Citizens Arrest <SIMPLE ›>

Before deciding whether to make a citizen's arrest, you should be aware of the Citizen's Arrest Laws and consider the following: * Department of Justice Canada

A is the detention of a person by a private individual who is not a sworn law enforcement officer . While widely recognized in various legal systems, it is a high-risk action governed by strict and often varying state or national laws. Core Legal Requirements Citizens Arrest

: These typically must be committed in your direct presence to justify an arrest. Many states further limit this to "breaches of the peace," such as public fighting or disorderly conduct. Before deciding whether to make a citizen's arrest,

: You can often arrest someone if you have probable cause to believe they committed a felony, even if it didn't happen in your presence. Many states further limit this to "breaches of

In most jurisdictions, a citizen's arrest is only lawful under specific conditions: