Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

a minors rights..

my little 13 yr old sister was with a friend who was caught shoplifting then accused of the petty theft herself. My sister and her friend left the store then was grabbed by her arm by the store associate in the mall several stores down and several minutes later. My question is, is it legal for the store associate to physically grab my little 13 yr old sister and pull her back in the store?


Asked on 4/24/07, 8:08 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Terry A. Nelson Nelson & Lawless

Re: a minors rights..

Criminal suspects can obviously be detained, forceably if necessary.

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Answered on 4/25/07, 1:35 pm
Peter Berlin Law Offices of Peter Berlin, A Prof. Corp.

Re: a minors rights..

The store's security have the right to use reasonable force to detain the suspect pending the arrival of police. Its fact dependant and without knowing more it seems that security acted properly assuming their was a legitimate basis for detaining her.

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Answered on 4/24/07, 8:15 pm


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