der  Haftbefehl

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈhaftbəfeːl/

📜 What does "der Haftbefehl" mean?

Der Haftbefehl is a key term in the German legal system, meaning arrest warrant or warrant of arrest. It's a formal judicial order (*richterliche Anordnung*) authorizing the police to arrest (*verhaften*) a specific person and place them in pre-trial detention (*Untersuchungshaft*).

A Haftbefehl is typically issued when:

• there is a strong suspicion (*dringender Tatverdacht*) that the person committed a crime (*Straftat*),
• and there are specific grounds for detention (*Haftgrund*). Common grounds include risk of flight (*Fluchtgefahr*), risk of tampering with evidence (*Verdunkelungsgefahr*), or risk of reoffending (*Wiederholungsgefahr*).

The word is masculine, so the correct article is always der. There are no other articles or meanings for this word. 🚨 Don't confuse Haftbefehl with a Durchsuchungsbefehl (search warrant) or a Strafbefehl (penalty order, a kind of simplified judgment).

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Der Haftbefehl

The noun "Haftbefehl" is masculine.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

📝 Example Sentences

1. Der Richter unterzeichnete den Haftbefehl.
   (The judge signed the arrest warrant.) - Accusative Singular
2. Gegen den Verdächtigen lag ein Haftbefehl vor.
   (There was an arrest warrant against the suspect.) - Nominative Singular
3. Die Ausstellung des Haftbefehls erfolgte aufgrund von Fluchtgefahr.
   (The issuance of the arrest warrant was due to risk of flight.) - Genitive Singular
4. Die Polizei vollstreckte mehrere Haftbefehle gleichzeitig.
   (The police executed several arrest warrants simultaneously.) - Accusative Plural

💡 How to use "Haftbefehl"?

The term "Haftbefehl" is used almost exclusively in legal and police contexts (*im juristischen und polizeilichen Kontext*). Here are typical situations:

• Criminal proceedings (*Strafverfahren*): Public prosecutors (*Staatsanwaltschaften*) request arrest warrants, judges (*Richter*) issue them.
• Police work (*Polizeiarbeit*): The police search for individuals (*fahnden*) against whom an arrest warrant exists and execute (*vollstrecken*) it by making an arrest.
• News reports (*Nachrichten*): Reports on criminal cases often mention if a Haftbefehl has been issued.
• International legal assistance (*Internationale Rechtshilfe*): European and international arrest warrants exist for cross-border prosecution.

In everyday language outside these contexts, the word is rarely used. It's a very specific technical term (*Fachbegriff*) with a clear meaning.

Important: A Haftbefehl is not a judgment (*Urteil*) of guilt or innocence, but rather a measure to secure the criminal proceedings.

🧠 Mnemonics for "Haftbefehl"

1. Article Mnemonic: Think of *"der Befehl"* (the order/command). Since *"Haftbefehl"* ends in *-befehl* and *Befehl* is masculine, *Haftbefehl* is also masculine: der Haftbefehl.
2. Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine someone *"has to"* (*Haft*) go to jail because of an official *"Befehl"* (order) from a judge. Haft + Befehl = Haftbefehl (order for arrest/custody).

"The Befehl for Haft, it's masculine, you see, so der Haftbefehl it has to be!"

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Caution: Terms like Anklageschrift (indictment) or Urteil (judgment/verdict) are not synonyms; they refer to different stages or documents in criminal proceedings.

😄 A Little Joke

German: Frage: Was ist der Unterschied zwischen einem Haftbefehl und einem Lieferschein?
Antwort: Beim Lieferschein freut man sich, wenn er ankommt...

English: Question: What's the difference between an arrest warrant (*Haftbefehl*) and a delivery note (*Lieferschein*)?
Answer: With a delivery note, you're actually happy when it arrives...

📜 A Poem about the Haftbefehl

German:
Ein Blatt Papier, vom Staat gesandt,
Mit richterlicher Unterschrift zur Hand.
Der Haftbefehl, ein Wort so schwer,
Bringt Unruh', manchmal auch noch mehr.
Er sucht den Mensch', nimmt Freiheit fort,
Ein ernster Akt an ernstem Ort.
Die Polizei klopft an die Tür,
Der Grund dafür, der steht auf hier.

English Translation:
A sheet of paper, sent by the state,
With a judge's signature, sealed by fate.
The arrest warrant, a word so grave,
Brings unrest, sometimes misbehaves.
It seeks the person, takes freedom away,
A serious act in a serious way.
The police come knocking at the door,
The reason why is written here, and more.

❓ Riddle

German:
Ich bin ein Dokument, von Richtern gemacht,
Hab Polizei schon oft auf Trab gebracht.
Ich ordne an, die Freiheit zu nehmen,
Um Flucht oder mehr Unheil zu lähmen.

Wer oder was bin ich?

English:
I am a document, by judges made,
Often sending police on a parade.
I order freedom to be ceased,
To stop escape or harm increased.

Who or what am I?

Solution: Der Haftbefehl (The arrest warrant)

✨ Other Information

Word Composition (*Wortzusammensetzung*):

The word "Haftbefehl" is a compound noun (*Kompositum*) made up of:

• die Haft (noun, feminine): custody, detention, imprisonment.
• der Befehl (noun, masculine): order, command, instruction.

Together, they mean "order for custody/detention".

Legal Basis (*Rechtliche Grundlage*):

In Germany, the requirements and procedures for issuing an arrest warrant (*Haftbefehl*) are governed by the Code of Criminal Procedure (*Strafprozessordnung* - StPO), particularly sections §§ 112 et seq.