Definition

Noun: A legal document issued by a judge or magistrate that authorizes law enforcement officers to arrest and detain a specific individual suspected of a crime, in order to bring that person before a court.

Usage

An arrest warrant is a formal order. It is issued when there is probable cause to believe a person has committed an offense. It protects individuals from unlawful detention by requiring judicial approval for an arrest.

Examples

• The judge signed the arrest warrant after reviewing the evidence from the police.
• Officers cannot enter a home to make an arrest without an arrest warrant unless there are exigent circumstances.
• His name was added to the national database once the arrest warrant was issued.

Advanced Usage

• "to issue an arrest warrant": The official act of a judicial officer authorizing an arrest.
  • The court issued an arrest warrant for the suspect who failed to appear.
• "to execute an arrest warrant": The act of law enforcement carrying out the arrest as authorized.
  • The fugitive was captured in another state when police there executed the arrest warrant.
• "an arrest warrant in absentia": A warrant issued when a person is not present in the court, often after they have failed to appear for a hearing.
  • The judge issued an arrest warrant in absentia for the defendant.

Variants and Related Words

• Bench warrant (n): A specific type of arrest warrant issued by a judge ("from the bench") for failure to obey a court order, such as not appearing for a scheduled court date.
• Search warrant (n): A distinct legal document authorizing law enforcement to search a specified location for evidence. (Note: This is related but different from an , which authorizes seizing a person).
• Warrant (n): The broader category of judicial writs authorizing an action, which includes arrest warrants, search warrants, and death warrants.

Synonyms

• Warrant for arrest: The full formal name.
• Capias: A legal writ, often for arrest.
• Writ of apprehension: A more formal, less common term.

Related Phrases

• "outstanding arrest warrant": An arrest warrant that has been issued but not yet served or executed; the person named is wanted by authorities.
  • He was pulled over for a broken tail light and then detained due to an outstanding arrest warrant.
• "to be subject to an arrest warrant": To be the person named in an active warrant.
  • The individual is subject to an arrest warrant and should be considered armed and dangerous.

Noun

1. a warrant authorizing law enforcement officials to apprehend an offender and bring that person to court