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An arrest is the action of police or other authority, or even in some circumstances a private civilian, to apprehend and take under guard a person who is suspected of committing a crime. The term is Frankish in origin and is related to the French command verb Arret, meaning "stop". In many legal systems, an arrest requires mere verbal information to the suspect that he or she is under arrest on suspicion of a given crime; the laying of hands or restraints upon the person of the suspect is usually not required to effect an official and valid arrest.

Contrary to popular belief, reading of the Miranda warning or similar information to an arrestee is not required upon arrest. It is required only prior to questioning by a detaining authority, and then again only in the US, most Commonwealth and other common law jurisdictions, and other countries where the right to legal counsel, the right to silence, and the right against self-incrimination have been clearly established.

If the crime is serious, the usual procedure followed by police is to take the suspect to a police station or a jail where he or she will be incarcerated pending a judicial bail determination or arraignment hearing. In other instances, they will issue a notice to appearFor the thoroughbred, see Citation (horse). For the criminal justice document, see summons. A citation is a credit or reference to another document or source which documents both influence and authority. There are many rules for the format and use of such specifying where a misdemeanorMisdemeanors are "lesser" criminal acts which are generally punished less severely than felonies; but more so than infractions. In some jurisdictions, those who are convicted of a misdeameanor are known as misdemeanants . Depending on the jurisdiction, ex or infractionAn infraction minor offense minor violation petty offense is a "petty" crime, considered to be less serious than a misdemeanor. Examples of infractions include: jaywalking, littering, and minor traffic violations. Those convicted of an infraction are typi suspect is to appear for his arraignment.

Ordinarily only human beings can be arrested, but recent and somewhat controversial changes to criminal codes have allowed for the arrest not only of the usual "contraband, evidence, fruits, and instrumentalities" of crime, but also of inanimate objects such as money, automobiles, houses, and other personal property under asset forfeiture .

See also: Arrest warrantAn arrest warrant is a warrant issued by a public officer which authorizes the arrest and detention of an individual. Warrants are typically issued by courts but can also be issued by houses of Congress or other legislatures (via the call of the house mot; Citizen's arrestA citizen's arrest is an arrest performed by a private citizen, as opposed to a sworn law enforcement officer. The practice dates back to medieval England, where sheriffs encouraged ordinary citizens to help apprehend law breakers. In the United States, s

Arrest is also the name of a commune of the SommeSomme Details Information Number80 Region Picardie Prefecture Amiens Subprefectures Abbeville Montdidier Population Total 1999 Density Ranked 40th 555,551 90 /km² Area6,170 km²; Arrondissements 4 Cantons 46 Communes 783 President of the general councilXX départementThe departements (or departments) are administrative units of France, roughly analogous to British counties and are now grouped into 22 metropolitan and four overseas regions''. They are subdivided into 342 arrondissements''. Departements are also found i in France.