What is a custodial arrest?

A custodial arrest refers to a situation where an individual is taken into custody by law enforcement and is required to be transported to a police facility or jail. This type of arrest typically means that the police have enough evidence to believe that the individual has committed a crime and that further investigation or legal procedures are necessary. In such cases, the individual will be handcuffed and placed in a police vehicle for transportation to the appropriate facility. The key characteristic of a custodial arrest is the loss of freedom for the suspect; they are not free to leave and are being formally detained by authorities.

Other options do not accurately capture the essence of what constitutes a custodial arrest. For instance, an arrest where the suspect remains at the scene would imply that the individual is not being taken into custody, which contradicts the fundamental point of a custodial arrest. Similarly, payment of a fine for a misdemeanor indicates a more informal resolution to a minor offense and does not involve the arrest process. Lastly, a voluntary surrender by the suspect might involve cooperation but doesn’t necessarily entail that the individual is being arrested in the manner described for a custodial arrest.