Mittimus vs. Warrant: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 11, 2023
A mittimus is a court order directing law enforcement to convey a person to prison, while a warrant is a legal document authorizing law enforcement to make an arrest or search or carry out another action.
Key Differences
A mittimus primarily pertains to the judicial domain. It represents an official command issued by the court, specifically directing law enforcement to take an individual to prison, following a sentencing. Conversely, a warrant encompasses a broader scope. It's a legal document that gets its authority from a judge or magistrate, granting law enforcement permission to take particular actions, such as making an arrest, executing a search, or seizing property.
While the mittimus is a product of a concluded trial or hearing, essentially being the aftermath of a legal process where a person is sentenced to incarceration, a warrant typically signifies the initiation or continuation of legal proceedings. It can be issued before a person is charged with a crime, prompting their arrest, or during an investigation where evidence is sought.
In terms of application, a mittimus is singular in its purpose: sending someone to jail or prison. This is after the individual's guilt has been established in court. On the other hand, a warrant's utilization is multifaceted. Depending on the warrant type, it could be used for arresting suspects, searching homes or businesses, or even demanding certain actions from the person named.
Timing is also a distinction. A mittimus is issued after the court has heard a case and rendered a judgment. In contrast, a warrant, especially an arrest warrant, can be the very reason a person first appears in court. In essence, while a mittimus symbolizes the culmination of certain legal proceedings, a warrant can denote the commencement.
In summary, both mittimus and warrant are crucial legal instruments, but they cater to different stages and aspects of the judicial process. While a mittimus executes a court's sentencing decision, a warrant facilitates the processes that may lead to such a decision.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A court order to send someone to prison.
A legal document authorizing specific actions by law enforcement.
Issuance
After a trial or hearing.
Before, during, or after an investigation.
Main Purpose
Execution of sentencing.
Authorization for arrests, searches, or other actions.
Scope
Specific to sending individuals to incarceration.
Broad, covering multiple legal actions.
Stage in Process
Culmination of legal proceedings.
Commencement or continuation of legal proceedings.
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Mittimus and Warrant Definitions
Mittimus
An official court order directing the imprisonment of an individual.
The judge issued a mittimus, sending the convict to jail.
Warrant
A legal authorization for law enforcement to take a specific action.
The officer had a warrant to search the premises.
Mittimus
A written command to a jailer to keep someone in custody.
The sheriff received the mittimus for the accused's confinement.
Warrant
A document issued by a legal officer allowing the arrest or search of an individual or property.
The arrest warrant was executed at dawn.
Mittimus
Legal documentation ensuring the transfer of prisoners to a particular facility.
The mittimus specified the penitentiary as his destination.
Warrant
A written assurance or guarantee.
The product comes with a warranty of two years.
Mittimus
The formal record of a judgment for imprisonment.
The mittimus was recorded, detailing his three-year sentence.
Warrant
A voucher of payment or authority to pay.
He received a treasury warrant for his services.
Mittimus
A directive concluding a legal process, leading to incarceration.
The mittimus marked the end of his trial, and the start of his sentence.
Warrant
(Law) A judicial writ authorizing the search or seizure of property, arrest of a person, or the execution of a legal judgment.
Mittimus
A warrant issued for someone to be taken into custody.
Warrant
A voucher authorizing payment or receipt of money.
Mittimus
A writ for moving records from one court to another.
Warrant
An option to buy stock at a specified price from an issuing company.
Mittimus
A formal dismissal from a situation.
Warrant
Justification for an action or a belief; grounds
"The difficulty of predicting the future is no warrant to ignore it" (Brian Hayes).
Mittimus
A precept or warrant granted by a justice for committing to prison a party charged with crime; a warrant of commitment to prison.
Warrant
Something that provides assurance or confirmation; a guarantee or proof
"The kind of uncertainties and ambiguities ... which may damage [his] essays ... are often a warrant of authenticity in [his] fiction" (John Edward Hardy).
Warrant
Authorization or certification; sanction, as given by a superior.
Warrant
A warrant officer.
Warrant
A certificate of appointment given to a warrant officer.
Warrant
To provide adequate grounds for; justify or require
What could he have done that would warrant such a punishment?.
Warrant
To guarantee (a product).
Warrant
To guarantee (a purchaser) indemnification against damage or loss.
Warrant
(Law) To guarantee clear title to (real property).
Warrant
Authorization or certification; a sanction, as given by a superior.
Warrant
(countable) Something that provides assurance or confirmation; a guarantee or proof.
A warrant of authenticity; a warrant for success
Warrant
(countable) An order that serves as authorization; especially a voucher authorizing payment or receipt of money.
Warrant
An option, usually issued together with another security and with a term at issue greater than a year, to buy other securities of the issuer.
Warrant
A judicial writ authorizing an officer to make a search, seizure, or arrest, or to execute a judgment.
An arrest warrant issued by the court
Warrant
(countable) A certificate of appointment given to a warrant officer.
Warrant
A document certifying that a motor vehicle meets certain standards of mechanical soundness and safety; a warrant of fitness.
Warrant
A defender, a protector.
Warrant
Underclay in a coal mine.
Warren earth
Warrant
To protect, keep safe (from danger).
Warrant
To give (someone) an assurance or guarantee (of something); also, with a double object: to guarantee (someone something).
Warrant
(transitive) To guarantee (something) to be (of a specified quality, value, etc.).
Warrant
(transitive) To guarantee as being true; (colloquially) to believe strongly.
That tree is going to fall, I’ll warrant.
Warrant
(transitive) To authorize; to give (someone) sanction or warrant (to do something).
I am warranted to search these premises fully.
Warrant
(transitive) To justify; to give grounds for.
Circumstances arose that warranted the use of lethal force.
Warrant
That which warrants or authorizes; a commission giving authority, or justifying the doing of anything; an act, instrument, or obligation, by which one person authorizes another to do something which he has not otherwise a right to do; an act or instrument investing one with a right or authority, and thus securing him from loss or damage; commission; authority.
Warrant
A writing which authorizes a person to receive money or other thing.
Warrant
That which vouches or insures for anything; guaranty; security.
I give thee warrant of thy place.
His worth is warrant for his welcome hither.
Warrant
A precept issued by a magistrate authorizing an officer to make an arrest, a seizure, or a search, or do other acts incident to the administration of justice.
Warrant
That which attests or proves; a voucher.
Warrant
An official certificate of appointment issued to an officer of lower rank than a commissioned officer. See Warrant officer, below.
Warrant
Right; legality; allowance.
Warrant
To make secure; to give assurance against harm; to guarantee safety to; to give authority or power to do, or forbear to do, anything by which the person authorized is secured, or saved harmless, from any loss or damage by his action.
That show I first my body to warrant.
I'll warrant him from drowning.
In a placeLess warranted than this, or less secure,I can not be.
Warrant
To support by authority or proof; to justify; to maintain; to sanction; as, reason warrants it.
True fortitude is seen in great exploits,That justice warrants, and that wisdom guides.
How little while it is since he went forth out of his study, - chewing a Hebrew text of Scripture in his mouth, I warrant.
Warrant
To give a warrant or warranty to; to assure as if by giving a warrant to.
[My neck is] as smooth as silk, I warrant ye.
Warrant
To secure to, as a grantee, an estate granted; to assure.
Warrant
A writ from a court commanding police to perform specified acts
Warrant
A type of security issued by a corporation (usually together with a bond or preferred stock) that gives the holder the right to purchase a certain amount of common stock at a stated price;
As a sweetener they offered warrants along with the fixed-income securities
Warrant
Formal and explicit approval;
A Democrat usually gets the union's endorsement
Warrant
A written assurance that some product or service will be provided or will meet certain specifications
Warrant
Show to be reasonable or provide adequate ground for;
The emergency does not warrant all of us buying guns
The end justifies the means
Warrant
Stand behind and guarantee the quality, accuracy, or condition of;
The dealer warrants all the cars he sells
I warrant this information
Warrant
Justification or valid grounds for an action or belief.
There's no warrant for such behavior in this establishment.
FAQs
Can a police officer issue a warrant?
No, warrants are issued by judges or magistrates based on presented evidence.
Is a mittimus only issued after a guilty verdict?
Yes, a mittimus is typically issued after a person has been found guilty and sentenced.
What is the main purpose of a warrant?
A warrant is a legal authorization allowing law enforcement to perform specific actions, like arrests, searches, or seizures.
When is a mittimus executed?
A mittimus is executed after the court's judgment, leading to the individual's incarceration.
Can anyone other than law enforcement execute a warrant?
Typically, only authorized law enforcement agents can execute warrants, though certain exceptions might exist, like a bail bondsman executing an arrest warrant in some jurisdictions.
What happens if a warrant is mistakenly issued?
If a warrant is issued in error, it can be recalled or quashed by the court.
What is a mittimus in legal terms?
A mittimus is a court order directing that a person be taken to prison or jail following sentencing.
Can a mittimus be revoked?
A mittimus itself can't be revoked, but the underlying judgment or sentence can be appealed or modified, potentially affecting its execution.
Are there different types of warrants?
Yes, there are several, including arrest warrants, search warrants, and bench warrants.
Can someone be released once a mittimus is issued?
Only if there's a legal intervention, such as an appeal, that changes the judgment or if there's a clerical error in the mittimus.
What's the difference between a mittimus and a warrant?
A mittimus orders someone to be imprisoned post-sentencing, while a warrant authorizes law enforcement actions like arrests or searches.
How long is a warrant valid for?
Warrants do not typically expire unless executed, recalled, or quashed by the issuing authority.
Can a warrant be issued without evidence?
No, a warrant requires probable cause, which is usually based on evidence presented to a judge or magistrate.
Can a person challenge a mittimus?
While the mittimus itself isn't typically challenged, the underlying conviction or sentence can be appealed or reviewed.
Is a warrant public record?
Generally, warrants become public records, but they might not be immediately accessible to the public, especially if disclosure could jeopardize investigations.
Is a mittimus the same in all jurisdictions?
While the fundamental concept is consistent, specific procedures or formats for a mittimus may vary between jurisdictions.
Does a mittimus apply to both jail and prison sentences?
Yes, a mittimus can order someone to be taken to either a local jail or a state/federal prison, depending on the sentence.
Does a mittimus specify the prison or jail facility?
Typically, a mittimus will specify the facility or type of facility where the individual is to be incarcerated.
Can a warrant be executed outside its issuing jurisdiction?
Some warrants, especially felony warrants, can be executed outside the issuing jurisdiction, but this often requires coordination between law enforcement agencies.
How long can law enforcement take to execute a warrant?
There's no universal time limit, but law enforcement typically acts on warrants as soon as feasible. Delays can risk the warrant becoming stale, which might affect its validity in certain cases.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
