What must the court find to believe that a child taken into custody without an arrest warrant has engaged in delinquent conduct?

• A. Probable Cause
• B. Reasonable Doubt
• C. Preponderance of the Evidence
• D. Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

Answer: (A)

Probable cause is the reasonable basis, supported by facts and circumstances, to believe the child has engaged in delinquent conduct. When a child is taken into custody without an arrest warrant, the court must have probable cause to support that belief in order to justify detaining or moving forward with delinquency proceedings. The higher standards of reasonable doubt or beyond a reasonable doubt are used for criminal convictions, while preponderance of the evidence is a civil standard; neither is appropriate for the initial custody determination in this juvenile context.