What is probable cause in criminal procedure?

Probable cause in criminal procedure is a legal standard that grants law enforcement officers the authority to take certain actions in a criminal case. This standard requires that law enforcement officers have reasonable grounds to believe that a person has committed a crime before making an arrest, conducting a search, or requesting a search warrant. In Indiana, the statutory definition of probable cause states that it is a “belief that would cause a reasonable person to believe that a prohibited act or omission has been committed or is being committed”. This means that, for an accusation to be considered probable cause, the officer must have reasonable grounds to believe that the person has committed or is committing a crime. The standard of probable cause is also used in criminal proceedings, as it is necessary to prove that a crime was probably committed in order to convict a person of the crime. In Indiana, this standard is met when a court finds that the evidence presented makes it more likely than not that a crime was committed. Probable cause is an important legal safeguard that helps protect individuals from unjustified arrests and searches. It is the job of the law enforcement officers to only use the standard of probable cause when making decisions that could have a serious impact on an individual’s life.

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What is probable cause in criminal procedure?

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