Who signs off on TDOs and ECOs?

• A. The governor
• B. The judge
• C. The magistrate
• D. The prosecutor

Answer: (C)

TDOs and ECOs are urgent measures that temporarily detain someone while safety checks and next steps are arranged. Because they involve restricting liberty, a neutral judicial officer must approve them to protect the person’s rights and ensure the detention is justified and limited in time. A magistrate has the authority to review the police request, weigh the evidence, and sign the order, providing the necessary judicial oversight in these immediate situations. A governor is a political leader and wouldn’t sign these police-directed orders. A prosecutor represents the state but does not authorize detention on their own. In many systems, a judge could issue similar orders, but the initial sign-off for these urgent measures is typically done by a magistrate.