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 police to arrest the suspected abuser whenever there is an allegation of domestic violence and enough evidence to establish probable cause. This means the officer’s action isn’t left to personal discretion or the victim’s wishes at the scene; the goal is to protect victims, prevent further harm, and hold offenders accountable. It can happen even without a weapon and without a warrant at the moment of arrest if the facts show probable cause in a domestic-violence incident. The other ideas described—requiring victim consent, needing a weapon, or needing a warrant—don’t capture the compulsory nature of this policy.