Texas Basic Peace Officer Certification Practice Exam

At the moment of arrest, what ceases to build?

1. Authority of consent

2. Criminal offenses

3. Probable cause

4. Evidence

The correct answer is: Criminal offenses

When an arrest occurs, the process of committing further criminal offenses ceases. This is because the individual who is arrested is no longer free to engage in behavior that may constitute a crime. The act of arrest effectively ends the immediate potential for the individual to continue breaking the law, as they are now under the control of law enforcement. The authority of consent, for instance, continues to exist until explicitly revoked, and probable cause involves the justification needed to make an arrest rather than something that ceases at the moment of arrest. Evidence may still be gathered post-arrest, as ongoing investigations can yield new findings even after someone is in custody. Thus, while the arrest signifies a moment where criminal activity should cease for the arrested individual, it is important to understand that it specifically disrupts the potential for continuing offenses at that point in time.