What constitutes probable cause for arrest under NY law?

• A. Detention
• B. Frisk
• C. Probable cause
• D. Warrant

Answer: (C)

Probable cause to arrest means that, based on the facts and circumstances known to the officer at the time, a reasonable person would believe the suspect has committed, is committing, or is about to commit a crime. It’s an objective standard, not a mere hunch or guess. The evidence can come from the officer’s observations, or from reliable information from others (such as witnesses or informants), as long as a reasonable person would think wrongdoing is likely. This differs from a detention, which rests on reasonable suspicion, and from a frisk, which is a limited search for weapons based on reasonable suspicion. A warrant is a separate procedural step that may be issued if probable cause exists, but the core idea is that the arrest is supported by a fair probability of wrongdoing based on what the officer knows at the time.