probable cause

probable cause
"LAW.COM Dictionary":
n. sufficient reason based upon known facts to believe a crime has been committed or that certain property is connected with a crime. Probable cause must exist for a law enforcement officer to make an arrest without a warrant, search without a warrant, or seize property in the belief the items were evidence of a crime. While some cases are easy (pistols and illicit drugs in plain sight, gunshots, a suspect running from a liquor store with a clerk screaming "help"), actions "typical" of drug dealers, burglars, prostitutes, thieves, or people with guilt "written across their faces," are more difficult to categorize. "Probable cause" is often subjective, but if the police officer's belief or even hunch was correct, finding stolen goods, the hidden weapon or drugs may be claimed as self-fulfilling proof of probable cause. Technically, probable cause has to exist prior to arrest, search or seizure.
See also: Bill of Rights search search and seizure

English-Chinese law dictionary (法律英汉双解大词典). 2013.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • probable cause — see cause 2 Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996. probable cause n …   Law dictionary

  • Probable cause — Probable Prob a*ble, a. [L. probabilis, fr. probare to try, approve, prove: cf. F. probable. See {Prove}, and cf. {Provable}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Capable of being proved. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 2. Having more evidence for than against; supported by …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • probable cause — n. Law reasonable grounds for presuming guilt in someone charged with a crime …   English World dictionary

  • Probable cause — In United States criminal law, probable cause refers to the standard by which a police officer has the right to make an arrest, conduct a personal or property search, or to obtain a warrant for arrest. It is also used to refer to the standard to… …   Wikipedia

  • probable cause — noun (law) evidence sufficient to warrant an arrest or search and seizure a magistrate determined that there was probable cause to search the house • Topics: ↑law, ↑jurisprudence • Hypernyms: ↑evidence, ↑grounds * * * noun [nonco …   Useful english dictionary

  • probable cause hearing — see hearing Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 …   Law dictionary

  • probable cause — prob′able cause′ n. 1) law reasonable ground for a belief that the accused was guilty of the crime 2) the probability that grounds for the action existed: often used as a defense …   From formal English to slang

  • probable cause — Reasonable cause as shown by the circumstances of the case. Goldstein v Sabella (Fla) 88 So 2d 910, 58 ALR2d 1418 …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • probable cause for statement otherwise tortious as defamatory — A reasonable ground of suspicion, supported by circumstances sufficient to warrant a cautious man in believing in the truth of the statement pleaded as the basis of a cause of action for defamation. Coates v Wallace, 4 Pa Super 253, 257 …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • probable cause to hold accused for trial — Reasonable ground to believe that a crime has been committed and just cause to believe that the defendant committed it. State ex rel. Stevenson v Jameson, 78 SD 431, 104 NW2d 45 …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • probable cause — noun Date: circa 1676 a reasonable ground for supposing that a charge is well founded …   New Collegiate Dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”