A person who is caught in the act of committing or is caught having just committed an offense is an offender caught in the act.
現に罪を行い、又は現に罪を行い終つた者を現行犯人とする。
Where any person who falls under one of the following items is clearly found to have committed an offense a short time beforehand, said person is deemed as an offender caught in the act:
左の各号の一にあたる者が、罪を行い終つてから間がないと明らかに認められるときは、これを現行犯人とみなす。
a person being pursued as the offender;
犯人として追呼されているとき。
a person carrying property obtained through a property crime, or carrying a dangerous weapon or other things which are believed to have been used in the commission of a criminal act;
贓物又は明らかに犯罪の用に供したと思われる兇器その他の物を所持しているとき。
a person with visible traces of the offense on said person's body or clothing;
身体又は被服に犯罪の顕著な証跡があるとき。
a person who attempts to run away when challenged.
誰何されて逃走しようとするとき。