what does habeas corpus mean

Habeas corpus is a legal procedure and constitutional right that means "you should have the body" in Latin. It is a court order requiring that a person detained by the government be brought before a judge to determine whether their detention is lawful. This right acts as a safeguard against unlawful detention and arbitrary imprisonment by allowing detainees to challenge the legality of their confinement in court. If the government cannot legally justify the detention, the person must be released.