This chapter discusses searches and the Fourth Amendment. It covers:
1) What constitutes a legal search and the balance between individual liberties and society.
2) Searches have limitations and officers must know and follow applicable laws.
3) Illegal searches may result in evidence being excluded from trial.
4) The chapter describes different types of legal searches and exceptions, such as with a warrant, consent, stop and frisk, incident to arrest and emergencies.
2. Introduction
Supreme Court defined a search as a governmental
infringement of a legitimate expectation of privacy
Investigators make many kinds of searches
Searching is a vital task in most criminal investigations
Through searching, evidence of crime and against
criminals is obtained
Every search must be firmly based on an understanding
of the restrictions
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3. Legal Searches and the Fourth Amendment
LEGAL OVERVIEW
Balance between individual liberties and the rights of
society
Meant to ensure citizens dignity and privacy
Courts are bound by rules
Legality of a search must always be kept in mind
Systematic and thorough
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4. Basic Limitation on Searches
SCOPE
All searches have one limitation
Laws regulating searches are numerous and complex
Officers must know the laws and operate within them
The penalty for not doing so is extreme
Evidence from illegal searches not allowed at trial
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5. UNREASONABLE SEARCHES
Courts enforce the prohibition against unreasonable
searches
Affects illegally seized evidence
THE INEVITABLE DISCOVERY EXCEPTION
Inevitable-discovery doctrine
Intent of the exclusionary rule
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The Exclusionary Rule
6. THE GOOD FAITH EXCEPTION
United States v. Leon (1984)
Apparently valid search warrant
Modification of the exclusionary rule
Evidence seized in reasonably good faith
Good-faith doctrine
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The Exclusionary Rule
7. Justification for Reasonable Searches
SEARCH WITH A WARRANT
Search warrant has been issued
Consent is given
Officer stops a suspicious person and believes the
person may be armed
Search is incidental to a lawful arrest
Emergency exists
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8. Justification for Reasonable Searches
SEARCH WITH CONSENT
United States v. Matlock (1974)
Wright v. United States (1938)
Illinois v. Rodriguez (1990)
Schneckloth v. Bustamonte (1973)
Georgia v. Randolph (2006)
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9. Justification for Reasonable Searches
PATDOWN OR FRISK DURING A STOP
Suspicious circumstances
Identify someone who
looks like a suspect
Reasonable suspicion
Terry v. Ohio (1968)
Terry stop
Might be armed and dangerous
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10. Justification for Reasonable Searches
SEARCH INCIDENT TO ARREST
Immediate control area
Protective sweep, or Buie sweep
SEARCH IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION
No time to secure a warrant
Imminent danger to public safety
Medical emergencies
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11. Justification for Reasonable Searches
SEARCH IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION
Three conditions met under exigent circumstances
Must believe a real emergency exists
Requiring immediate action
Primarily to find evidence
Emergency and area searched must have a connection
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12. Justification for Reasonable Searches
WARRANTLESS SEARCHES OF VEHICLES
Seizure within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment
Pretext stops
Searches of passengers in a stopped vehicle
Searches of vehicles incident to and contemporaneous
with lawful arrests
Inventory searches
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13. CRIME SCENE SEARCH OVERVIEW
Establish a crime was committed
Establish what the crime was
Establish when the crime was committed
Identify who committed the crime
Explain how the crime was committed
Suggest why the crime was committed
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The Crime Scene Search
14. ORGANIZING THE CRIME SCENE SEARCH
Dividing the duties
Selecting a search pattern
Assigning personnel
Giving instructions
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The Crime Scene Search
15. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Ranges from very large objects to minute
Know what types of evidence to search for
Often found on or near the route used to and from a
crime
Frequently found on or near a dead body
Elephant-in-a-matchbox doctrine
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The Crime Scene Search
16. EXTERIOR SEARCHES
Small, large areas
Can be divided
Diagrammed on paper
Lane-search pattern
Circle-search pattern
Zone- or sector-search pattern
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Search Patterns
17. INTERIOR SEARCHES
General to specific
Circular pattern
Cover all surfaces
Floor should be searched first
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Search Patterns
19. Other Types of Investigatory Searches
BUILDING SEARCHES
Familiarize yourself with the location
Discuss a plan of action
Access all available resources
Think safety first and last
Extreme caution in the fatal funnel
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20. Other Types of Investigatory Searches
TRASH OR GARBAGE CAN SEARCHES
California v. Greenwood (1988)
Trash pulls
Crime has been committed
Relevant evidence likely
Trash must not be located within the curtilage
Consult with your agencys legal advisors
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21. Other Types of Investigatory Searches
VEHICLE SEARCHES
Remove occupants
Search area around vehicle
Search exterior
Side from front to back
Return along the other
side to the front
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22. Other Types of Investigatory Searches
SUSPECT SEARCHES
Wear protective gloves
Not been arrested
Patdown or frisk for weapons
Been arrested
Thorough body search for weapons and evidence
Inhibitors to a thorough search
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23. Other Types of Investigatory Searches
DEAD BODY SEARCHES
Done only after the coroner or medical examiner has
arrived
Coroner has given permission
Search around and beneath the body after removal
Policy determines the extent of a search
Search systematically and completely
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24. Other Types of Investigatory Searches
UNDERWATER SEARCHES
Limited visibility
Extreme water temperature
Swift currents and hazardous materials
Crime scene or accident scene
Metal detectors
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25. VALUABLE FORCE MULTIPLIER
Trained to detect drugs and
other chemicals
Locate suspects
Narcotics
Explosives
Cadavers and more
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Use of Dogs in a Search
27. OVERVIEW
Fourth Amendment
Officers actions must be reasonable
Outline details
Present full situation
Totality of the circumstances
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A Reminder
28. Summary
Fourth Amendment to the Constitution forbids
unreasonable searches and seizures
Investigators must know what constitutes a reasonable,
legal search
The scope must be narrow; general searches are
unconstitutional
Search patterns have been developed that help ensure
a thorough search
Always be on your guard
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Editor's Notes
#4: Learning Objective:
Do you know which constitutional amendment restricts investigative searches?
The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution forbids unreasonable searches and seizures.
Learning Objective:
Do you know what is required for an effective search?
To conduct an effective search, know the legal requirements for searching, the items being searched for and the elements of the crime being investigated; be organized, systematic and thorough.
#5: Learning Objective:
Do you know what basic restriction is placed on all searches?
The most important limitation on any search is that the scope must be narrow. General searches are unconstitutional.
#6: Learning Objective:
Do you know what the exclusionary rule is and how it affects investigators?
The exclusionary rule established that courts may not accept evidence obtained by unreasonable search and seizure, regardless of its relevance to a case. Weeks v. United States (1914) made the rule applicable at the federal level; Mapp v. Ohio (1961) made it applicable to all courts.
#8: Learning Objective:
Do you know what the preconditions and limitations of a legal search are?
A search can be justified and therefore considered legal if any of the following conditions are met:
A search warrant has been issued.
Consent is given.
An officer stops a suspicious person and believes the person may be armed.
The search is incidental to a lawful arrest.
An emergency exists.
Also, a search conducted with a warrant must be limited to the specific area and specific items named in the warrant, in accordance with the particularity requirement (Stanford v. Texas, 1965).
#9: Learning Objective:
Do you know what the preconditions and limitations of a legal search are?
Consent to search must be voluntary, and the search must be limited to the area for which consent is given.
#10: Learning Objective:
Do you know what the preconditions and limitations of a legal search are?
The Terry decision established that a patdown or frisk is a protective search for weapons and as such must be confined to a scope reasonably designed to discover guns, knives, clubs and other hidden instruments for the assault of a police officer or others.
#11: Learning Objective:
Do you know what the preconditions and limitations of a legal search are?
The Chimel decision established that a search incidental to a lawful arrest must be made simultaneously with the arrest and must be confined to the area within the suspects immediate control.
#12: Learning Objective:
Do you know when a warrantless search is justified?
A warrantless search in the absence of a lawful arrest or consent is justified only in emergencies or exigent circumstances where probable cause exists and the search must be conducted immediately (New York v. Quarles, 1984).
#13: Learning Objective:
Do you know what precedents are established by the Weeks, Mapp, Terry, Chimel, Carroll and Chambers decisions?
Carroll: Established that automobiles may be searched without a warrant if (1) there is probable cause for the search and (2) the vehicle would be gone before a search warrant could be obtained.
Chambers v. Maroney (1970): Established that a vehicle may be taken to headquarters to be searched.
Chimel: Established that a search incidental to a lawful arrest must be made simultaneously with the arrest and must be confined to the area within the suspects immediate control.
Weeks and Mapp: The exclusionary rule established that courts may not accept evidence obtained by unreasonable search and seizure, regardless of its relevance to a case. Weeks v. United States (1914) made the rule applicable at the federal level; Mapp v. Ohio (1961) made it applicable to all courts.
Terry: Established that a patdown or frisk is a protective search for weapons and as such must be confined to a scope reasonably designed to discover guns, knives, clubs and other hidden instruments for the assault of a police officer or others.
#14: Learning Objective:
Do you know what a successful crime scene search accomplishes?
A successful crime scene search locates, identifies and preserves all evidence present.
#15: Learning Objective:
Do you know what is included in organizing a crime scene search?
Organizing a search includes dividing the duties, selecting a search pattern, assigning personnel and equipment and giving instructions.
#16: Learning Objective:
Do you know what physical evidence is?
Knowing what to search for is indispensable to an effective crime scene search. Physical evidence is anything material and relevant to the crime being investigated.
#17: Learning Objective:
Do you know what search patterns are used in exterior searches?
Exterior search patterns divide an area into lanes, strips, concentric circles or zones.
#18: Learning Objective:
Do you know what search patterns are used in interior searches?
Interior searches go from the general to the specific, usually in a circular pattern, covering all surfaces of a search area. The floor should be searched first.
#19: Learning Objective:
Do you know whether evidence left in plain view may be lawfully seized and whether it is admissible in court?
Plain-view evidenceunconcealed evidence seen by an officer engaged in a lawful activityis admissible in court.
#22: Learning Objective:
Do you know how to search a vehicle?
Remove occupants from the car.
First, search the area around the vehicle, and then the exterior.
Finally, search the interior along one side from front to back, and then return along the other side to the front.
#23: Learning Objective:
Do you know how to search a suspect?
If the suspect has not been arrested, confine your search to a patdown or frisk for weapons.
If the suspect has been arrested, make a complete body search for weapons and evidence.
In either event, always be on your guard.
#24: Learning Objective:
Do you know how to search a dead body?
Search a dead body systematically and completely.
Include the immediate area around and under the body.
#26: Learning Objective:
Do you know how dogs can be used in searches?
Dogs can be trained to locate suspects, narcotics, explosives, cadavers and more.