Simple English definitions for legal terms
Read a random definition: national association
A warrantless arrest is when a police officer arrests someone without having a warrant from a judge. This can happen if the officer has a good reason to believe that the person has committed a serious crime or if they see the person committing a crime. It is important for the officer to have a good reason, called probable cause, for the arrest. Sometimes, people can be arrested by regular people, called citizen's arrests, if they see someone committing a crime. However, it is important to remember that not all arrests without a warrant are legal, and people have the right to challenge the arrest in court if they believe it was not done properly.
Definition: A warrantless arrest is an arrest made without a warrant, based on probable cause of a felony, or for a misdemeanor committed in a police officer's presence.
Examples:
These examples illustrate that a warrantless arrest can be made when a crime is committed in the presence of a police officer or when there is probable cause to believe that a felony has been committed. It is important to note that a warrantless arrest must still be based on legal grounds and cannot be made arbitrarily.