There Is a Warrant Out for Your Arrest: What to Do
A warrant does not expire and it does not lapse if you wait. It sits on CPIC until it is dealt with, which means any interaction with police — a traffic stop, a border crossing, a routine check — becomes an arrest.
A warrant authorises police to arrest you and bring you before the court. Turning yourself in with a lawyer, at a time you choose, is almost always a better position than being arrested at a traffic stop, because it allows a bail plan to be prepared in advance.
Why Do Warrants Get Issued?
- Failing to attend court when required — the most common reason. The court will normally issue a bench warrant.
- Failing to attend for fingerprinting under the Identification of Criminals Act.
- Breaching a condition of release, where police seek a warrant rather than proceeding by summons.
- A charge laid after an investigation, where a justice issues a warrant rather than a summons or appearance notice.
- Failing to attend as a witness after being served with a subpoena — section 705 allows a warrant for the arrest of a witness who does not attend.
Missing a court date is also a separate offence. Section 145(2) makes it an offence, punishable by up to two years, to fail without lawful excuse to attend court as required.
What Happens If You Do Nothing?
The warrant remains outstanding indefinitely. There is no limitation period that clears it and no point at which it simply goes away.
It sits in CPIC, which any officer can query. That means a routine traffic stop, an insurance check, reporting something as a victim, or presenting at a border becomes an arrest — at a time and place entirely outside your control.
Delay also damages the bail position. A court asked to release someone who has been at large on a warrant for months is being asked to accept that this person will now attend, which is a harder argument than it needed to be.
Some warrants are endorsed for release by police and some are not, and that varies by the reason for the warrant and the underlying charge.
What Should You Actually Do?
- Get legal advice first, before contacting police. This is the step that changes the outcome.
- Have a bail plan ready — a proposed surety, a residence, employment details, anything addressing the reason the warrant issued.
- Arrange a surrender at a time that works procedurally, rather than walking in unannounced on a Friday afternoon.
- Bring identification and any paperwork you have.
- Do not give a statement about the underlying allegation. Surrendering on a warrant and answering questions about the charge are two different things.
A planned surrender with counsel is materially different from an arrest. It demonstrates to the court that you came forward voluntarily, it allows a release plan to be presented immediately, and it avoids spending a weekend in custody because you were arrested after court hours.
If you missed court because of a genuine reason — illness, a mistaken date, never having received notice — that is relevant both to the failure to appear charge and to whether the warrant should be cancelled. Document it.
How Do You Find Out If There Is a Warrant?
You cannot search CPIC yourself. Options are to have a lawyer make enquiries on your behalf, or to contact the court where you believe the matter is.
Calling a police service to ask whether there is a warrant for you is not a neutral enquiry. It may result in being told to attend, and it happens without advice or a plan in place.
If you genuinely do not know whether a warrant exists — for example after moving and losing track of a matter — that uncertainty is itself a reason to get advice rather than to wait and see.
Frequently asked questions
Browse every answer on this siteNo. A warrant remains outstanding until it is dealt with. There is no limitation period that clears it and it does not lapse with time.
The court will normally issue a bench warrant, and section 145(2) makes failing to attend court without lawful excuse a separate offence punishable by up to two years.
Almost always, but with a lawyer and a bail plan prepared first. A planned surrender lets a release plan be presented immediately and avoids being arrested at a time outside your control.
Not by searching yourself — CPIC is not public. A lawyer can make enquiries on your behalf, or you can contact the court. Calling police directly is not a neutral enquiry.
Warrants are recorded on CPIC, which is queried in a range of circumstances. Any interaction with police or border officials can result in the warrant being executed.
Facing This Charge Yourself?
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Other Parts of the Law Explained
This page is general information about Canadian law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Statutes are amended; provisions are described as at the consolidation reviewed when this page was written.
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