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In the state of Massachusetts, warrants are issued daily. Here we have made a guide to determine if you or someone you love has a warrant in Massachusetts.
Many people experience challenges while trying to obtain this vital information, but you can now perform a warrant search in Massachusetts. If you do not know how to perform such a search, the following guide will help you.
Why You Need to Conduct Massachusetts Warrant Checks
Property rental: Warrant checks help confirm if any law enforcement agency wants a potential tenant. It also informs you if previous landlords and property managers have a warrant search on them. Here are common reasons to conduct warrant checks in Massachusetts:
Personal reasons: You can seek warrant information for yourself to quickly know if you're wanted for misdemeanors or other crimes. It also helps people confirm that no wrong warrants are written in their names.
Background checks for employment: Employers run checks to determine if potential employees have outstanding warrants. It is a necessary procedure for the pre-employment application stage.
Loan qualification: Banks and other financial institutions conduct warrant searches to know if a potential customer has outstanding warrants. It is a criterion that may disqualify people from getting loans for whatever reason.
Reasons Why Judges Issue Warrants in Massachusetts
Below are the top reasons why judges, magistrates, and grand juries issue or approve warrants in Massachusetts:
Availability of Probable Cause from Law Enforcement Officers
Massachusetts judicial branches can approve warrants if the police department or other law enforcement agencies present probable cause for a suspect's arrest. A possible cause could be a fact or substantial reason for the judge to believe the individual will commit or is committing the crime.
Arrest and search warrants are often issued for this reason. The orders help the police department find criminals or offenders in the state and locate evidence of crimes.
For instance, a judge may approve a warrant to find and apprehend a drug dealer in the state when they see proof that the person possesses drugs intending to sell. Or they may issue a search warrant to inspect the suspect's premises to locate more helpful evidence.
Failure to Pay
A judge may issue an arrest or bench warrant to the police department when an individual refuses to pay fines and other orders like restitution or compensation mandated by the court.
The magistrate considers failure to pay a violation of release conditions and can authorize the police department to detain the individual until they settle their bills. In cases where the person cannot pay, the court may propose a payment plan.
Failure to Come for Court Hearings
The court issues bench warrants for individuals who fail to attend scheduled court hearings. The judge charges them in contempt of the court and authorizes the police department to find such persons and bring them before the bench.
Most individuals with bench warrants in Massachusetts are defendants and registered witnesses in criminal and civil cases.
Civil Commitment Proceedings
Individuals battling alcohol or substance abuse may be subject to civil commitment and must undergo treatment in a rehabilitation facility to prevent harm to themselves.
In cases where a judge determines there are reasonable grounds to believe that the respondent for a civil commitment proceeding will not appear at the hearing and any further delay would pose an immediate risk to their physical well-being, the judge may issue a warrant.
If the court does not give a warrant, it must serve the respondent with a summons and a copy of the petition related to the civil commitment.
Retrieving Warrant Information in Massachusetts
There are many ways to know if there's a warrant for your arrest in Massachusetts. Most times, residents or someone acting on their behalf, like a family member or legal advisor, get in touch with the nearest law enforcement agency and the judicial branch to request a warrant search.
Or better still, they conduct name-based criminal record checks using the Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) system.
What's the CORI System and How Can it Reveal Warrant Information in Massachusetts
CORI is a background check that allows you to obtain a person's criminal record history. The Criminal History Systems Board (CHSB) maintains this system.
Anyone can use the CORI system, including landlords and employers. A CORI check is expensive and takes 10 working days to provide results.
To conduct this check, you must provide a valid Massachusetts ID card or driver's license information and $25 for every request you make.
Massachusetts Most Wanted List
Massachusetts has an up-to-date database of individuals who allegedly committed severe offenses. The persons on this list are on the run or have yet to learn there's a pending warrant for their arrest.
The list is maintained by the state police and local sheriff's department in each county, but not all counties have updated information about active warrants on their website.
Use a Massachusetts Legal Professional
Hire a licensed Massachusetts criminal attorney to find out if there's an active warrant for you. Experienced attorneys have sources in law enforcement agencies that can provide them with accurate warrant information.
Not only will they find out all the necessary information, but they may also offer practical advice to help you resolve the pending warrants.
