Criminal procedure
Arrest Warrant
An arrest warrant is a judge's written authorization for law enforcement to take a named person into custody.
It issues on probable cause, either from a sworn complaint or automatically once a grand jury returns an indictment. The warrant names the person and the offense, and it stays outstanding until it is executed or recalled.
On a docket the warrant appears twice: once when issued and again when returned executed after the arrest. Warrants tied to sealed indictments stay sealed until the arrest happens.
Sealing practice explains gaps in the record. Indictments and warrants are frequently sealed until arrests are made in a coordinated takedown, so a docket can show a case opening weeks before anything readable appears. A summons is the quieter alternative. In white-collar cases the government often agrees to issue one instead, letting the defendant appear voluntarily rather than being arrested, which is why some serious cases have no arrest entry at all.
How it appears on a docket
ARREST WARRANT RETURNED EXECUTED as to Daniel R. Vance, arrested on 1/14/2026 in the Eastern District of Virginia.
Governing rule
Fed. R. Crim. P. 4, 9
Related terms
- Criminal Complaint — A criminal complaint is a sworn statement of facts, usually by a federal agent, that establishes probable cause and allows an arrest before any indictment.
- Initial Appearance — An initial appearance is the first court date after an arrest, where the defendant is told the charges and the court addresses a lawyer and release.
More on criminal procedure
See this term in a real case
Search federal court records and read the filings where arrest warrant actually shows up. New to federal dockets? Start with how to find a federal case.