Powers to ArrestQuestion 46 of 200

Penal Code §834 defines an arrest as:

a.The suspect's first formal appearance before a judge in open court following the offense
b.The booking of a suspect into a county jail, at which fingerprints and a photograph are taken
c.The filing of a formal criminal complaint against the person by the office of the District Attorney
d.The taking of a person into custody, in a case and in the manner authorized by law

Explanation

Penal Code §834 defines an arrest as 'the taking of a person into custody, in a case and in the manner authorized by law.' It may be made by a peace officer or by a private person under the relevant authority statutes. The mechanical 'how' is then specified in §835 (actual restraint or submission to custody). Court appearances (a), booking (b), and filing a complaint (c) are post-arrest events. Together §§834-835 form the foundational arrest framework on which §836 (peace officer) and §837 (private person) build.

Law Reference: Cal. Penal Code §834

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