Components of a search warrant?

• A. Complaint, Indictment
• B. Notice, Warrant
• C. Affidavit, warrant, return and inventory
• D. Judgment, Order

Answer: (C)

A search warrant is built around three key elements that authorize and document the search. First, an affidavit establishes probable cause—information sworn under oath that shows a crime is likely connected to the place to be searched and the items sought. This affidavit supports the judge’s decision to issue the warrant. Second, the warrant itself authorizes the search and must describe the exact location to be searched and the items to be seized, defining the scope and duration of the intrusion. Third, after the search is carried out, a return is filed with the court, along with an inventory listing everything seized and the time of execution. This return and inventory provide accountability and a record of what was obtained, helping prevent disputes later.

The other options don’t fit because a complaint and indictment are charging documents, not components of a warrant; notice is not a standard required document in the warrant itself; and judgment and order refer to court decisions, not the elements that authorize and document a search.