Citizen's Arrest and Legal Powers Course (US) 2026
This course is for security guards and loss prevention staff in the United States who want to understand the limits of their legal powers. It covers citizen's arrest, merchant detention, searches, trespass and liability, with examples from California, New York, Florida and Virginia. It is background knowledge only: many states require their own guard training, such as California's Power to Arrest course.
W skrócie
Ten bezpłatny kurs obejmuje około 30 minut lekcji i test z 25 pytaniami. Uzyskaj co najmniej 80%, aby pobrać zaświadczenie o ukończeniu (prywatne, nieakredytowane). Sprawdzono z oficjalnymi źródłami 13 października 2026.
Czego się nauczysz
- Explain why a security guard is not a police officer
- Compare citizen's arrest rules in California and New York
- Describe what to say and do during and after a lawful arrest
- Explain merchant's privilege and its limits in several states
- State the limits on searching a person
- Handle trespass calmly and within the law
- Recognize the criminal and civil risks of a wrongful arrest
Uzyskaj co najmniej 80%, aby pobrać certyfikat.
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Pytanie 1 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: D. A guard is not a peace officer
The BSIS Power to Arrest manual says plainly that guards are not peace officers. They act with the powers of a private person.
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Pytanie 2 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: A. Prevention, mainly by being highly visible
The BSIS manual says a guard's responsibility before an incident is prevention, and being visible is the main tool.
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Pytanie 3 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: B. No, a guard is never obligated to make one
The BSIS manual states that a security employee is never obligated to make a citizen's arrest. Observing and reporting is always an option.
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Pytanie 4 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: B. Only when it was committed or attempted in their presence
Under Penal Code 837, a private person may arrest for a public offense committed or attempted in their presence. For a misdemeanor, the guard must see it.
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Pytanie 5 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: C. Reasonable cause to believe that person committed it
PC 837 allows an arrest when a felony has in fact been committed and the private person has reasonable cause to believe the person arrested committed it.
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Pytanie 6 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: A. Evidence that links the person to the crime
The BSIS manual says reasonable cause must rest on evidence linking the person to the crime. Being nearby is not enough.
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Pytanie 7 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: D. When the person in fact committed it in the arrester's presence
CPL 140.30 allows a private arrest for any offense only when the person has in fact committed it in the arrester's presence.
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Pytanie 8 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: D. An honest mistake leaves the arrest without legal authority
Because CPL 140.30 requires that the offense was in fact committed, a guard who is wrong has no authority for the arrest, even if they believed it honestly.
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Pytanie 9 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: B. Only in the county where the offense was committed
CPL 140.30(2) allows a felony arrest anywhere in the state, but an arrest for any other offense only in the county where it was committed.
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Pytanie 10 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: A. Your intention, the cause and your authority to arrest
The BSIS manual says to tell the subject of your intention, cause and authority to arrest, so they understand they are under citizen's arrest and why.
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Pytanie 11 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: B. When the person resists, flees or telling them is impractical
CPL 140.35 requires the reason to be given, except when the person offers physical resistance, flees or other factors make it impractical.
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Pytanie 12 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: B. The time of the arrest and the time police were called
The BSIS manual says to contact police without delay and record when you made the arrest and when you called the police.
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Pytanie 13 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: D. Deliver the person to police without unnecessary delay
CPL 140.40 requires a private person who arrests someone to deliver, or attempt to deliver, them to the custody of a police officer without unnecessary delay.
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Pytanie 14 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: D. The police who respond
The BSIS manual says police assess the situation when they arrive and decide whether to take the subject into custody.
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Pytanie 15 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: C. As "this person" or "the suspect"
The BSIS manual warns against words like "criminal," "offender" or "robber" that suggest guilt. It suggests neutral words such as "this person" or "the suspect."
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Pytanie 16 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: C. They answer questions voluntarily and are not restrained
The BSIS manual describes detention as a person who voluntarily responds to questioning and is not actually restrained.
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Pytanie 17 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: D. Bags and packages they are holding, but not clothing worn
Penal Code 490.5(f), as the BSIS manual explains, allows a limited search of packages, shopping bags and handbags in immediate possession, but never clothing worn.
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Pytanie 18 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: B. Only if the mall owners have a signed agreement with the store
The BSIS manual says mall security may not use PC 490.5 inside individual stores unless the mall owners have a signed agreement with the stores.
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Pytanie 19 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: D. For no more than one hour while waiting for police
Virginia allows a merchant, agent or employee with probable cause to detain a suspected shoplifter for up to one hour pending arrival of a law-enforcement officer.
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Pytanie 20 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: B. In a reasonable manner and for no more than a reasonable time
GBL 218 gives a defense to claims like false arrest only when the detention is done in a reasonable manner and for not more than a reasonable time.
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Pytanie 21 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: A. Weapons only
The BSIS manual says you may search for only one thing: weapons (PC 846). Any other evidence is left for the police.
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Pytanie 22 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: B. A violation
PL 140.05 says a person is guilty of trespass when they knowingly enter or remain unlawfully on premises, and that trespass is a violation.
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Pytanie 23 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: D. Where they can reasonably be seen
Code of Virginia 18.2-119 accepts posted signs as notice when they are placed where they may reasonably be seen.
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Pytanie 24 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: A. Criminal impersonation
New York Penal Law 190.25 makes this criminal impersonation in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor. It becomes a felony under 190.26 if done while committing a felony.
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Pytanie 25 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: D. The guard, and the guard's employer as well
The BSIS manual warns that guards can be sued for wrongful acts such as false arrest, and that the employer may also be held responsible.
Klawiatura: 1–4, aby odpowiedzieć, Enter – następne pytanie.
Co warto wiedzieć przed egzaminem
- California's official guard manual states that guards are not peace officers and are never obligated to make a citizen's arrest.
- In California, a private person may arrest for a misdemeanor only if it was committed or attempted in their presence.
- New York allows a private arrest only when the person has in fact committed the offense, so an honest mistake gives no legal authority.
- New York requires a private person to deliver an arrested person to police without unnecessary delay.
- Virginia lets a merchant's employee detain a suspected shoplifter for no more than one hour while waiting for police.
Najczęściej zadawane pytania
Can a security guard arrest someone in the US?
Usually only as a private person, under the citizen's arrest law of the state. The rules differ by state, and a wrong arrest can lead to criminal charges or a lawsuit.
Can a guard search my bag?
There is no general power to search. Some states, such as California, allow a limited search of bags under the merchant's privilege after a person refuses to hand over an item, but never of clothing worn.
Does this course replace my state's guard training?
No. Most states license guards, and many require training before or soon after you start work. In California, for example, the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services requires Power to Arrest training before it issues a guard registration. This course is background knowledge only.
Is trespass a crime?
It depends on the state and the facts. In New York, simple trespass is a violation. In Virginia, staying after being forbidden by the owner or by posted signs is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Czy zaświadczenie jest akredytowane lub oficjalnie uznawane?
Nie. To prywatne zaświadczenie o ukończeniu, wyłącznie dla Twojej wiedzy. Nie jest uznawane, akredytowane ani zatwierdzone przez żaden rząd, organ licencyjny, regulatora ani instytucję edukacyjną i nie zastępuje żadnej licencji, certyfikacji ani szkolenia wymaganych przez prawo.
Źródła
- BSIS: Power to Arrest and Appropriate Use of Force training manual
- BSIS: Security Guard Fact Sheet
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics: Security guards (How to become one)
- New York CPL 140.30 (arrest by any person)
- New York CPL 140.40
- New York General Business Law 218
- Florida Statutes 812.015
- Code of Virginia 18.2-105.1
- Code of Virginia 18.2-119 (trespass)