If you have missed your court appearance for the DAT, an arrest warrant (WOR-ent) has been issued. An arrest warrant is an order from the court directing the police to arrest you so that you can be brought in front of the judge.

Because there is an arrest warrant in your name, you may report to the clerk’s office in the courthouse where you were scheduled to appear. The clerk will then take information from you, such as your name and then send you to a courtroom (called a “part”). This is called a voluntary (vol-un-TAYR-ree) return on a warrant and is noted on the Judge’s record. Please note that this process can take a full day to complete. It is called vacating (VAY-kay-ting) a warrant.

For more information on warrants, please see the LIFT guide “Warrants.”