What is an arrest warrant?

An arrest warrant is defined as a court order that authorizes law enforcement officers to take an individual into custody. This legal document is issued by a judge or magistrate and is based on the demonstration of probable cause that the person has committed a crime. The issuance of an arrest warrant provides law enforcement with the legal authority to apprehend the individual, ensuring that the arrest is conducted within the boundaries of the law and protecting the constitutional rights of the person being arrested.

The other options do not accurately represent the nature of an arrest warrant. A notification of pending charges refers to the process of alerting an individual that charges may be forthcoming but does not grant law enforcement the power to make an arrest. A request for a trial date pertains to scheduling court proceedings rather than the act of arresting someone. Finally, a document detailing evidence against a suspect is more akin to an affidavit or information submitted to support a warrant but does not itself serve as an arrest warrant. Hence, the choice that best defines what an arrest warrant is would be the court order allowing law enforcement to apprehend an individual.