How do you distinguish between an arrest warrant and a search warrant?

How do you distinguish between an arrest warrant and a search warrant?

• A. They are identical.
• B. An arrest warrant authorizes a search.
• C. An arrest warrant authorizes taking a person into custody; a search warrant authorizes conducting a search of a specified location for particular items.
• D. A search warrant allows seizure of people.

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that warrants serve different purposes and have different scopes. An arrest warrant is a court order to take a named person into custody. A search warrant is a court order to search a specific place for specified items. So the arrest warrant targets a person and the action is custody; the search warrant targets a location and the action is searching for evidence. That’s why this option is the best: it cleanly contrasts who or what is authorized and what the allowed activity is. The other statements blur or reverse these roles—arrest warrants don’t authorize searches, and search warrants aren’t for seizing people.

The main idea is that warrants serve different purposes and have different scopes. An arrest warrant is a court order to take a named person into custody. A search warrant is a court order to search a specific place for specified items. So the arrest warrant targets a person and the action is custody; the search warrant targets a location and the action is searching for evidence. That’s why this option is the best: it cleanly contrasts who or what is authorized and what the allowed activity is. The other statements blur or reverse these roles—arrest warrants don’t authorize searches, and search warrants aren’t for seizing people.