When can a person be considered seized?

A person can be considered seized when there is a reasonable belief by a reasonable person that they cannot leave. This understanding stems from the Fourth Amendment, which protects individuals from unreasonable seizures by the government. The key concept here is the "reasonable person" standard, which assesses whether a reasonable individual in the same circumstances would feel free to leave or decline an officer's request.

For instance, situations where an officer uses authoritative language, displays a weapon, or physically blocks an individual can create a scenario where a reasonable person would feel they are not free to leave. This assessment includes the totality of the circumstances surrounding the encounter, considering factors such as the location, time, and behavior of law enforcement and the individual.

In contrast, simply telling someone to sit down or officers identifying themselves doesn't automatically imply a seizure. These actions may not sufficiently communicate to the individual that they are not free to leave. Moreover, the concept of being "under arrest" pertains to a formal action taken by law enforcement that typically involves probable cause, which is a higher threshold than the reasonable belief standard regarding detention or seizure.