What is probable cause in criminal procedure?

Probable cause is an important concept in criminal procedure because it is the standard required for law enforcement to search, seize, or arrest a person. Probable cause in criminal procedure in Delaware is defined as a reasonable basis for belief that a crime has been committed and that a person is responsible for the crime. This means that, for law enforcement to act in accordance with the law, they must have evidence that there is a fair chance of a crime being committed and that the person in question is the one who committed it. In Delaware, the court decides if the level of evidence is enough for probable cause when officers are making an arrest or searching an area. In order to make this determination, the court will look at the facts presented by law enforcement and decide if the evidence supports the belief that a crime has been committed and that the person is responsible. In Delaware, probable cause is different from reasonable suspicion, which is a lower standard that law enforcement can use when conducting an investigation. For example, law enforcement can observe someone behaving suspiciously and question them, but they must have more evidence than just suspicion in order to have probable cause to arrest them. Probable cause is an important concept in Delaware criminal procedure that must be met for law enforcement to take action against individuals they suspect of having committed a crime. Probable cause is determined by a court based on the facts and evidence presented by law enforcement.

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