Arkansas

Criminal Procedure

Criminal Procedure

Rule 13.1 – Issuance of Search Warrant

(a) A search warrant may be issued only by a judicial officer.
(b) The application for a search warrant shall describe with particularity the persons or places to be searched and the persons or things to be seized, and shall be supported by one (1) or more affidavits or recorded testimony under oath before a judicial officer particularly setting forth the facts and circumstances tending to show that such persons or things are in the places, or the things are in possession of the person, to be searched. If an affidavit or testimony is based in whole or in part on hearsay, the affiant or witness shall set forth particular facts bearing on the informant’s reliability and shall disclose, as far as practicable, the means by which the information was obtained. An affidavit or testimony is sufficient if it describes circumstances establishing reasonable cause to believe that things subject to seizure will be found in a particular place. Failure of the affidavit or testimony to establish the veracity and bases of knowledge of persons providing information to the affiant shall not require that the application be denied, if the affidavit or testimony viewed as a whole, provides a substantial basis for a finding of reasonable cause to believe that things subject to seizure will be found in a particular place.
(c) An application for a search warrant and the affidavit in support of the search warrant may be transmitted to the issuing judicial officer by facsimile or by other electronic means. Recorded testimony in support of a search warrant may be received by telephone or other electronic means provided the issuing judicial officer first administers an oath by telephone or other electronic means to the person testifying in support of the issuance of the warrant. After signing a search warrant, the judicial officer issuing the warrant may transmit a copy of the warrant by facsimile or other electronic means to the applicant for the warrant. The original signed search warrant shall be retained by the judicial officer issuing the warrant and shall be filed with the record of the proceeding as provided in Rule 13.4(c).
(d) Before acting on the application, the judicial officer may examine on oath the affiants or witnesses, and the applicant and any witnesses he may produce, and may himself call such witnesses as he deems necessary to a decision. He shall make and keep a fair written summary of the proceedings and the testimony taken before him, except that if sworn testimony alone is offered in support of the application, such testimony shall be recorded pursuant to subsection (b) hereof.
(e) If the judicial officer finds that the application meets the requirements of this rule and that, on the basis of the proceedings before him, there is reasonable cause to believe that the search will discover persons or things specified in the application and subject to seizure, he shall issue a search warrant based on his finding and in accordance with the requirements of this rule. If he does not so find, the judicial officer shall deny the application.
(f) The proceedings upon application for a search warrant shall be conducted with such secrecy as the issuing judicial officer deems appropriate to the circumstances.

Ark. R. Crim. P. 13.1

Amended May 29, 2014, effective July 1, 2014.

COMMENT Reporter’s Note, 2014: In 2014, subsection (c) was added to address the transmission by electronic means of affidavits in support of a warrant. The remaining subsections were redesignated (d)-(f).