Which term describes the legal authority of law enforcement to investigate and make arrests?

The term that describes the legal authority of law enforcement to investigate and make arrests is jurisdiction. Jurisdiction refers to the official power or authority that law enforcement agencies have to enforce laws, conduct investigations, and arrest individuals within a specified geographical area or over particular subjects. This authority is crucial for law enforcement as it delineates the boundaries within which they can operate and is foundational for maintaining law and order.

Warrants are legal documents issued by a judge that authorize law enforcement to perform certain acts, such as making an arrest or conducting a search. However, warrants do not themselves represent authority; rather, they are tools that require jurisdiction to be valid.

Probation is a legal status that allows individuals convicted of a crime to live in the community under supervision instead of serving time in prison, and it does not relate to law enforcement authority.

An indictment is a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime, typically issued by a grand jury, but it does not provide law enforcement with authority; it is part of the legal process following an arrest or investigation.

Thus, jurisdiction is the key concept that encapsulates the authority law enforcement possesses to act in the realms of investigation and arrest.