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The legal term for the detaining of a person by lawful process or authority is custody. Custody refers specifically to the situation where an individual is held under the authority of law, often related to the enforcement of a criminal charge or during an investigation. This term encompasses a range of situations where the state or law enforcement takes control over an individual's freedom, whether by formal arrest or during other lawful processes, such as being held in a facility or institution awaiting further legal action.

While arrest, detention, and imprisonment are related concepts, custody specifically captures the essence of being under the control of legal authority, often before a formal charge or trial. Arrest typically signifies the act of capture or taking control by law enforcement with the intention of charging someone with a crime, while detention more commonly refers to the temporary holding of an individual, possibly without charge. Imprisonment denotes a longer-term confinement following a conviction and sentencing. Thus, custody is the most precise term for the lawful process of detaining a person.