The act of depriving someone of liberty by legal authority for interrogation or prosecution is known as:

• A. Arrest
• B. Detention
• C. Custody
• D. Confinement

Answer: (A)

Arrest is the formal act by which a person is taken into custody by legal authority for the purpose of interrogation or prosecution. It is the official action that grants police the authority to hold someone and press charges, moving beyond a simple stop or question. Detention is holding someone temporarily for questioning and doesn’t always lead to charges. Custody refers to the state of being under police control, not the action itself, and confinement refers to long-term restriction, such as imprisonment. So, the act described matches arrest—the legitimate, purposeful deprivation of liberty to pursue questioning and prosecution.