What is required to legally make an arrest?

Probable cause is the standard required to legally make an arrest. This means that law enforcement officers must have a reasonable belief, based on factual evidence, that a person has committed, is committing, or will commit a crime. Probable cause serves as a safeguard against arbitrary arrests by ensuring that there are sufficient grounds for taking an individual into custody.

Since probable cause is based on the totality of circumstances surrounding a case, this standard is crucial in maintaining the balance between individual rights and the enforcement of the law. It allows officers to act on observations, information received from witnesses, or other reliable sources, which collectively provides a reasonable basis for an arrest.

In contrast, reasonable doubt is a legal standard used in criminal trials to determine a defendant's guilt, not for making arrests. Minimal evidence does not meet the threshold needed for justifying an arrest and might lead to abuse of authority. A confirmed alibi is evidence that a person was elsewhere at the time of the crime, which would work against the basis for an arrest rather than support it. Thus, the requirement for probable cause is essential for legal arrests to ensure respect for constitutional rights and due process.