citizen's arrest
A 'citizen's arrest' involves a private individual detaining a suspected criminal until law enforcement arrives, based on the laws of the jurisdiction.
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Definition
B2Legal
(technical)The act of a private individual detaining a person suspected of committing a crime until law enforcement can take over.
Example
- After witnessing the theft, John performed a citizen's arrest and waited for the police to arrive.
- A citizen's arrest must be done carefully to avoid legal repercussions.