An anticipatory search warrant is defined as?

• A. A warrant issued without probable cause.
• B. A warrant based upon probable cause that at some future time, specific evidence will be located at a place.
• C. A warrant to search a broad area.
• D. A warrant that does not require a judge.

Answer: (B)

The idea behind an anticipatory search warrant is that officers obtain a warrant based on probable cause that specific evidence will be located at a particular place, but only when a named future event occurs. In other words, the warrant is conditioned on a triggering circumstance and becomes executable at that moment, when the evidence is expected to be present. This makes sense because the search is tied to the future delivery or appearance of the evidence, not to today’s conditions. It still requires probable cause and judicial approval, and it isn’t a broad or unfounded search. So the correct description is that the warrant is based upon probable cause that at some future time, specific evidence will be located at a place.