Probable cause is determined by what standard?

Study for the Central New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy Exam 1. Engage in interactive flashcards and in-depth multiple choice questions covering essential aspects of law enforcement. Prepare efficiently and ensure success!

Probable cause is an objective standard that uses the totality of the circumstances to determine whether a reasonable person would believe that a crime has been or is being committed, or that evidence of a crime is present. It requires more than a mere hunch or guess, but less than absolute certainty. This standard, clarified by the totality-of-the-circumstances approach, is judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer or ordinary person in the same situation, based on the facts available at the time. It is used to justify arrests and warrants, and it is not satisfied by public opinion or a simple majority view, nor by certainty.