When Can the Police Serve a Bench Warrant That Is for Me?

A bench warrant may be served in any county in the same manner as an arrest warrant. Penal Code §§ 983 and 1198. This surprises most people because an arrest warrant is usually seen as having a great deal more priority and a sense of public safety danger associated with it.

Brief Synopsis: A bench warrant or an arrest warrant arising out of misdemeanor may not be served after 10:00 p.m. or before 6:00 a.m., but a felony warrant can be served at any time. Such warrants must be served within a reasonable time after being issued, which generally means within a few weeks, however, since warrants never expire, service may be effected even years later.

When, then, may an arrest warrant and a bench warrant be served? Generally speaking, both must be served within a reasonable time after its issuance. Otherwise, defendant may ask the judge for dismissal of the case on grounds that he or she has been deprived of the right to a speedy trial. People v. Mitchell (1972) 8 Cal.3d 164, 104 Cal.Rptr. 348 (dismissal for unjustified, prejudicial 13-month delay in service).

An arrest or bench warrant charging the commission of a felony may be served at any time. Penal Code § 840. However, a warrant charging defendant with the commission or arising out of a misdemeanor or an infraction may not be served between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. (People v. Cressey (1970) 2 Cal.3d 836, 847, 87 Cal.Rptr. 699), unless one of the many exceptions listed under § 840 apply.

More on Warrants: A federal search warrant must be executed within fourteen days from its being issued by a judicial officer, and only between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., unless the judicial officer "for good cause expressly authorizes execution at another time" (Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 41(e)(2)(A)(ii)).

The exceptions are rather intuitive. Service of the warrant, followed by an arrest, can be made if defendant is in a public place or already in custody on another charge or serving a sentence. For example, in People v. Whitted (1976) 60 Cal.App.3d 569, 131 Cal.Rptr. 639, a nighttime arrest of a defendant was valid under the “public place” exception.

Also, “when good cause is shown,” the warrant can be served at any time, day or night. This exception, obviously, is subject to abuse by police. For example, in Paddleford v. Biscay (ND Cal. 1969) 307 F. Supp. 343, a “blanket authorization” by a magistrate issuing a warrant was held invalid because it failed to reflect any exercise of discretion based on the facts of the particular case. Likewise, in People v. Dinneen (1974) 45 Cal.App.3d Supp. 5, 119 Cal.Rptr. 186, a nighttime arrest of defendant was ruled improper when the only “good cause” reason given for the warrant allowing this was “for the convenience of the marshals.”

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