- Jurisdiction
- California
First, what I did I'm not saying was right. I knew it was illegal but did it anyway because I was desperate at the time. About three years I was receiving Food Stamps & General Relief (cash aid), totaling about $425 per month. I intentionally did not report that I was receiving $1000/month from a family member to pay my rent. The application forms are very clear that you must report ALL income. But I didn't, because I was afraid that it would lower my benefits if I reported the $1000. (even with full benefits, I was just barely keeping my head above water)
My benefits lapsed and I went to reapply. That's when I got suspicious that they'd found out about the $1000/month (I believe they can access your bank records; you must disclose the name of your bank on the application. And they have an entire wall lined with mug shots of people convicted of welfare fraud).
Some of the staff that I interacted with were acting VERY strangely, so much so that I simply left (more like fled) from the waiting area before meeting with a case worker (she came out and asked me to have my ID ready, which no worker had EVER done before. In addition to that, I saw a sheriff's deputy walk into the secure office where applicants meet with the case worker, wearing latex gloves, which I'd been told they do when about to arrest someone).
My "Spidey senses" were shooting off fireworks, so I hightailed it out of there.
Ever since, I've been really afraid to have any interactions with police.
But I was in a minor car accident recently and might need to go to the police station to file a report. Aside from that I just want to deal with it one way or another so I don't have to live with the constant fear.
I was told I could hire a lawyer to look into it for me. I'm TERRIFIED of being arrested (especially in a city like L.A. where I live). I've called one attorney but calls aren't returned, so I've been doing whatever I can think of to see if there's an outstanding warrant for my arrest. so far, I've:
1) visited the courthouse and searched for my name on the "docket sheet" (per the advice of the lawyer's receptionist). The court clerk said nothing came up.
2) Then I called the Public Defender's office to do the same; they searched my name and said there is no record of a warrant.
3) I searched my name on the court's website under the "criminal" section and nothing came up.
But I'm not convinced. So my questions are:
1) Is there a chance that there WAS a warrant for my arrest, but it was deemed "low priority" after some time had passed and simply discarded or nullified? If so, would I be able to find out about it?
2) How can I find out *definitively* if there is or ever was a warrant? What's the best way? Hire an attorney?
My worst nightmare is that I get arrested upon going to the police station to make a report about the minor car accident. This is what I will do ANYTHING to avoid.
I know there are laws and we must obey them and not feel that we're an exception to them. I just want to make it right and clear this up once and for all so it isn't hanging over my head. But again, I will do absolutely ANYTHING to avoid getting arrested (it happened once years ago, my license had been suspended by my home state which I was unaware of because I'd moved to another state; then I got pulled over in the new state for failing to use my turn signal. The officer saw the outstanding warrant and arrested me on the spot! I spent a night in Brooklyn jail and it was an AWFUL, degrading, humiliating experience).
I just want to clear this up once and for all. I'll do whatever it takes to clear it up...but WITHOUT subjecting myself to the possibility of arrest.
My benefits lapsed and I went to reapply. That's when I got suspicious that they'd found out about the $1000/month (I believe they can access your bank records; you must disclose the name of your bank on the application. And they have an entire wall lined with mug shots of people convicted of welfare fraud).
Some of the staff that I interacted with were acting VERY strangely, so much so that I simply left (more like fled) from the waiting area before meeting with a case worker (she came out and asked me to have my ID ready, which no worker had EVER done before. In addition to that, I saw a sheriff's deputy walk into the secure office where applicants meet with the case worker, wearing latex gloves, which I'd been told they do when about to arrest someone).
My "Spidey senses" were shooting off fireworks, so I hightailed it out of there.
Ever since, I've been really afraid to have any interactions with police.
But I was in a minor car accident recently and might need to go to the police station to file a report. Aside from that I just want to deal with it one way or another so I don't have to live with the constant fear.
I was told I could hire a lawyer to look into it for me. I'm TERRIFIED of being arrested (especially in a city like L.A. where I live). I've called one attorney but calls aren't returned, so I've been doing whatever I can think of to see if there's an outstanding warrant for my arrest. so far, I've:
1) visited the courthouse and searched for my name on the "docket sheet" (per the advice of the lawyer's receptionist). The court clerk said nothing came up.
2) Then I called the Public Defender's office to do the same; they searched my name and said there is no record of a warrant.
3) I searched my name on the court's website under the "criminal" section and nothing came up.
But I'm not convinced. So my questions are:
1) Is there a chance that there WAS a warrant for my arrest, but it was deemed "low priority" after some time had passed and simply discarded or nullified? If so, would I be able to find out about it?
2) How can I find out *definitively* if there is or ever was a warrant? What's the best way? Hire an attorney?
My worst nightmare is that I get arrested upon going to the police station to make a report about the minor car accident. This is what I will do ANYTHING to avoid.
I know there are laws and we must obey them and not feel that we're an exception to them. I just want to make it right and clear this up once and for all so it isn't hanging over my head. But again, I will do absolutely ANYTHING to avoid getting arrested (it happened once years ago, my license had been suspended by my home state which I was unaware of because I'd moved to another state; then I got pulled over in the new state for failing to use my turn signal. The officer saw the outstanding warrant and arrested me on the spot! I spent a night in Brooklyn jail and it was an AWFUL, degrading, humiliating experience).
I just want to clear this up once and for all. I'll do whatever it takes to clear it up...but WITHOUT subjecting myself to the possibility of arrest.
