How is "custody" defined in the context of law enforcement?

In the context of law enforcement, "custody" is primarily defined as being deprived of freedom in a significant way. This definition reflects the legal understanding that custody occurs not merely when an individual is formally arrested, but at any point where their ability to leave is significantly restricted.

This encompasses situations where a person is not free to walk away due to police action, whether or not they have been formally charged with an offense. The critical aspect here is the degree of restraint imposed on the individual's freedom of movement. While being detained for questioning or being placed in a police vehicle might indicate that an individual is in custody, it is the significant deprivation of freedom that constitutes the legal definition of custody.

Other interpretations, such as being arrested and charged, may involve custody but are too narrow and fail to account for earlier stages of police interaction where an individual is not free to leave. Similarly, merely being placed in a police vehicle is a physical action that may or may not imply custody depending on the circumstances surrounding the encounter. Therefore, the broader notion of significant deprivation of freedom captures the essence of what custody means in legal contexts.