West Virginia § 16-4-15 - 16-4-15. Form and execution of warrant.

§ 16-4-15. 16-4-15. Form and execution of warrant.

(a) Any warrant or order issued pursuant to the provisions of section fourteen of this article shall be directed to the chief of police if within a municipality, or to the county sheriff if not in a municipality or to any other officer qualified to execute process, directing the officer to apprehend the person mentioned, and to bring him or her before the health officer at a time and place set out in the warrant or order, there to be further dealt with as provided by law. The officer to whom the warrant is directed shall execute the warrant in the same manner as other papers of like character or kind.

(b) Pending a hearing in the matter the officer may for safekeeping, lodge the person apprehended under warrant, in jail or in any other place of detention that has been provided for such persons. The health officer may at his or her discretion and by indorsement on the warrant at the time of its issuance, direct any other disposition to be made of the person arrested, before trial. The officer executing the warrant shall be guided by the warrant, but may not be held responsible if the person arrested escapes. (c) The warrant is sufficient if it is in words and figures as follows (the blanks to be filled as necessary in each case):

State of West Virginia, Office of

County (or City) of .................................... County (or City) of ...........................................

........................................... Officer.

To............................., Chief of Police or Sheriff of ................. City, of County of ...............:

It having been brought to the attention of the undersigned health officer for (city or county) of ................, West Virginia, that ....................., reported as living or residing at .................... in (city or county), is infected, or is reasonably suspected of being infected, with one or more sexually transmitted diseases by reason of the fact that .................. has been reported as (set out any reasons set in section fourteen of this article, or other reasons)

and therefore reasonably suspected of being infected; and as the diseases have been declared to be infectious, contagious, communicable and dangerous to the public health.

This warrant commands you to apprehend ......................, if found within your jurisdiction, and to bring ................ before me at my office in the city or county of .................. on the .............. day of ..............., 19 ...., at ........ o'clock, .... M, there to be further dealt with as provided by law.

Given under my hand, this the ..................... day of ................., 19 .....

..............,,.....................................

Health Officer or Commissioner.

City (or County) of

West Virginia.