So, what's the difference between a bench warrant and a warrant?

You might be asking yourself what's the difference between a bench warrant and a warrant when you see one of those terms pop up in a news story or, worse, a piece of mail addressed to you. It's a totally fair question. Most people use the word "warrant" as a catch-all term for "the police are coming to get you," but in the legal world, there are some pretty specific distinctions that change how things play out. ...

February 20, 2026 · 6 min · Sauro Dieter