What is a bench warrant?

A bench warrant is a court order issued by a judge or magistrate when a person fails to appear in court after being issued a summons. This type of warrant is issued for failure to appear or comply with any court order such as failure to pay a fine, failure to appear for a hearing, failure to complete court-ordered community service, or failure to follow the terms of probation. When a bench warrant is issued in Texas, it allows law enforcement to arrest the person and bring them to court. Generally speaking, there is no time limit on a bench warrant and it can stay active for years. Additionally, some bench warrants carry a monetary fine and the person must pay the fine in order to clear the warrant. Finally, some bench warrants can be issued in cases where a person was charged with a crime but never appeared in court, and the court wants the person to appear and answer the charges. In these cases, law enforcement can arrest the person and bring them to court to answer the charges.

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