Which term describes the legal requirement for police to have a good reason to make an arrest?

The term that accurately describes the legal requirement for police to have a good reason to make an arrest is "probable cause." Probable cause signifies that law enforcement has sufficient facts and circumstances to believe that a person has committed a crime. This standard is higher than reasonable suspicion, which allows officers to stop and briefly detain a person for investigation but does not provide the grounds necessary for an arrest.

Probable cause serves as a foundational principle in law enforcement, ensuring that arrests are not arbitrary but are based on concrete evidence or reliable information. The requirement protects individuals from unlawful detention and upholds the integrity of the legal system by necessitating a reasonable basis for taking such significant action.

While "due process" refers to the legal rights that must be respected throughout the judicial process, and "legal justification" is a broader term that can encompass many legal standards, neither specifically addresses the fundamental level of evidence needed for an arrest like probable cause does.