In which scenario is probable cause required?

Probable cause is a legal standard that requires sufficient reason based on known facts to believe that a crime has been committed, which is essential for certain law enforcement actions, particularly for arrests. In the context of criminal law, an arrest requires probable cause that a particular individual committed a crime. This higher standard reflects the severity of taking away a person’s liberty and ensuring that law enforcement has adequate justification before making such a significant action.

In contrast, other actions like accosting, investigative stops, and field interviews involve lower standards of suspicion, such as reasonable suspicion. These activities allow law enforcement to engage with individuals based on less rigorous criteria, which is a constitutional allowance for maintaining public safety and order without needing the full justification that is necessary for an arrest. Hence, the necessity of probable cause specifically for an arrest sets it apart from other law enforcement actions.