What is the key legal issue in U.S v. Mendenhall?

The key legal issue in U.S. v. Mendenhall revolves around the concept of arrest and the definition of custody. In this case, the Supreme Court addressed what constitutes a lawful seizure of a person under the Fourth Amendment. The court examined the circumstances under which an individual is considered to be “in custody” for purposes of determining whether a person has been subjected to a significant restriction on their freedom, which necessitates the protections afforded by the Fourth Amendment.

The central focus was whether the police officers' actions amounted to a seizure, and if so, whether Mendenhall was in custody in a way that required them to provide Miranda warnings before questioning. The court concluded that a person is in custody for Fifth Amendment purposes when, under the circumstances as a whole, a reasonable person would not feel free to leave. This ruling highlighted the importance of evaluating the totality of the circumstances in determining custody, making it a foundational case for understanding police procedures regarding arrest and interrogation.

In contrast, the other choices touch on separate legal issues that are not the central theme of this case. For example, while Miranda rights are critical in custodial interrogations, U.S. v. Mendenhall does not primarily address their failure to be provided as a legal issue