What is the difference between an arrest warrant and a search warrant?

• A. A search warrant authorizes the arrest of a named person.
• B. They are identical.
• C. A search warrant authorizes the search of a place or person for evidence.
• D. An arrest warrant authorizes the arrest of a named person; a search warrant authorizes the search of a specific place or person for evidence.

Answer: (D)

The difference lies in what each type of order allows police to do. An arrest warrant is a court order that lets police arrest a named individual. A search warrant is a court order that lets police search a defined place (or, in some cases, a named person) for evidence related to a crime. So, an arrest warrant is about detaining a person, while a search warrant is about locating evidence at a location or on a person. For example, an arrest warrant would let officers arrest Jane Doe, whereas a search warrant would permit them to search Jane’s apartment for stolen electronics. The statement that combines both aspects—arresting a named person and searching a place or person for evidence—best captures the difference.