protective custody

noun

: a safe place under police watch
The witness is in protective custody.

Examples of protective custody in a Sentence

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The children were taken into protective custody by county social workers after Aurora was hospitalized. — Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026 There were six other children in the home at the time, aged 2 months to 17, who have since been put into protective custody. — Jose Fabian, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 His children were taken into protective custody, deputies said. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 Sheriff’s detectives placed a newborn infant in protective custody last week after the child was found living with their parents in unsafe conditions under an Interstate 5 overpass in Yolo County. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for protective custody

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protective cover
protective custody
protective deck
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Cite this Entry

“Protective custody.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/protective%20custody. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Legal Definition

protective custody

see also:
custody sense c
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