A search warrant must be executed by an officer who has subject matter over the crime listed in the warrant and territorial jurisdiction where the search will be executed.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only if the warrant covers drug offenses
• D. Only if the officer is in the same department

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that a search warrant can only be carried out by someone who has authority over both the offense named in the warrant and the place where the search takes place. A warrant is limited to a specific crime and a specific location, so the officer executing it must have subject matter jurisdiction to investigate that crime and territorial jurisdiction to operate in that area. This ensures the person conducting the search is legally empowered to enforce the law in that context and location, upholding due process and the integrity of the warrant. It also prevents unauthorized or out-of-area searches, even if the officer is from a different agency. The requirement isn’t about drug offenses specifically, nor about being in the same department; cooperation across agencies can occur, but the essential point is having the proper jurisdiction to act.