A criminal warrant is a document granted by a judge that gives local law enforcement the right to take an individual into police custody. To receive a warrant, the officer must have probable cause to believe the suspect has committed a crime and produce evidence to that effect in court. If an active criminal warrant is issued in your name, an officer can arrest you in public, after a traffic stop, or at your home or place of work. When you have a warrant out, proactive steps to remove the warrant by turning yourself in can prevent the consequences of a public arrest. Running from the charges can compound your legal issues and the potential penalties if you are convicted.