitations because they are considered so serious, that the time period to charge someone never runs out. These crimes include:
- Murder
- First Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct
- Any crime covered under the Anti-Terrorism Act
- A violation of the explosives, bombs and harmful devices statute
How do I know if there’s a warrant out for my arrest?
For some people, the uncertainty of not knowing if there’s a warrant out for their arrest can be very stressful. Thankfully, sometimes there are ways of finding out. The easiest is to go online and search, because Michigan allows, but does not require, public access to arrests, warrants, and criminal records.
You can check online to see if certain courts publish their outstanding arrest warrants.
Is there a warrant out for your arrest in Michigan?
The experienced criminal defense attorneys at The Kronzek Firm have spend decades helping countless Michigan residents, so we know how important it is to get an early start on building your defense! So if there’s a warrant out for your arrest, or you suspect the police may be investigating you or a loved one, call us as soon as you are ready to hire an attorney
at 866 766 5245 (866 7No Jail). We have helped countless people all over Michigan, and we’re ready to help you too!