An Exploratory Analysis of Time Lapses in Serving Arrest Warrants: A Focal Concerns and Disproportionate Contact Approach

The seizure of persons through the authority of an arrest warrant issued by a magistrate is the only method of arrest specifically enumerated in the U.S. Constitution, yet scant research exists on the processing and serving of arrest warrants. This study investigated the correlates of how long it took a sample of arrest warrants to be served by law enforcement officials. Using focal concerns and disproportionate police contact underpinnings, the findings revealed the characteristics predictive of rapid service of warrants in this jurisdiction were weakly associated with the focal concerns perspective and generally unrelated to the disproportionate contact perspective. The findings highlight the need for more detailed study of, and the development of, better theoretical foundations for this issue.