How is a "citizen's arrest" defined?

A "citizen's arrest" is defined as an arrest made by a private citizen rather than a law enforcement officer. This definition emphasizes the role of the individual in taking action to detain someone whom they believe has committed a crime. In many jurisdictions, citizens have the legal right to apprehend individuals if they witness a crime being committed or have reasonable knowledge that a crime has occurred. This type of arrest is typically based on the citizen's observation or knowledge rather than an official law enforcement process.

The option regarding an arrest made with police assistance describes a different scenario where law enforcement is involved, which does not fit the specific definition of a citizen's arrest. The mention of a court order refers to arrests made under judicial authority, which is also distinct from citizen arrests that do not require prior legal sanction. Lastly, the notion that a citizen's arrest can only be made in emergencies is misleading, as citizen arrests can be executed during any instance where an individual witnesses a crime taking place or has reasonable evidence of a committed crime, not strictly in emergency situations. Thus, the definition of a citizen's arrest is accurately captured in the first choice.