police custody
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police custody
The short-term detention of a person by the police in order to establish their identity, prevent a crime, or bring them before a judge. It is not imprisonment as punishment after a conviction.
Nach der Demonstration wurden mehrere Randalierer für einige Stunden in Polizeigewahrsam genommen.
After the demonstration, several rioters were taken into police custody for a few hours.
This word consists of 'Polizei' (police) and 'Gewahrsam' (custody). 'Gewahrsam' is a formal word for holding a person or safely keeping an object, and it is derived from the verb 'wahren' (to protect, to preserve).
Der Verdächtige wurde zur Befragung in Gewahrsam genommen.
The suspect was taken into custody for questioning.
'Polizeigewahrsam' (police custody) is a term from official and legal language. You find it mainly in police reports, legal texts, and the news.
Laut dem offiziellen Bericht befand sich die Person nur zwei Stunden in Polizeigewahrsam.
According to the official report, the person was in police custody for only two hours.
The preposition 'in' is used with the accusative for movement ('jemanden in Gewahrsam nehmen' — to take someone into custody) and with the dative for a state ('in Gewahrsam sein' — to be in custody). Release is expressed with 'aus' + dative.
Die Polizei nahm den Mann in Gewahrsam.
The police took the man into custody.
custody / imprisonment
'Haft' and 'Polizeigewahrsam' both mean that a person is not allowed to leave freely. 'Polizeigewahrsam', however, is a short-term police measure, for example to establish someone's identity or to prevent a danger. It is not a punishment after a verdict. 'Haft' is more general and can also mean a longer prison sentence or pre-trial detention. Learners may confuse the words because both have to do with arresting and holding someone. If the police are only holding someone briefly, 'Polizeigewahrsam' is more precise; for longer or court-ordered deprivation of liberty, 'Haft' fits.
Nach der Kontrolle kam der Mann für einige Stunden in Polizeigewahrsam.
After the check, the man was taken into police custody for a few hours.
Der Angeklagte saß schon vor dem Urteil mehrere Wochen in Haft.
The defendant had already been in custody for several weeks before the verdict.