Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

capias

noun

/ˈkeɪ.pi.əs/

Definition

A type of writ issued by a court to take a person into custody, usually in connection with a legal proceeding.

Examples

The judge issued a capias for the defendant after their repeated absences from the hearings.
If you fail to appear in court, a capias may be issued against you.
The police received a capias to apprehend the individual wanted in multiple cases.

Meaning

In legal terms, capias refers to an order to arrest a defendant who has failed to appear in court or to secure their presence for trial or other judicial proceedings.