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What is a
citizen's arrest?
A citizen's
arrest is an arrest made by a person who is not acting as a sworn
law enforcement official. In
common-law jurisdictions, the practice dates back to medieval England
and the English common law, when sheriffs encouraged ordinary citizens
to help apprehend law breakers.
Despite the practice's name, the arresting person is usually designated
as any person with arrest powers, who need not be a citizen of the
jurisdiction in which they are acting.
See also
Arrest. |
