Steve commits murder, Anne pursues him to the full extent of the law, and Mack is on a mission from God.

REFERENCES

So, by warrant here, we’re talking about honest-to-gosh legal warrants:

Legal Information Institute. “Warrant.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/warrant

We need to make a distinction because there are administrative warrants:

Legal Information Institute. “Administrative Warrant.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/administrative_warrant

So, the executive branch:

Legal Information Institute. “Executive Branch.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/executive_branch

You need to have probable cause:

Legal Information Institute. “Probable Cause.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/probable_cause

Article III judge:

Constitution Annotated. “Article III.” https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/article-3/

For search and seizure:

Legal Information Institute. “Search and Seizure.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/search_and_seizure

In the Fourth Amendment:

Constitution Annotated. “Fourth Amendment.” https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-4/

A lot of times, it is for a civil thing:

Legal Aid Society of Northeaster New York. “The Differences Between Criminal Court and Civil Court.” Updated August 4, 2022. LawHelp.org. https://www.lawhelp.org/resource/the-differences-between-criminal-court-and-ci

ICE, the organization:

https://www.ice.gov/

They’ve got to be out in a public place, and then they’re authorized by their own agency to detain them:

Diaz, Jaclyn. “What ICE Agents Can and Cannot Legally Do During Arrests.” Updated September 19, 2025. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2025/09/05/nx-s1-5517998/ice-arrest-rules-explained

It’s not just search everything:

United States Courts. “What Does the Fourth Amendment Mean?” https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-resources/about-educational-outreach/activity-resources/what-does-fourth-amendment-mean

Writs of assistance:

Britannica Editors. “Writ of Assistance.” Updated 2020. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/writ-of-assistance

The in-between time between the Seven Years War (the French and Indian War)…:

Britannica Editors. “Seven Years’ War.” Updated March 23, 2026. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Seven-Years-War

…and the run-up to the Revolution:

Wallace, Willard M. “American Revolution.” Updated March 20, 2026. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/American-Revolution

So famous Supreme Court case, Mapp vs. Ohio, 1961:

Oyez. “Mapp v. Ohio.” https://www.oyez.org/cases/1960/236

When did administrative warrants come into play:

Arthur, Andrew R. “Going Back to the Past to Explain ‘Administrative Warrants,’ Immigration Enforcement.” February 5, 2026. Center for Immigration Studies. https://cis.org/Arthur/Going-Back-Past-Explain-Administrative-Warrants-Immigration-Enforcement

I kind of wonder how the Revenue Cutter Service operated:

Vergun, David. “Coast Guard Celebrates 235 Years Protecting Nation’s Waterways.” August 1, 2025. Joint Base San Antonio. https://www.jbsa.mil/News/News/Article/4261826/coast-guard-celebrates-235-years-protecting-nations-waterways/

Like an early DOGE or something:

Fields, Gary. “A Year After Trump’s DOGE Cuts, Workers Whose Lives Were Upended Ask What Was Saved.” March 27, 2026. PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/a-year-after-trumps-doge-cuts-workers-whose-lives-were-upended-ask-what-was-saved

While Civics on the Rocks didn't actually find an answer to this question, we’re sure they had something that gave them paper authorization, because otherwise they’re kind of pirate-y. Feel free to look for it for yourselves:

National Archives. “Records of the United States Revenue Cutter Service (USRCS).” Reviewed January 11, 2023. https://www.archives.gov/research/military/coast-guard/revenue-cutter-service

And it’s not a letter of marque or reprisal:

Mulligan, Steve P. “Letters of Marque and Reprisal (Part 1): Introduction and Historical Context.” February 26, 2025. Congress.gov. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/LSB11272

And those are called origin statutes, by the way, or organic statutes:

Ballotpedia. “Organic Statute.” https://ballotpedia.org/Organic_statute

Some of it is, also, due process rights:

Constitution Annotated. “Amdt14.S1.3 Due Process Generally.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt14-S1-3/ALDE_00013743/

We couldn’t find a comprehensive list of agencies that use administrative warrants, but multiple ones are authorized to do so, including the Environmental Protective Agency (EPA).

Let’s do the EPA, that’s a fun one:

https://www.epa.gov/

Oh, postal inspectors(!):

United States Postal Inspection Service. “Security: It Comes With the Stamp.” https://www.uspis.gov/

The EPA has people who enforce EPA regulations:

EPA. “Criminal Enforcement: Special Agents.” https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/criminal-enforcement-special-agents

Some of what they do, like postal inspectors, it could be a civil thing, it could also be a criminal thing:

Office of Inspector General. “Office of Investigations.” https://www.uspsoig.gov/about-us/office-investigations

Things like wire tapping:

Legal Information Institute. “Wiretapping.” Reviewed July 2024. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/wiretapping

Damn spot:

Shakespeare. “The Tragedy of Macbeth: Act 5, Scene 1.” https://shakespeare.mit.edu/macbeth/macbeth.5.1.html

You’re on oath or affirmation:

Legal Information Institute. “22 CFR § 92.18 - Oaths and affirmations defined.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/22/92.18

Now, we’re playing Clue:

The Strong National Museum of Play. “Clue.” https://www.museumofplay.org/toys/clue/

Yes, Anne can go into Steve’s house to arrest him with her warrant:

Wallentine, Ken. “Whose House Is This? I Think I Know.” 2023. Lexipol. https://www.lexipol.com/resources/blog/whose-house-is-this-i-think-i-know/

And then somebody pulls over Steve, and runs his license and registration through SCMODS:

https://youtu.be/pwqwSukyBvg?si=Kz9XB3WL4-k0vU9S

Yes, in most cases, Anne would need a separate warrant to take Steve’s DNA:

National Institute of Justice. “DNA–A Prosecutor’s Practice Notebook Inventory.” https://nij.ojp.gov/nij-hosted-online-training-courses/dna-prosecutors-practice-notebook-inventory/preparing-cases-involving-dna/admissibility/court-order-or-search-warrant

So, the phone question is a little more complicated. As one legal source noted, phone technology evolves faster than the law does. If a legal authority figure uses your face to open your phone without your permission, you have a case to bring an unlawful search complaint against them. However, most legal sources we found recommend you use a strong password:

Old, Jake. “Privacy Implications of Biometric Phone Encryption in Police Investigations.” Tennessee Bar Association. https://www.tba.org/?pg=crimjustice

It’s not civil because it’s a misdemeanor:

Legal Information Institute. “Misdemeanor.” ...