Editing Arrest warrant (section)

=== Bench warrant ===<!-- Other articles link here. -->
A bench warrant is a summons issued from "the bench" (a judge or court) directing the police to arrest someone who must be brought before a specific judge<ref>{{cite web|title=Glossary of Court Terms|publisher=Maryland Courts|url=http://www.courts.state.md.us/reference/glossary.html|access-date=November 23, 2016}}</ref> either for [[contempt of court]] or for failing to appear in court as required. Unlike a basic arrest warrant, a bench warrant is not issued to initiate a criminal action.<ref name=SCJD>{{cite web|title=Warrants|publisher=South Carolina Judicial Department|url=http://www.judicial.state.sc.us/summaryCourtBenchBook/HTML/CriminalC.htm|access-date=November 23, 2016}}</ref>

For example, if a defendant is released on bail or under recognizance and misses a scheduled court appearance, or if a witness whose testimony is required in court does not appear as required by a subpoena, a bench warrant may be issued for that person's arrest.<ref name="brevard">See, e.g., {{cite web|title=FAQ's|url=http://brevardclerk.us/faq-s|website=Clerk of the Court|publisher=Brevard County, Florida|access-date=13 August 2017}}</ref> In cases where a bench warrant is issued to arrest someone who posted [[bail]] and subsequently missed their court date, once they are rearrested and brought before the judge, the judge may raise the bail amount or revoke it completely.<ref name="brevard" />

If a law enforcement officer stops an individual with an outstanding bench warrant against him, the person may be detained on the warrant, and may be held in jail until bond is posted or a hearing is held on the warrant. The hearing may result in the court setting a new bail amount, new conditions, and a new court appearance date.<ref name="brevard" /> If a criminal defendant is arrested on a bench warrant, the court may determine that the person is a flight risk (likely to flee the jurisdiction) and order that person held without bail.<ref name="brevard" /><ref>{{cite web|last1=Mamalian|first1=Cynthia A.|title=State of the Science of Pretrial Risk Assessment|url=http://www.pacenterofexcellence.pitt.edu/documents/PJI_State_of_the_Science_Pretrial_Risk_Assessment_(2011).pdf|website=Pennsylvania Mental Health and Justice Center of Excellence|access-date=13 August 2017|archive-date=15 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215134039/http://www.pacenterofexcellence.pitt.edu/documents/PJI_State_of_the_Science_Pretrial_Risk_Assessment_(2011).pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>