Policy Text
Sm Francisco Police Department 6.18
.- GENERAL ORDER 07/27/94
WARRANT ARRESTS
This order establishes policies regarding making warrant checks of citizens, and
provides guidelines for the execution of infraction, misdemeanor and felony
warrants.
I. POLICY
A. WARRANT CHECKS
L MANDATORY. Officers shd make a warrant check in the following
instances:
a. Prior to booking any person
b Prior to completing a citation for a misdemeanor, infraction, or traffic
violation, provided that it can be completed in the time reasonably
necessary to issue the citation
r, Prior to issuing a vehicle release.
2 OPTIONAL. Officers may make a warrant check in the following instances
a. When.a person is under investigation for a criminal offense and the
officer has reason to believe that the person may have an outstanding
warrant.
h Prior to releasing any person for whom a field interrogation card is
made, provided that it can be completed in a reasonable period of time.
c During the course of a cnnunal . . investigation
B. VERIFICATION. Whenever a person is detained as the subject of a warrant
(whether traffic or non-traffic, foreign or local) the detaining officer shall
personally contact the Warrant Section and verify that the wanant is valid
before acting on the directions of the warrant. When a wanant has been
verified and the identity of the subject is confirmed, the subject shall be taken
into custody. . .
DGO 6.18
07/27/94
11. PROCEDURE
A. TRAFmC AND NON-TRAFFIC INFRACTION WARRANTS
1. DETENTION AND INVESTIGATION (see DGO 5.03, Investigative Detentions).
a. Make every effort to verify the subject's identity by comparing his/her
birth date, physical description, past or present addresses, past or
present vehicle registration and driver license to the information on
the warrant. If there is a reasonable doubt that the person is the same
as the subject described in the warrant, weigh the benefit in favor of the
detained person and consult your supervisor regarding releasing the
detainee.
b. If the person claims he/she has paid the warrant, consult your
supervisor. Compare the amount the person claims to have paid with
the amount on the wmant, the date of payment, and infomation
from the person as to the type of violation. Again, weigh the benefit in
favor of the detained person. If the facts support the assertion that the
warrant has been previously paid, release the detainee and write a
memorandum to the Warrant Section or the Municipal Court and
include the following information:
The person's current residence and business address and telephone
numbers.
The vehicle registration information.
Driver license information.
Any information verifying hidher current address.
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07/27/94
2. POSTING BAIL (also see DGO 4.02, Accepting Bail). After confirming a traffic
infraction warrant along with the identity of the detained person,
immediately give the person an opportunity to post bail at the district
station before booking him/her.
a. If the person does not have the means to pay the bail, give him/her an
opportunity to arrange for another person to provide the bail. The
person has the right to:
Complete 3 telephone calls (free if necessary, or collect outside the
415 area code).
Three (3) hours to produce the bail before being booked.
b. If the person does not have the means to pay the bail and cannot make
arrangements for another person to provide it, he/she shall be booked.
c If a person has made arrangements for bail, but the bail has not arrived
within 3 hours, the person shall be booked.
d In either of the cases above, indicate on the arrest form that the person - was given the opportunity to raise bail.
B. CRIMINAL WARRANTS [LOCAL AND ENROUTE (FOREIGN11
1. VERIFICATION/BAIL. When a local or enroute criminal warrant has been
verified along with the identity of the subject, immediately book the
person (see DGO 4.01, Booking of Prisoners). Bail for these types of
warrants cannot be posted at the district station; it must be posted at Room
201 at the Hall of Justice.
2 UNABLE TO VERIFY. If you cannot verify a foreign (enroute) criminal
warrant, follow these procedures:
a FELONY. If the warrant is for a felony violation, detain the subject at
the County Jail pending verification by the Warrant Section or the
Fugitive Unit.
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07/27/94
b. MISDEMEANOR. If the warrant is for a misdemeanor violation,,obtain as
much information as possible about the identity and residence of the
subject and include it in a memorandum. Release the subject and
forward the memorandum to the Fugitive Unit.
3. INCIDENT REPORT. After arresting a person on a local or enroute criminal
warrant, make an initial or supplemental incident report as appropriate.
a. If the arrest is for a foreign (enroute) warrant, forward a copy of the
report to the Fugitive Unit.
b. If the arrest is for a local warrant, forward a copy of the incident report
to the appropriate investigative section.
References
DGO 5.03, Investigative Detentions
DGO 4.02, Accepting Bail
DGO 4.01, Booking of Prisoners