What document charges an individual with a criminal offense?

An arrest warrant is the correct document that formally charges an individual with a criminal offense. It is issued by a judge or magistrate and authorizes law enforcement officers to take the stated individual into custody. The arrest warrant outlines the specific charges against the individual, providing legal grounds for their arrest.

This document is crucial in the criminal justice process as it ensures that an individual's rights are protected under the Fourth Amendment, which guards against unreasonable searches and seizures. The warrant must be based on probable cause, established through evidence presented to the judge.

While other documents like a criminal summons and a traffic citation can initiate legal proceedings or notify an individual of charges, they do not serve the same function as an arrest warrant. A criminal summons typically requires the individual to appear in court without an arrest, and a traffic citation may just address a violation of motor vehicle laws. The magistrate's order could pertain to various judicial actions but does not specifically charge an individual with a criminal offense in the same way a warrant does.