N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law Section 120.10
Warrant of arrest

  • definition, function, form and content

1.

A warrant of arrest is a process issued by a local criminal court directing a police officer to arrest a defendant designated in an accusatory instrument filed with such court and to bring him before such court in connection with such instrument. The sole function of a warrant of arrest is to achieve a defendant’s court appearance in a criminal action for the purpose of arraignment upon the accusatory instrument by which such action was commenced.

2.

A warrant of arrest must be subscribed by the issuing judge and must state or contain (a) the name of the issuing court, and

(b)

the date of issuance of the warrant, and

(c)

the name or title of an offense charged in the underlying accusatory instrument, and

(d)

the name of the defendant to be arrested or, if such be unknown, any name or description by which he can be identified with reasonable certainty, and

(e)

the police officer or officers to whom the warrant is addressed, and

(f)

a direction that such officer arrest the defendant and bring him before the issuing court.

3.

A warrant of arrest may be addressed to a classification of police officers, or to two or more classifications thereof, as well as to a designated individual police officer or officers. Multiple copies of such a warrant may be issued.

Source: Section 120.10 — Warrant of arrest; definition, function, form and content, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/CPL/120.­10 (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed Dec. 20, 2025).

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Verified:
Dec. 20, 2025

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 120.10. Warrant of arrest's source at nysenate​.gov

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