两个术语之间的区别在于arrest warrant为“逮捕状”（也称为warrant of arrest)，指由相关的权力机构，如法官或地方行政官所签发，授权逮捕某人或搜查某地的命令[1]。bench warrant 则为“法庭拘传令”，指由法院签发，授权拘捕某人的令状，其多在蔑视法庭、证人拒绝接受传唤或收到刑事起诉书不出庭等 情况适用[2]。此处的 bench 等同 court considered in its official capacity。
 
[1] "A warrant issued to a law enforcement officer ordering the officer to arrest and bring the pereon named in the warrant before the court or magistrate. " Cf. Linda Picard Wood, J. D. Merriam Webster's Dictionary of Law，at p. 530, Merriam-Webster, Incorporated Springfield, Massachusetts (1996).
[2]“A warrant issued directly by a judge to a law-enforcement officer, esp. for the arrest of a person who has been held in contempt，has been indicted, has disobeyed a subpoena, or has failed to appear for a hearing or trial. ” Gf. Bryan A. Garner, Black’s Law Dictionary, 7th edition, at p. 1579，West Group (1999).