4th Amendment (1211) Flashcards
what does the 4th amendment protect?
- govt. intrusion on the privacy and property rights of the people
- only applies to govt action
the 4th amendment states . . .
the right of people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects (car/bag), against unreasonable searches and seizures
what is needed for a warrant?
- probable cause
- oath or affirmation
- description of place or persons being searched/seized
how many distinct parts does the 4th amendment have?
what are they?
- two
- part one: right to search (must be reasonable)
- part two: warrants clause (p/c needed)
Is evidence obtained in a private search by a private citizen admissible?
does the 4th amendment apply?
- Yes
- No, unless the individual was acting under direction of the govt or a govt agent
- exclusionary rule does not apply
what three factors are considered by the court during a private search?
- govt knowledge or acquisition of private actors conduct
- will the private party assist LEO’s at time of the search
- did the govt encourage, initiate, or participate in the private action
United States v. Jones
- officers placed gps tracking device on car for 28 days
- no court order or warrant to act (expired warrant)
- court found that a vehicle is an “effect” which is a constitutionally protected area under the 4th Amendment
- physical intrusion by govt into a constitutionally protected area for gathering info is a “search” under the 4th Amendment
- common law applied because officers trespassed on property (vehicle)
what is required by the Jones Analysis?
- trespass or physical intrusion by the govt on a constitutionally protected area
- intent to gather info
United States v. Katz
- police bugged a telephone booth to listen to Katz conversation
- Door was closed, with expectation of no one listening
- common law on trespass did not apply (public property)
- court ruled 4th amendment protects privacy and places
Katz Analysis
- reasonable expectation of privacy
- two pronged (must have both or no REP)
1. person must have exhibited an actual (subjective) expectation of privacy
2. expectation must be one that society (determined by courts) is prepared to recognize as reasonable
exclusionary rule
- evidence obtained thru an illegal search (violation)
- inadmissible
civil liability
legal obligation that requires a party to pay for damages
criminal liability
person is liable or responsible for a crime when he or she has acted with criminal intent
4th amendment ground rules
- courts prefer warrants
- homes have highest protection under 4th amendment (protects curtilage)
- no protection for items in public view
- LEO’s can enter public areas w/o a warrant
- p/c alone is never enough to search (need p/c + search warrant)
what is a search
- govt intrusion/entrance into an area where a person has REP
- physical trespass onto a constitutionally protected area to obtain info
- must be reasonable
warrant exceptions
- terry frisk
- consent
- carroll search
- protective sweep
- exigent circumstances
- search incident to arrest
- inventory
- admin search
common “search” areas
- body
- vehicles
- homes
- containers
- curtilage and open fields
- abandoned property
body
- obtaining evidence directly from a persons body requires a seizure
- after seizure, issue of REP is whether it is internal or external
- internal evidence (blood, urine, saliva) is a search (requires warrant, consent, exigency)
- external evidence (fingerprints, handwriting, or voice samples) requires no warrant, consent, or exigency
- govt can obtain external evidence with a subpoena or court order