What is the difference between a warrant and an arrest?

A warrant and an arrest are both court proceedings that can be initiated against a person accused of committing a crime. However, there are significant differences between the two. A warrant is a legal document that authorizes law enforcement to take a specific action, like searching for, seizing, or arresting a person. Warrants are issued by a judge or magistrate after a law enforcement officer has presented probable cause to the court that a person has committed a crime. In the state of Washington, a judge must be convinced that there is enough evidence to issue the warrant. An arrest, on the other hand, is an action taken by a law enforcement officer to detain a person who they believe has committed a crime. An arrest may be based on an arrest warrant or a direct observation of criminal activity by an officer. The person detained must be taken into custody and brought before a court where they can be charged with committing a crime and a judge will determine whether they should be released or held for trial. In the state of Washington, drug crimes law requires that a person be arrested for possession of controlled substances, such as drugs or drug paraphernalia. However, only specific circumstances can lead to a warrant being issued in such cases. In summary, the difference between a warrant and an arrest is that a warrant is a legal document issued by a judge or magistrate after probable cause has been established and an arrest is the action taken by a law enforcement officer to take someone into custody if they believe they have committed a crime.

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What is the difference between a warrant and an arrest?

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