A Bench Warrant is:

• A. When an officer finds probable cause and asks a judge for a warrant.
• B. When a grand jury finds probable cause, a judge must direct the clerk to issue a warrant.
• C. When a grand jury finds probable cause, and the jury directs the clerk to issue a warrant.
• D. When a clerk finds probable cause, and asks the judge to issue a warrant.

Answer: (B)

A bench warrant is a court-initiated arrest order: it comes from the judge, who signs or directs the clerk to issue the warrant when there’s a basis to arrest someone who has failed to appear in court. In this context, once probable cause is found by the grand jury, the judge directs the clerk to issue the warrant. This reflects the judge’s authority to issue warrants and the clerk’s role in preparing and releasing the document under that order. Police cannot issue a bench warrant on their own, a grand jury doesn’t direct the clerk to issue warrants, and clerks do not determine probable cause.