What is the legal standard required to sustain an arrest?

The legal standard required to sustain an arrest is probable cause. This means that law enforcement officials must have a reasonable belief, based on facts and circumstances known to them, that a person is committing, is about to commit, or has committed a crime. Probable cause is essential as it serves as a safeguard against unreasonable searches and seizures, ensuring that individuals are not arrested without sufficient justification.

In legal contexts, probable cause does not require the overwhelming evidence that is necessary for a conviction, which is proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Additionally, mere suspicion is insufficient to justify an arrest since it lacks the concrete foundation of facts needed to support the belief that a crime has occurred. Preponderance of evidence, which refers to the standard used in civil cases, is also not applicable here, as it's a different legal threshold. Therefore, the requirement of probable cause strikes the appropriate balance between the rights of the individual and the needs of law enforcement.