What is mandatory arrest?

What is mandatory arrest?

• A. A policy requiring police to make an arrest in the case of an allegation of domestic violence
• B. An arrest that requires victim consent
• C. An arrest only if there is a weapon involved
• D. An arrest only with a warrant

Answer: (A)

Mandatory arrest is a policy that requires officers to arrest a suspect whenever there is enough evidence to believe a domestic-violence incident occurred, regardless of the victim’s wishes. This approach is meant to protect victims, hold abusers accountable, and ensure a prompt investigation, especially in situations where declines or hesitations from the victim shouldn’t stop enforcement. The statement matches this idea by describing an obligation to arrest in cases of domestic-violence allegations.

The other scenarios aren’t about mandatory arrest. Requiring victim consent would place the decision in the victim’s hands, not the policy. Arresting only when a weapon is involved adds a condition that isn’t the defining feature of mandatory arrest. Requiring a warrant centers the arrest on obtaining judicial permission rather than an automatic response to an allegation and evidence.