Which statement about a complaint and warrants is true?

Which statement about a complaint and warrants is true?

• A. A complaint is always sufficient to issue a warrant.
• B. A warrant may be issued without a complaint.
• C. A complaint is not sufficient to issue a warrant unless it contains probable cause.
• D. Probable cause is irrelevant to issuing a warrant.

Answer: (C)

Probable cause is the foundation for issuing any warrant, and a complaint used to obtain that warrant must lay out facts that amount to probable cause. A complaint isn’t automatically enough to authorize a warrant—the facts must be present and persuasive enough to lead a reasonable person to believe the defendant committed the offense. If the complaint doesn’t contain those facts, a magistrate would have no probable cause to issue the warrant. That’s why the statement that fits best is that a complaint is not sufficient to issue a warrant unless it contains probable cause. The other options miss the requirement for probable cause or treat it as irrelevant, which isn’t correct in the warrant-issuing process.

Probable cause is the foundation for issuing any warrant, and a complaint used to obtain that warrant must lay out facts that amount to probable cause. A complaint isn’t automatically enough to authorize a warrant—the facts must be present and persuasive enough to lead a reasonable person to believe the defendant committed the offense. If the complaint doesn’t contain those facts, a magistrate would have no probable cause to issue the warrant. That’s why the statement that fits best is that a complaint is not sufficient to issue a warrant unless it contains probable cause. The other options miss the requirement for probable cause or treat it as irrelevant, which isn’t correct in the warrant-issuing process.