To obtain an arrest or search warrant, an officer must recite sufficient facts to constitute what?

• A. Probable cause
• B. Reasonable suspicion
• C. Hunch
• D. A mere guess

Answer: (A)

Probable cause is the standard used to obtain an arrest or search warrant. It means you have a reasonable belief, based on facts and circumstances, that a crime has been committed and that the person you want to arrest is involved, or that evidence of a crime is located at a specific place. It’s more than a hunch or guess but not the certainty required for conviction. When officers seek a warrant, they present sworn facts in an affidavit to a judge, and the judge decides if the totality of the circumstances establishes probable cause. Reasonable suspicion is too weak for a warrant and is used only to justify brief stops or investigative detentions, while a mere hunch lacks any factual basis to support action.