What is the legal basis for citizen's arrest, and what are the key requirements that must be met for an arrest to be considered lawful?

Citizen's arrest refers to the arrest of an individual by a private citizen who is not acting as a law enforcement officer. In many jurisdictions, the legal basis for citizen's arrest is provided by common law, which is a body of law derived from judicial decisions rather than statutes.

In general, for a citizen's arrest to be lawful, there are several key requirements that must be met. First, the person making the arrest must have witnessed the commission of a crime, or have reasonable grounds to believe that a crime has been committed. The citizen must also have a reasonable belief that the individual being arrested is the person who committed the crime.

Second, the level of force used in the arrest must be reasonable and proportionate to the circumstances. The use of excessive force can result in criminal charges against the citizen making the arrest.

Third, the citizen making the arrest must immediately turn the individual over to law enforcement authorities, unless it is not practical or safe to do so. Failure to turn the individual over to law enforcement authorities could result in charges of false imprisonment or kidnapping.

It is important to note that the rules surrounding citizen's arrest can vary by jurisdiction, and it is important to understand the specific laws and regulations in your area. In some cases, citizen's arrest may be prohibited or restricted, and there may be specific rules around the use of force or the types of crimes that can be the basis for a citizen's arrest.