DC · Resolve a warrant

How do I resolve a warrant and turn myself in in District of Columbia?

No commercial bail

You have options. Here is the calm, step-by-step way to resolve a warrant in District of Columbia and turn yourself in on your own terms.

Last verified 2026-07-23Release Court-set releaseJurisdiction District of Columbia

The path to resolving a warrant in District of Columbia

You do not have to wait to be caught off guard. This is the ordered, on-your-own-terms way to handle it — each step points to an official source.

Step 1

Confirm the warrant and identify the issuing court

Local criminal cases and bench warrants are handled by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Contact the DC Superior Court Criminal Division (DC Courts information line 202-879-1010, Moultrie Courthouse, 500 Indiana Avenue NW) to confirm whether there is a pending case, a missed court date, or a bench warrant, and to get the case number and any hearing date. For an arrest warrant, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is the police of record.
Official source
Step 2

Ask the court about recalling or quashing a bench / failure-to-appear warrant

For a warrant issued because a court date was missed, ask the Criminal Division how that court re-sets the matter and how the warrant can be recalled or quashed; filing a motion to recall or quash the warrant is one available procedural option. This is noted only as an option, not as a recommended strategy. In District of Columbia, the warrant this applies to is typically a bench warrant issued by a Superior Court judge, for example when a defendant fails to appear (the DC Courts note that on a missed appearance bond may be forfeited and a warrant may be issued for the defendant's arrest), and only the court that issued it can recall or re-set it.
Official source
Step 3

Arrange to appear or self-surrender on scheduled terms

Depending on the warrant and the court's instructions, you may resolve it by appearing at the courthouse or by coordinating a surrender. Call the Criminal Division ahead of time to confirm the correct location, hours, and procedure before going. In District of Columbia, this is a matter of timing, not a legal outcome. Per DC Courts, missing a required appearance can result in forfeiture of any posted bond and issuance of a warrant.
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Step 4

Presentment / arraignment and release decision follow

After being taken into custody and booked, you are presented to the court. The Pretrial Services Agency prepares a release recommendation, and a judicial officer sets release conditions under D.C. Code 23-1321. Release is typically on personal recognizance or non-financial conditions; there is no money bail to post and no bondsman. For serious offenses the government may request pretrial detention after a hearing.
Official source

Turning yourself in on your own terms in District of Columbia

Addressing a warrant on your own terms means choosing the timing and location within the court's procedures, typically during regular court or jail-intake business hours, rather than being taken into custody unexpectedly during a traffic stop or at home or work. This is a logistical consideration about timing and preparation only and does not predict any legal result.

What to bring

A valid government-issued photo ID
Any court paperwork, citation, or the case number you have
A written list of any medications you take
Contact information for a family member or friend who can help
Note: you do not need money for a bail bond in DC, because the District does not use money bail or bail bondsmen
Do not bring weapons, drugs, or other prohibited items into a court or jail

What to expect

Expect booking (fingerprints, photograph, and a records check) and presentment or arraignment before a judicial officer.

The Pretrial Services Agency prepares a release recommendation, and release is typically on non-financial conditions with no money bail to post.

For serious matters the government may ask the court to order pretrial detention after a hearing.

Processing times vary.

This is logistical information only.

In District of Columbia, the specifics depend on the case; when arrested on a warrant, a person is typically presented to the court for arraignment or a hearing.

How release works in District of Columbia

No commercial bail

In District of Columbia, there is no commercial bail-bond industry — no bondsman to hire and no bond premium to buy. A judge decides release, commonly on your own recognizance or on set conditions, and any money bail that is ordered is posted directly with the court.

The District of Columbia does not use a money-bail or commercial bail-bond system, and there is no commercial bail-bond industry operating in the District.

Under the District's Bail Reform Act (D.C.

Code sec. 23-1321), when a person is brought before the court the judicial officer must order release on personal recognizance or on an unsecured appearance bond unless that will not reasonably assure the person's appearance or the safety of the community, in which case the court imposes the least restrictive non-financial conditions that will.

The statute provides that a judicial officer may not impose a financial condition to assure community safety, and may not impose a financial condition that results in the pretrial detention of the person.

In practice DC courts do not set secured money bail.

Release recommendations are prepared by the Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia (PSA), an independent federal agency that interviews newly arrested defendants and supervises those released.

Most defendants are released on non-financial conditions such as check-ins or supervision; for the most serious matters the government may ask the court to order pretrial detention after a hearing, rather than setting a money bond.

Your rights. You have the right to talk to a lawyer about your situation, and if you cannot afford one, you can ask the court about a public defender.

A few cautions before you go

Confirm the warrant directly with the DC Superior Court Criminal Division (202-879-1010) or with MPD before acting; DC has no public online warrant search, so do not rely on unofficial third-party 'warrant lookup' websites.
The District of Columbia does not use money bail or commercial bail bondsmen. Be cautious of anyone offering to 'post bail' or sell a 'bail bond' for a DC case, because that is not how pretrial release works here.
A warrant does not expire on its own; ignoring it leaves you subject to arrest at any law-enforcement contact, and missing a required appearance can result in forfeiture of any posted bond and issuance of a new warrant.
Call the Criminal Division ahead of time to confirm the correct location, hours, and surrender procedure.

Contact the issuing court or county sheriff in District of Columbia

A warrant is issued by a court and served by the county sheriff — they are who can confirm it and tell you the exact way to resolve it. Start with these official District of Columbia sources.

Not sure you actually have a warrant?

Before you act, confirm whether one exists. warrant.guru walks through exactly how to check in District of Columbia.

Check for a warrant in District of Columbia Looking for someone in jail or prison? Find them

Common questions about resolving a warrant in District of Columbia

How do I resolve a warrant in District of Columbia?

Confirm the warrant with the court that issued it or the county sheriff, then work through these steps: Confirm the warrant and identify the issuing court; Ask the court about recalling or quashing a bench / failure-to-appear warrant; Arrange to appear or self-surrender on scheduled terms; Presentment / arraignment and release decision follow.

How do I turn myself in in District of Columbia?

Does District of Columbia have commercial bail bondsmen?

No. District of Columbia has no commercial bail-bond industry, so there is no bondsman to hire. A judge decides release, commonly on recognizance or on conditions, and any money bail that is ordered is posted directly with the court.

What should I bring if I turn myself in in District of Columbia?

A valid government-issued photo ID; Any court paperwork, citation, or the case number you have; A written list of any medications you take; Contact information for a family member or friend who can help; Note: you do not need money for a bail bond in DC, because the District does not use money bail or bail bondsmen; Do not bring weapons, drugs, or other prohibited items into a court or jail.

Sources & last verified

Everything here links out to official government or public-reference sources. We don't store or republish records.

Last verified 2026-07-23 · 8 sources