Legal Definitions - commitment warrant

A commitment warrant is a formal legal document issued by a judge or magistrate that authorizes and orders a person to be taken into custody and confined in a specific institution. This institution could be a jail, prison, or a mental health facility. It serves as the official authorization for law enforcement or correctional officers to transport and detain an individual following a court order or judgment. The warrant typically specifies the reason for the detention, the duration, and the facility where the person is to be held.

• Example 1: Criminal Sentencing

  After a defendant was found guilty of armed robbery and sentenced to a term in state prison, the judge issued a commitment warrant. This document directed the sheriff's deputies to transport the convicted individual from the courthouse to the designated correctional facility to begin serving their sentence.

  Explanation: This example illustrates a commitment warrant being used to legally authorize the transfer and detention of a convicted person to a prison, thereby implementing the court's sentencing order.

• Example 2: Contempt of Court

  During a civil trial, a witness repeatedly refused to answer questions despite being ordered to do so by the judge, leading to a finding of contempt of court. To enforce the court's authority, the judge issued a commitment warrant, ordering the witness to be held in the county jail until they agreed to comply with the court's directive.

  Explanation: In this scenario, the commitment warrant authorizes the temporary detention of an individual in jail as a direct consequence of defying a court's authority, ensuring compliance with judicial orders.

• Example 3: Involuntary Mental Health Commitment

  Following a court hearing where medical experts presented evidence that an individual posed an imminent and severe danger to themselves and others due to a severe psychiatric condition, a judge determined that involuntary commitment was necessary. The judge then issued a commitment warrant, authorizing law enforcement to transport the individual to a secure psychiatric hospital for evaluation and treatment.

  Explanation: This example demonstrates a commitment warrant being used to legally authorize the involuntary placement of an individual into a mental health facility for their safety and the safety of the community, based on a judicial determination of necessity.