What is an anticipatory search warrant?

An anticipatory search warrant is a type of warrant that is designed to permit law enforcement to perform a search at a future time based on the expectation that evidence of a crime will be present in a specific location at that time. This type of warrant is typically issued when there is probable cause to believe that evidence of criminal activity will be located at a place once a certain event occurs—in other words, the warrant becomes effective upon the occurrence of that predicted event.

In this context, the focus on a specific future timeframe is what distinguishes anticipatory search warrants from standard search warrants, as the latter are executed immediately or as soon as practicable unto its issuance. By anticipating future conditions based on sufficient evidence at the time of its issuance, the anticipatory search warrant allows law enforcement to act when the existing conditions are met, thereby preventing the potential loss of evidence.

The other answers do not accurately describe the nature of an anticipatory search warrant. It is not limited to the suspect's presence, nor is it a warrant that cannot be executed; rather, the anticipation is based on future evidence availability. Additionally, while it may relate to ongoing investigations, this characteristic alone does not define anticipatory search warrants, which are specifically defined by the notion of future conditions that