Which of the following statements about warrants is accurate?

• A. Arrest a person
• B. They can compel private individuals to testify
• C. They authorize a peace officer to arrest a person or perform some other act
• D. They can be used to repeal laws

Answer: (C)

Warrants are court orders that authorize a peace officer to take a specific action because a judge has found probable cause for it. They aren’t permanent laws or tools to control people directly; they are procedural commands that let law enforcement act within the bounds of the court’s authorization. The most common actions are arresting a named person or searching a particular place for described items, but a warrant can also authorize other related acts required by the case.

So, a warrant can authorize a peace officer to arrest a person or to perform another authorized action, such as conducting a search or seizing property. It’s not used to compel private individuals to testify (that’s a subpoena), and it cannot repeal laws (that power lies with legislation, not with warrants).