What is the difference between an active and outstanding warrant?
Asked by: Major Satterfield | Last update: January 11, 2026Score: 4.1/5 (9 votes)
Active is warrant that has been signed off by a judge but has yet to be executed, Pending warrant is one that has set and signed by the judge but they may not have contacted the person in question. An outstanding warrant is active and the person is being hounded by the authorities.
What does it mean when a warrant is outstanding?
Additionally, “outstanding” can also mean that the warrant is still active. As such, it can be used to arrest that person at any time or place in which they are then found. An example of this would be how if someone is pulled over for a traffic violation, the police will check if there are any outstanding warrants.
What's the difference between a warrant and an active warrant?
Under an active warrant, law enforcement immediately searches for a person. With open warrants, law enforcement have the authority to interact with the person, but these are often the result of lower emphasis encounters. Law enforcement places great importance on active warrants.
What are warrants outstanding?
An outstanding warrant is a legal document that authorizes law enforcement to arrest someone. It is a type of warrant that has not been executed yet, meaning the person named in the warrant has not been arrested yet.
Can you get a job with an outstanding warrant?
There is no requirement for an employer to refuse to hire someone who has an outstanding warrant. If they do a thorough background check and do fine the warrant then you may still be hired. Although if you are able to, you should take care of the warrant, it will be less stress in your life.
What to do with an Active Warrant
Will an active warrant show up on a background check?
Warrants That Might Show Up
Executed arrest warrants become a part of a person's criminal record and are the most likely type of warrant to appear on an employment criminal background check. These are warrants for arrest based on probable cause to believe the subjects have committed crimes.
What can't you do if you have a warrant?
A warrant is a court order allowing the police to arrest a person. If you have outstanding warrants, you can be arrested at any time. Warrants can prevent you from getting a driver's license, or from getting certain government benefits such as food stamps or health care.
How long before a warrant becomes outstanding?
Simply put, warrants never expire. However, suppose the criminal statute of limitations (SOL) has expired. In that case, you might be able to get the case dismissed for passing the time limitations. In California, the SOL for misdemeanors is generally one year from the time of the offense.
What does "outstanding" mean in crime?
An outstanding warrant means that the judge has issued an arrest warrant out for you. This could happen simply because you did not show up in court for a traffic ticket court date. If you have an outstanding warrant, the police can take you into jail at any point in time…
What happens after a warrant in debt?
If you don't go to court on the date specified in the warrant in debt, then the judge has the power to enter a default judgment against you, and that largely eliminates your ability to fight the claim. The creditor can then take the judgment and start seeking payment from your assets, such as your bank account.
Do police look for people with warrants?
In a surprising number of cases, they don't. Warrants for skipping court for not pursuing traffic tickets for example. They don't really bother to investigate enough to find you proactively. But when you get pulled over they'll run your information, find the warrant, then arrest you right then and there.
Can you travel with an active warrant?
Yes, you can technically fly with a bench warrant, especially on domestic flights, as the TSA does not specifically check for warrants.
How long do you stay in jail for a warrant for missing court?
If you were a defendant in an ongoing criminal case and were arrested on a bench warrant for failing to appear, you could potentially be held in custody until the completion of your trial. Depending on the complexity of the case and the court's docket, this period can span several months or longer.
What happens when warrants are called?
A call warrant gives an investor the right to buy a company's stock at a certain price on or before a specific expiration date. Generally speaking, an investor would be likely to exercise a call warrant if the strike price is lower than the stock's current market price.
How long does it take police to get a warrant?
How Long Does It Take to Get a Search Warrant? Getting a search warrant can take a few hours, days, or weeks. It depends on the complexity of the case, the availability of the judge or magistrate, the available technology, and how credible the information is.
What does it mean when a case is outstanding?
Published on: 11/20/2022. An outstanding judgment occurs when a creditor wins a court case against you because you have not paid your debt.
What does outstanding mean in status?
In payment status, "outstanding" means that a payment has been invoiced or requested but has not yet been made by the debtor. It indicates that the amount is still pending and awaits settlement.
What does outstanding mean in law?
1. Remaining undischarged; unpaid; uncollected; as an outstanding debt. 2. Existing as an adverse claim or pretension; not united with, or merged in, the title or claim of the party; as au outstanding title.
What to avoid if you have a warrant?
- You Can't Travel Freely. An active warrant severely limits your ability to travel freely, especially outside your immediate local area or state. ...
- You Can't Legally Drive. ...
- You Can't Enter Federal Property. ...
- You Can't Ignore the Warrant. ...
- You Can't Rely on Past Checks.
Does a warrant show up on a background check?
The short answer is yes, warrants will typically show up on a background check report, but it can depend on how thoroughly someone is checking. All warrants are traceable in some way, so it's best to assume that they'll be found. If there's a warrant out on you, be forthright with those running your background check.
Will police come to your house for a warrant?
With an arrest warrant they can enter her house to arrest the subject of the warrant. While in there, they can seize any contraband in plain view and search the immediate area near where they apprehended her.
Can you fly with an active warrant?
If you have all the required paperwork—a valid passport for foreign travel and visas for the destination nations you want to visit—you may fly with an active warrant. Flying with an outstanding warrant, even for minor offenses, nonetheless might cause problems.