What is the term for the temporary custody of an individual short of arrest?

The term that describes the temporary custody of an individual short of arrest is detention. Detention refers to a situation where law enforcement holds an individual for a limited period, typically to investigate or question them without formally charging them with a crime. The key aspect of detention is that it does not involve the legal process of arrest, which implies a higher level of authority and the application of legal consequences.

Detention is often justified when there is reasonable suspicion that a person is involved in criminal activity, allowing officers to ensure public safety or to gather more information. Importantly, during detention, individuals do not have the same rights as arrested persons, and there are specific legal thresholds that law enforcement must meet to legally detain someone.

The other choices represent different legal concepts: arrest involves formally charging someone with a crime, citation pertains to issuing a ticket for a violation, and delinquency refers to the behavior of minors who violate laws. Each of these terms signifies a different level of legal action or status, clarifying why detention is the accurate choice in this context.