What is the definition of probable cause to arrest?
Under the United States Constitution, before police can make a lawful arrest, they must have probable cause to believe that a crime has been or is in the process of being committed.Constitutional ProtectionThe legal requirement of probable cause is derived from the Fourth Amendment of the Unites States Constitution, which protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures.Probable Cause StandardProbable cause does not require absolute certainty that a crime has been committed. The amount of evidence sufficient to meet the probable cause standard is evidence from which a reasonable person could conclude that a suspect has committed or is in the process of committing a crime.Supreme Court CaseIn 1983, the United States Supreme Court clarified the probable cause standard required for arrests to pass constitutional muster. In Illinois v. Gates, the court ruled that a “substantial chance” or “fair probability” that criminal activity has transpired is sufficient to constitute proba
