Can a person be arrested without officers having a hard copy of arrest warrant?

Question

Police come to your home stating they have a warrant for your arrest but have no hard copy on hand or at station. No details as to what offense you may have violated is given to you before, during or after arrest is made. You never see a copy of the warrant or complaints made against you during while being booked or questioned. Is this fairly common practice?

Answer 1

No its not a common practice as you describe. A paper warrant in hand is not required to make a warrant arrest. It will often be done on confirmation alone..with the hard copy being sent to the jail after the fact. However it is common procedure to advise the subject arrested the reason for the arrest.  

Answer 2

Additionally 30% of the time the police lie and say they have a warrant for your arrest , when they really don't; this is a scare tactic they often use......

Answer 3

Not really.

Answer 4

The purpose for an arrest warrant is so that the judiciary (a judge) can check the power of the executive (the police).  If an arrest warrant is reviewed and signed by a judge, the purpose of the warrant has been fulfilled.  There is no obligation to produce a copy of the arrest warrant to the person being arrested at the time of actual arrest.  Once in custody the person does have right to know on what grounds they are being detained.

So, the short answer to your questions is yes.

Best wishes.

Answer 5

Only if you step outside the house or invite them in.

Answer 6

The officer only needs to confirm the warrant is valid. They are not required to have a copy of the warrant with them.

However, once you were booked, you should have been advised of the reason for the warrant, and what the bond was.