Arrest warrant

Arrest warrants are issued by judges, magistrates or equivalent judicial authorities and are enforceable only inside the jurisdiction of the issuing court. They must usually be based on probable cause — a reasonable belief that the person committed a specific crime. A warrant is the legal prerequisite for many downstream acts: detention, search and seizure in connection with the arrest, and the issuance of international notices. Without a national warrant, Interpol cannot process a Red Notice. Warrants may be public or sealed, and they remain in force until executed, quashed by a court, or expired.