Which of the following statements describes a capias?

• A. Equivalent of an adult warrant but for a juvenile.
• B. A subpoena.
• C. A civil writ.
• D. A traffic stop.

Answer: (A)

A capias is a court order that directs law enforcement to take someone into custody so they can be brought before the court. When applied to juveniles, it serves as the juvenile’s equivalent of an adult arrest warrant. It’s issued when a juvenile fails to appear in court or fails to comply with a court order, and it authorizes the arrest and detention necessary to secure the juvenile’s presence for proceedings. It isn’t a subpoena, which only requires appearance or the production of evidence, nor a civil writ or a traffic stop, which involve different legal processes. The capias specifically targets compelling court attendance through an arrest.