What is a "search warrant"?

A "search warrant" is a legal document that grants law enforcement the authority to search a specific location for evidence related to a crime. This warrant is issued by a judge or magistrate and typically requires law enforcement to demonstrate probable cause—meaning they must provide sufficient evidence that a crime has occurred, and the location to be searched is likely to contain evidence of that crime.

Such warrants are a crucial part of upholding constitutional rights, as they help ensure that searches are conducted legally and that individuals' privacy is respected. The process of obtaining a search warrant includes presenting evidence to a court, which serves as a check on law enforcement power to prevent arbitrary searches.

Comparatively, other options such as arrest warrants, incident summaries, and court appearance orders do not pertain to the authorization for searching a premises and therefore do not accurately describe the function or purpose of a search warrant.