What legal document is used to grant a search warrant?

The correct answer is an affidavit detailing probable cause is submitted to the court. This document is critical in the process of obtaining a search warrant because it provides the court with the necessary information that justifies the search.

The affidavit typically includes sworn statements from law enforcement officers that outline the facts and circumstances leading to the belief that evidence of a crime will be found in the location specified in the warrant. This requirement serves to protect individual rights by ensuring that there is a legal basis for the search, as established by the Fourth Amendment, which guards against unreasonable searches and seizures.

The other options do not serve to grant a search warrant. A formal request from the accused is not relevant in the context of issuing a search warrant since it is the authorities who request the warrant based on evidence of criminal activity. A police report summarizing the investigation is generally used for internal purposes and not as a mechanism to obtain a warrant, as it may not include the requisite sworn statements confirming probable cause. Lastly, a letter of notification to the defendant does not have a role in the search warrant process because such a notification is typically issued after a search has occurred or in the context of informing the accused of charges, rather than initiating a search.