Utah § 77-7-3 Temporary detention made by a private individual.

Utah Statutes

§ 77-7-3 — Temporary detention made by a private individual.

Utah § 77-7-3

Title 77Utah Code of Criminal Procedure

Ch. 77-7Arrest, by Whom, and How Made

This text of Utah § 77-7-3 (Temporary detention made by a private individual.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Utah primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Utah Code Ann. § 77-7-3 (2026).

Text

(1)A private individual may temporarily detain another individual:

(1)(a) for a public offense committed or attempted in the private individual's presence; or

(1)(b) when a felony has been committed and the private individual has reasonable cause to believe the individual who the private individual seeks to temporarily detain has committed the felony.

(2)(2)(a) A temporary detention under Subsection (1) is lawful only if:

(2)(a)(i) the private individual immediately contacts law enforcement to notify law enforcement of the situation and the temporary detention; and

(2)(a)(ii) the temporary detention lasts only until a law enforcement officer arrives.

(2)(b) A private individual is not required to immediately contact law enforcement as described in Subsection (2)(a)(i) if the private indi

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

(1) A private individual may temporarily detain another individual:
(1)(a) for a public offense committed or attempted in the private individual's presence; or
(1)(b) when a felony has been committed and the private individual has reasonable cause to believe the individual who the private individual seeks to temporarily detain has committed the felony.
(2) (2)(a) A temporary detention under Subsection (1) is lawful only if:
(2)(a)(i) the private individual immediately contacts law enforcement to notify law enforcement of the situation and the temporary detention; and
(2)(a)(ii) the temporary detention lasts only until a law enforcement officer arrives.
(2)(b) A private individual is not required to immediately contact law enforcement as described in Subsection (2)(a)(i) if the private individual knows that another individual has already contacted law enforcement to notify law enforcement of the situation and the temporary detention.
(3) A private individual who in good faith conducts a lawful temporary detention under this section is:
(3)(a) not liable for civil damages or penalties as a result of an act or omission by the private individual in performing the temporary detention unless the private individual was grossly negligent; and
(3)(b) not subject to criminal prosecution for an act or omission by the private individual in performing the temporary detention unless the private individual was criminally negligent.
(4) A private individual may use force while temporarily detaining another individual under this section as described in Section 77-7-7.1.