What is a court order called that allows for the search of property?

A court order that permits law enforcement to search a specified location for evidence related to a crime is known as a search warrant. This legal document is issued by a judge or magistrate and is based on probable cause that a crime has occurred or that evidence of a crime is present at the location specified in the warrant.

The importance of a search warrant lies in its role in balancing the need for law enforcement to investigate crimes with the constitutional rights of individuals to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, as outlined in the Fourth Amendment. This ensures that searches are conducted legally and with proper justification, safeguarding individuals’ privacy and property rights.

In contrast, other options like an arrest warrant are specifically designed to authorize the apprehension of an individual, a subpoena is a document that orders someone to appear in court or produce evidence, and a citation is a notice issued to a person for a violation of law (often a minor offense) that usually requires a court appearance but does not relate to property searches. Each of these serves different legal purposes, making a search warrant distinct in its authority to allow searches of property.