probable cause

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probable cause

n. Law

1. Reasonable suspicion of the presence of evidence of criminality, allowing the search of the person or premises for such evidence by authorities.

2. Reasonable grounds for believing a person is guilty of a criminal act, allowing the arrest, prosecution, or trial of such person.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

probable cause

(Law) law reasonable grounds for holding a belief, esp such as will justify bringing legal proceedings against a person or will constitute a defence to a charge of malicious prosecution

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

prob′able cause′

1. reasonable ground for a belief that the accused was guilty of the crime.

2. the probability that grounds for the action existed: often used as a defense.

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Noun

probable cause - (law) evidence sufficient to warrant an arrest or search and seizure; "a magistrate determined that there was probable cause to search the house"

evidence, grounds - your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief; "the evidence that smoking causes lung cancer is very compelling"

law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"

Translations

probable cause

n (US Jur) → hinreichender (Tat)verdacht

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

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References in classic literature ?

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

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The previous chapter gave account of an immense body or herd of Sperm Whales, and there was also then given the probable cause inducing those vast aggregations.

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Another inquest was held: another post-mortem examination failed to reveal a probable cause of death.

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She had too old a regard for him to be so wholly estranged as might in two meetings extinguish every past hope, and leave him nothing to do but to keep away from Uppercross: but there was such a change as became very alarming, when such a man as Captain Wentworth was to be regarded as the probable cause. He had been absent only two Sundays, and when they parted, had left her interested, even to the height of his wishes, in his prospect of soon quitting his present curacy, and obtaining that of Uppercross instead.

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And as Miss La Creevy walked along, revolving in her mind various genteel forms and elegant turns of expression, with a view to the selection of the very best in which to couch her communication, she cogitated a good deal upon the probable causes of her young friend's indisposition.

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'Palagi naman si President hanggang walang findings of probable cause, palaging nandun ang trust.

Palace distances from plea to suspend PAO chief Acosta

'Pero, kung 'pag may probable cause na, iba nang usapan iyon - then there will be suspension galing sa Ombudsman.

PRRD still trusts PAO chief amid corruption claims

The special prosecutor decided there was probable cause to charge King with election fraud.

Virginia prosecutor beats malicious prosecution suit

Ang mayroon nang resolution finding the existence of probable cause yung kasong illegal posses-sion of firearms and ammunition.

Prosecution finds probable cause in Baldo gun charge

Benner concedes for purposes of this appeal that he knowingly or recklessly made false statements in the probable cause affidavit.

Qualified Immunity

Thus, the Ombudsman ruled that there is a probable cause to believe that Padaca gave unwarranted preference and benefits to EDWINLFI, which is penalized under Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

SC affirms indictment of Padaca, 2 others over P25-million rice procurement anomaly

For purposes of filing a complaint or information in court, 'probable cause refers to facts and circumstances sufficient to engender a well founded belief that a crime has been committed and that the respondents probably committed them (Elma vs Jacob 675 SCRA, 20).