Lakeshore, FL Criminal Defense Law Firms & Lawyers

It's ultimately your decision, but it is probably better to deal with it now. You already know if charges are filed in Florida ("asking state"), but you miss court, a warrant will issue for your arrest. And, you probably also know there is no clear answer to how far the warrant will reach. The answer largely depends on what the warrant says. You won't know what the warrant says until it exists. The benefit of running, is to avoid prosecution. You may avoid it for a month, a year, a decade, or your whole life. Before computers, it was easier to run from the law. If you get caught right away, then you paid a high price for little return. But, if you aren't caught for decades, the evidence against you may grow stale, and it could be harder for Florida to prosecute you if/when they catch up with you. The warrant will command all cops ("peace officers") within a specific geographical boundary to arrest you. It could command that you be arrested and detained for the asking state (Florida) only if you are found in that same asking state. Or, it may specify you be arrested only if found in neighboring states; or, it may command peace officers from all 50 states to arrest and detain you until the asking state comes to get you. If you are stopped by a cop in an area the warrant covers, then the cop has no choice but to detain you until the asking state comes to get you (sooner than a few months). The asking state can usually only come to get you after you're finished dealing with any criminal matters where you're caught ("holding state"). Sometimes, the warrant will reach to all 50 states, but when the holding state notifies the asking state (Florida), they may decide they don't want to bear the expenses of transporting you back. If that's the case, the holding state will cut you loose. However, you can be arrested again and again on the same fugitive warrant. If you are extradited, you may or may not get credit for any time served in the holding state. Also, you may be required to reimburse the asking state to cover your police-escorted transportation expenses. Generally, the distance of the warrant's reach depends on (1)how bad the asking state wants you (like, is it a serious felony? Is the prosecutor and/or court extremely pissed you didn't show up?), and (2) how much money the asking state has budgeted for fugitive transportation. When the economy is strong, warrants tend to reach farther than when the economy is weak. So, in our weak economy, a person would be less likely to actually get extradited if the warrant is for a minor felony and the arrest is in a very distant state. But don't count on it in the future, the asking state's judge could broaden the warrant's reach (like if the prosecutor asks). So, if the economy gets better, so do your odds of being extradited. If you do decide to skip court and move to another state, it would be a good idea to hire a local lawyer in your new county. They can check the distance of the warrant's reach, and inform you how a fugitive hold is customarily handled in that jurisdiction. A good way to find a private lawyer who handles fugitive cases in any given location/jurisdiction, is to go to the local public defender's office and ask them for the name of a few private lawyers who handle fugitive matters. It's far easier to get information BEFORE you end up behind bars. Remember, a lawyer cannot assist or encourage anyone to break the law. However, they can give you plenty of information. Most warrants don't expire (until you do). You should consider how burdensome and stressful it will be to live your whole life looking over your shoulder; besides, what are you going to do if you actually need the police to help you? Officer Friendly will run a routine warrant check and even if your warrant doesn't reach to your state, the cop might arrest you anyway, just to double check the warrant's terms. Although they'd eventually release