Which statement about a capias is most accurate?

• A. It is a type of arrest warrant
• B. It is a warrant to seize property
• C. It is a type of search warrant
• D. It is a subpoena to appear in court

Answer: (A)

A capias is an arrest warrant issued by a court to compel a person to be brought before the court, typically when they have failed to appear or comply with a court order. It gives law enforcement authority to arrest the individual and bring them into custody so they can answer for the contempt or the pending matter. It’s not about seizing property, so it’s not a property warrant, and it’s not a search warrant. It’s also not merely a subpoena; a subpoena orders appearance or production of documents, but a capias provides the enforcement mechanism of arrest to secure the person’s court appearance.