Probable cause exists when an officer has trustworthy evidence sufficient to make "a______ " think it more likely than not that the proposed arrest or search is justified.

Question

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Probable cause must be evaluated from the perspective of a reasonable person, not just the officer's own beliefs or instincts. The evidence must be sufficient to make a reasonable person believe that the proposed action is justified. Judges or juries may later evaluate whether the officer's actions were reasonable based on the facts available to them at the time, but probable cause is determined by the evidence available to the officer in the moment.

Probable Cause Exists When an Officer Has Trustworthy Evidence Sufficient