Chapter 20- Electronic Devices Flashcards
Is it legal to intercept phone communications without a warrant?
No
Interception of phone communications without a warrant is prohibited.
What is the consequence for private citizens who purposely scan intercepted calls?
Exclusionary rule applies
This means that evidence obtained through illegal interception may be excluded in court.
What can police do with an abandoned phone?
Search it immediately
An example of abandonment includes placing a phone outside and stating it is no longer wanted.
What is the protocol for searching lost phones?
Search only to determine the owner
This may involve checking frequent calls, contacts, etc.
Fill in the blank: You may not intercept phone communications without a _______.
warrant
A warrant is a legal document authorizing police to perform a search or seizure.
Is viewing text that comes up on a phone considered a search?
No, if done without manipulation.
Is calling or texting a suspect’s phone considered a search?
No.
What are some exigent circumstances that allow for a warrantless search?
- Bomb threat
- Child abduction
- Drug distribution
- Sexual enticement
What must you testify about if claiming exigency?
Why it was impractical to get a warrant.
True or False: Attempting to discredit a claim through of calls to a girlfriend allows you to search the phone through exigency
False.
What should you do if you have probable cause regarding a phone?
Secure the phone.
How can phones prove an accomplice connection in a crime?
By showing coordinated actions through communication.
Fill in the blank: Police may remove a phone from a person to ensure it is not a _______.
[weapon]
What is required for law enforcement to search a seized cell phone?
Consent or a search warrant.
Consent to search can be revoked when the officer returns the phone.
True or False: An officer’s opinion that criminals often use cell phones to communicate is sufficient for probable cause to search a cell phone.
False.
A mere opinion is not enough to establish probable cause (PC).
When does consent to search a cell phone end
It ends when the officer returns the phone.
This means that any further search requires new consent or a warrant.
Fill in the blank: If there is no information suggesting that the suspect used their phone during the crime, you have _______.
nothing.
This indicates the need for specific evidence to justify a search.
What is the primary purpose of a warrant in a phone search?
To search and seize a phone for evidence related to a crime
A warrant is a legal document that authorizes law enforcement to conduct a search and seizure.
What is one requirement for an affidavit in a warrant application?
Date range you would like to search
The affidavit must specify the time frame relevant to the investigation.
What should be incorporated into a warrant application as a best practice?
Minimization protocol
This protocol limits the inspection of data to only what is necessary for the investigation.
What does a minimization protocol describe?
The manner in which technicians will limit their inspection using ‘search terms’
This helps to ensure that irrelevant or private information is not accessed.
True or False: Only one warrant is needed to search multiple phones.
True
A single warrant can cover the search of multiple devices if justified.
What is a good practice when searching for the correct phone?
Search multiple phones to determine which one is the correct one for the warrant
This helps to ensure that evidence is not overlooked.
Fill in the blank: Officers took three phones from Aaron Hernandez’s residence without attempting to determine which one was the _______.
correct one
This highlights a procedural error in the evidence collection process.
What type of camera was allegedly used in the peeping tom incident?
Shoe lace camera
This type of camera is discreet and often used for covert recording.
What is the time frame for examining electronic evidence?
May be examined beyond the 7 days, within a reasonable period
This indicates that the examination of electronic evidence is not strictly limited to the initial 7-day window.
What must be proven under Article 12 for a court to order access to a phone?
Proof beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant accessed the phone
This standard of proof is crucial for legal proceedings involving electronic evidence.
What should be asked of suspects upon arrest regarding their phones?
Ask suspects if the phone is theirs
This can simplify the process of proving ownership in a Jones Hearing.
What is required if the attorney has possession of the phone?
Get a warrant, not a subpoena
This highlights the legal distinction between a warrant and a subpoena in accessing electronic evidence.
What is needed to seize digital cameras in a murder case?
A WARRANT
Digital cameras can provide probable cause of a domestic relationship.
What type of subpoena is required for phone or computer records?
ADMIN subpoena
Must be done by the Attorney General or District Attorney based on reasonable suspicion.
What is the time frame for the delivery of records after an ADMIN subpoena?
Within 14 days
This is a legal requirement for compliance.
Is a subpoena needed in exigent circumstances?
No
Records can be obtained without a subpoena if there is an exigent circumstance.
What is an example of exigent circumstances regarding phone records?
Detective asked for records due to threats to a family
T-Mobile provided records without a subpoena because they believed it was exigent.
What is required to obtain out-of-state records?
A WARRANT
Must comply within 14 days.
What is the typical procedure for searching a computer associated with an IP address?
You can typically search the computer
A search warrant for an entire apartment may be used, but multiple computers could be involved.
What is required for posts on social media in terms of privacy?
Privacy analysis may be required for posts on social media.
Article 14 discusses the necessity of evaluating privacy for social media posts.
What was the outcome of the case involving undercover Snapchat posts?
No expectation of privacy because the friend request was accepted.
This case involved officers viewing a story of a person with a gun after accepting a Snapchat friend request.
What can Snapchat videos support in legal proceedings?
They can support probable cause for a search warrant of a gun.
This highlights the use of social media evidence in legal contexts.
What is necessary to prove ownership of an electronic account?
A link between the person and the account is necessary.
Establishing this link is crucial for the admissibility of electronic evidence.
What is necessary to prove the link between a person and an account?
Identification of the individual with evidence like name and personal references.
This includes proving identity through items such as password protection and personal references in communications.
What is the expectation of privacy for letters, emails, and texts sent to another person?
There is no expectation of privacy if their phone is being searched.
This means that any communications could be accessed during a search.
True or False: Police do not need a warrant to view something that has already been viewed by a private party.
True.
However, they need a warrant to go deeper than what the private party accessed.
What is an example of third-party evidence related to computer repair?
A computer brought to a shop for repair where the owner discovers illegal content and reports it to police.
This is considered valid evidence if the police act on the report with proper procedures.
Yooooooo from an Instagram account, doesn’t sound like something the suspect would say and he denied it, is this Pc
No
What does BWC stand for in the context of police procedures?
Body Worn Cameras
BWCs are used by police to record interactions and gather evidence.
What is the police protocol regarding BWC footage before writing reports?
Police may routinely activate their BWC and review the footage prior to writing their reports and testifying in court.
This practice helps ensure accuracy in reporting.
True or False: The wiretap statute prohibits police from using body cameras to record a victim’s statement.
False
The wiretap statute does not prohibit this practice.
What is required for police to legally record a victim’s statement with a BWC?
They do not need to inform the victim they are recording.
This can raise ethical concerns regarding consent.
What is non-targeted surveillance?
Surveillance installed by public or private property owners.
It can be used to make decisions based on the recorded footage.
What is a key requirement for using pole cameras in surveillance?
Need a search warrant for a pole camera that closely monitors a dwelling
This ensures that the surveillance respects privacy rights and legal standards.
What was determined about the duration of 13 days on a pole camera
13 days was too long- need SW
Duration of surveillance must be reasonable and justified.
What factors are considered when evaluating search warrants for surveillance?
- Duration
- Continuous or intermittent monitoring
- Monitoring by a live user
- Level of visual detail captured
These factors help assess the legality and necessity of the surveillance.
Using a cell phone to record surveillance footage is considered good if you can _______.
[testify as to why]
Testimony adds credibility and context to the recorded evidence.
What type of video quality can officers testify about?
Video was in thermal and showed a guy in a black sweatshirt that appeared white
This highlights the importance of video quality in evidence presentation.
What is the purpose of targeted surveillance with pole cameras?
- Obtain evidence of a crime
- Aid in the apprehension of a criminal
These objectives emphasize the utility of pole cameras in law enforcement.
Seven months monitoring a pole camera good or SW?
Search warrant
## Footnote
Extended surveillance without justification can raise legal concerns.
True or False: Continuous monitoring is not a factor in evaluating search warrants for surveillance.
False
Continuous monitoring can impact the legal justification for surveillance.