Bench Warrants

If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of someone you believe to have a Friend of Court bench warrant issued for his/her arrest please call our office at 810-985-2285 with the information.

There are two reasons why the Friend of Court might issue a bench warrant for your arrest. The first is for failure to appear at a court hearing for which you have been show-caused. If you receive a notice for a hearing signed by a judge, and you are the party being enforced, you MUST appear to the scheduled hearing or a bench warrant may be issued for you arrest. If a bench warrant for failure to appear has been issued for your arrest you may make arrangements to appear before your assigned judge through the Friend of Court staff. If you are arrested on contempt for failure to appear warrant you will be brought before a judge to face possible sentencing.

A bench warrant might also be issued for contempt due to the failure to comply with a judge’s enforcement order. This bench warrant is issued after you have appeared before a judge for a show cause hearing, the judge has sentenced you to jail but suspended the sentences upon your compliance with the terms of the enforcement order. If you do not comply, a bench warrant will be issued for you arrest. You may or may not appear before the judge again but it is likely that you will serve time in jail for contempt.

A bench warrant holds a maximum jail sentence of ninety (90) days.