Key Takeaways

  • A capias is a writ directing law enforcement to take a defendant into custody, often for failure to appear in court.
  • States like Texas formally define capias in criminal procedure statutes, requiring specific elements such as the defendant’s name, offense, and court return date.
  • Types of capias include ad respondendum, ad satisfaciendum, pro fine, and utlagatum, each serving different judicial purposes.
  • Modern practice often associates capias with bench warrants, especially when a defendant fails to appear, pay fines, or comply with court orders.
  • Penalties for being subject to a capias can include arrest, jail time, additional fines, or heightened bail conditions.

Capias

This word, the signification of which is 'that you take,' is applicable to many heads of practice. Several writs and processes commanding the sheriff to take the person of the defendant are known by the name of capias. For example: there are writs of capias ad respondendum, writs of capias ad computandum, writs of capias ad satisfaciendum, etc., each especially adapted to the purposes indicated by the words used for its designation.

Capias in Modern Legal Practice

In contemporary courts, a capias writ is frequently issued as a bench warrant when a defendant fails to appear at a scheduled hearing or violates bail conditions. For example, in Virginia, a capias warrant may authorize law enforcement to arrest someone who did not attend a criminal proceeding or failed to pay court-ordered fines. Once executed, the defendant must be brought before the issuing court without unnecessary delay.

Modern statutes also provide detailed definitions. In Texas, a capias is expressly defined as a writ issued by a judge or clerk, directed to peace officers, commanding them to arrest a person accused of an offense and present that individual before the court. This statutory language ensures uniformity in how the writ is executed across jurisdictions.

Capias Ad Audiendum Judicium

Practice. A writ issued in a case of misdemeanor after the defendant has appeared and found guilty and is not present when called. This writ is to bring him to judgment.

Capias Ad Computandum

Practice. A writ issued in the action of account render, upon the judgment quod computet, when the defendant refuses to appear in his proper person before the auditors and enter into his account. According to the ancient practice, the defendant, after arrest upon this process, might be delivered on main-prize, or in default of finding mainpernors he was committed to the Fleet prison where the auditors attended upon him to hear and receive his account. As the object of this process is to compel the defendant to render an account, it does not appear to be within the scope of acts abolishing imprisonment for debt.

Capias Ad Respondendum

Practice. A writ commanding the sheriff or other proper officer to 'take the body of the defendant and to keep the same to answer, ad respondendum, the plaintiff in a plea,' etc. The amount of bail demanded ought to be indorsed on the writ.

A defendant arrested upon this writ must be committed to prison unless he give a bail bond to the sheriff. In some states, (as until lately, in Pennsylvania) it is the practice when the defendant is liable to this process, to indorse on the writ, 'No bail required' in which case he need only give the sheriff, in writing, an authority to the prothonotary to enter his appearance to the action to be discharged from the arrest.

  • If the writ has been served, and the defendant have not given bail, but remains in custody, it is returned 'C. C., cepi corpus.'
  • If he have given bail, it is returned 'C. C. B. B., cepi corpus, bail bond.'
  • If the defendant's appearance have been accepted, the return is, 'C. C. and defendant's appearance accepted.'

According to the course of the practice at common law, the writ bears teste in the name of the chief justice or presiding judge of the court, on some day in term time when the judge is supposed to be present, not being Sunday, and is made returnable on a regular return day.

Capias Ad Satisfaciendum

Practice. A writ of execution issued upon a judgment in a personal action for the recovery of money, directed to the sheriff or coroner, commanding him to take the defendant and him safely keep, so that he may have his body in court on the return day to satisfy, ad satisfaciendum, the plaintiff. This writ is tested on a general teste day, and returnable on a regular return day.

It lies after judgment in most instances in which the defendant was subject to a capias ad respondendum before, and plaintiffs are subject to it when judgment has been given against them for costs. Members of congress and of the legislature, (eundo, morando, et redezzndo) going to, remaining at, and returning from the places of sitting of congress or of the legislature, are not liable to this process on account of their public capacity; nor are ambassadors and other public ministers and their servants. In Pennsylvania, women are not subject to this writ except in actions founded upon tort or claims arising otherwise than ex contractu. In several of the United States the use of this writ, as well as of the capias ad respondendum, has been prohibited in all actions instituted for the recovery of money due upon any contract, express or implied, or upon any judgment or decree founded on any contract, or for the recovery of damages for the breach of any contract, with a few exceptions.

It is executed by arresting the body of the defendant and keeping him in custody. Discharging him upon his giving security for the payment of the debt, or upon his promise to return into custody again before the return day, is an escape, although he do return; and the sheriff is liable for the debt. In England, a payment to the sheriff or other officer having the ca. sa., is no payment to the plaintiff. The return made by the officer is either:

  • C. C. & C., cepi corpus et comittitur, if the defendant have been arrested and held in custody
  • N. E. I., non est inventus, if the officer has not been able to find him. This writ is, in common language, called a ca. sa.

Requirements and Formalities of a Capias

State codes, such as the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, outline the requisites of a valid capias writ. These typically include:

  • It must run in the name of the state.
  • It must identify or describe the person to be arrested.
  • It must specify the offense alleged.
  • It must name the court and return date.
  • It must be dated and attested by the issuing authority.

These requirements safeguard due process by ensuring that capias writs are issued with proper legal authority and specificity. Failure to meet these requisites can render the writ defective.

Capias Pro Fine

Practice, Crim. Law. The name of a writ which issues against a defendant who has been fined and who does not discharge it according to the judgment. This writ commands the sheriff to arrest the defendant and commit him to prison, there to remain till he pay the fine or be otherwise discharged according to law.

Penalties and Consequences of a Capias

Being subject to a capias writ can carry serious consequences. Once executed, defendants may be jailed until they comply with the underlying order, such as paying a fine or appearing before the court. In addition, courts may impose:

  • Extended jail time for contempt or non-compliance.
  • Additional fines or fees related to enforcement costs.
  • Increased bail requirements for future release.

For example, in Virginia, ignoring a summons can lead to a capias warrant that results in immediate arrest and possible harsher penalties. Thus, responding promptly to court orders is essential to avoid compounding legal consequences.

Capias Ultagatum

English Practice. A capias utlagatum is general or special; the former against the person only, the latter against the person, lands and goods.

This writ issues upon the judgment of outlawry being returned by the sheriff upon the exigent, and it takes its name from the words of the mandatory part of the writ which states the defendant being outlawed utlagatum, which word comes from the Saxon utlagh, Latinized utlagatus, and signifies bannitus, extra legem.

  • The general writ of capias utlagatum commands the sheriff to take the defendant so that he have him before the king on a general return day, wheresoever, etc., to do and receive what the court shall consider of him.
  • The special capias utlagatum, like the general writ, commands the sheriff to take the defendant. The defendant is discharged upon an attorney's undertaking or upon giving bond to the sheriff in the same manner as when the writ is general. But the special writ also commands the sheriff to inquire by a jury of the defendant's goods and lands, to extend and appraise the same, and to take them in the king's hands and safely keep them so that he may answer to the king for the value and issue's of the same.

Common Types of Capias Warrants Today

While traditional law recognizes specific forms of capias, modern courts often categorize them more broadly. Common types include:

  • Capias for Failure to Appear (FTA): Issued when a defendant skips a required hearing.
  • Capias for Probation Violation: Used when an individual breaches the terms of probation.
  • Capias Pro Fine: Enforces unpaid court fines by authorizing arrest until payment.
  • Capias for Civil Contempt: Ensures compliance with civil orders, such as child support obligations.

These modern classifications reflect the evolving use of capias writs to ensure both criminal and civil compliance with judicial authority.

Capias In Withernam

Practice. A writ issued after a return of elongata or eloigned has been made to a writ of retorno habendo commanding the sheriff to take so many of the distrainer's goods by way of reprisal as will equal the goods mentioned in the retorno habendo.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does “capias” mean in law?

Capias is a Latin term meaning “that you take.” It refers to a writ ordering law enforcement to arrest a defendant and bring them before the court.

2. Is a capias the same as a bench warrant?

Yes, in modern usage a capias often functions as a bench warrant, especially when a defendant fails to appear for a court date.

3. What happens if I am subject to a capias warrant?

Law enforcement can arrest you immediately and bring you before the court. You may face jail, fines, or stricter bail conditions.

4. Can a capias be issued in civil cases?

Yes. Capias writs may enforce civil obligations, such as rendering an account, paying child support, or satisfying fines.

5. How can a capias be resolved?

Generally, compliance with the court’s order—such as appearing in court, paying fines, or posting bail—is required to resolve a capias.

If you need help with any legal matters, you can post your legal need on UpCounsel's marketplace. UpCounsel only accepts the top 5 percent of lawyers to its site. Lawyers on UpCounsel come from law schools such as Harvard Law and Yale Law and average 14 years of legal experience, including work with or on behalf of companies like Google, Menlo Ventures, and Airbnb.