Explain the difference between an arrest warrant and a search warrant and when each is used.

• A. An arrest warrant authorizes the arrest of a named individual; a search warrant authorizes the seizure of specified items at a location; both require probable cause and judicial approval.
• B. An arrest warrant authorizes the seizure of items; a search warrant authorizes the arrest of a named person.
• C. They are interchangeable.
• D. Warrants are never required in modern policing.

Answer: (A)

Warrants come from a neutral judge and must be based on probable cause, but they serve two different purposes. An arrest warrant authorizes law enforcement to arrest a named person. It’s used when there’s probable cause to believe that individual committed a crime, and the goal is to bring that person into custody. A search warrant, on the other hand, authorizes officers to search a specific location and seize described items. It’s used when there’s probable cause to believe evidence of a crime will be found at that place, and it limits the search to the designated location and items.

So the difference lies in who or what is targeted: an arrest warrant targets a person for arrest; a search warrant targets a place and the items to be seized. Both require probable cause and judicial approval, though there are exceptions in practice (such as exigent circumstances or consent) where warrants aren’t required.