08/25/2026
Welcome to another edition of – Last time, we covered police powers of arrest under section 495(1) of the Criminal Code. Today, we're looking at arrest warrants.
Section 495(1)(c) C.C. details when a police officer may arrest an individual for whom a warrant of arrest has been issued. Did you know that warrants:
• Are issued by a court and give police the authority to arrest someone for the offence listed on the warrant.
• Have jurisdiction or ‘radius’ (e.g. Saskatchewan-wide). This means that if the person is located by police in Saskatchewan, they can be arrested.
• Can be either endorsed (person will generally be released with a new court date) or unendorsed (person will usually be held for a court appearance).
The last, trickier, part of the warrant process is used when a person named on a warrant is found outside the warrant's jurisdiction.
• For example: If a person wanted on a Saskatchewan-wide warrant is located in Alberta, police no longer have basic powers of arrest under section 495(1)(c) C.C.
• However, if the offence is indictable (including hybrid offences), police may still be able to arrest under section 495(1)(a), since it is reasonable to believe the person committed the offence identified on the warrant.
It is important for to train and fully understand their powers of arrest so they can make quick, lawful and correct decisions in the field.