Florida Bail Bonds Practice Exam

A warrant is a legal document that authorizes law enforcement to take a specific action, typically the arrest of a person. It is issued by a judge or magistrate based on a demonstration of probable cause that a crime has occurred and that the individual named in the warrant is linked to that crime. The significance of a warrant lies in its role in ensuring that arrests are made lawfully, protecting individuals from unlawful detention.

Understanding this definition highlights why the choice indicating a written order for arrest is the correct answer. The other options describe different legal documents or processes. A document for filing a lawsuit pertains to civil actions rather than criminal procedures, a notice to appear in court is a request for a defendant to show up in court but does not authorize an arrest, and a summary of a case provides a brief overview but lacks the legal implications of enforcement or arrest. Thus, a warrant distinctly serves as the judicial mechanism that triggers an arrest based on prescribed legal standards.