Non-PBSO officers may make probable cause arrests within how many hours in the county if the crime is a forcible felony or domestic violence and exigent circumstances exist, with permission from the watch commander?

• A. 24 hours
• B. 72 hours
• C. 48 hours
• D. 96 hours

Answer: (B)

When a non-PBSO officer needs to arrest someone by probable cause in the county for a forcible felony or domestic violence, and there are exigent circumstances with the watch commander’s approval, the allowed window is 72 hours. This 72-hour limit balances the urgency of serious crimes with the need for supervisor oversight and coordination across jurisdictions. It recognizes that exigent situations may require swift action even if the officer isn’t in the usual PBSO footprint, but it also sets a concrete time frame to ensure the arrest is handled properly, evidence is preserved, and victim safety is prioritized. Shorter windows like 24 or 48 hours would be too restrictive given cross-jurisdiction dynamics and the need for coordination, while a much longer window like 96 hours isn’t the standard policy and would undermine timely accountability.