Which statement about warrants and affidavits is true?

• A. Clerks are required to destroy copies of warrants and affidavits after execution.
• B. Warrants must be kept confidential and not available for public viewing.
• C. Clerks are required to keep copies of warrants and affidavits on file for public viewing after execution.
• D. Warrants do not require affidavits.

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that warrants and their supporting affidavits become part of the court record and are kept by the clerk for public viewing after execution. The affidavit provides the probable cause for issuing the warrant, and once the warrant is executed and filed, the documents serve as an official record of the judicial action. Clerks are responsible for preserving these records so the public can inspect them, which supports transparency and accountability in the process. Destroying the copies would obscure the official record, and treating warrants as confidential would prevent rightful public oversight. Since warrants rely on an affidavit to establish probable cause, saying they do not require affidavits is not accurate. While there can be exceptions for sealed information in certain cases, the general practice is to retain and make these records available to the public after execution.