Criminal Evidence - Part 4 Flashcards
Consensual Encounters
The Supreme Court has said that a “seizure of the person occurs when intentional police conduct would communicate to a reasonable person that he or she is no longer free to stay or go at will.” If none happens, no reasonable suspicious is needed to simply talk to a person.
If police avoid ________ and _______, they can lawfully approach individuals in public and attempt to engage them in consensual conversations and observations.
commands and intimidation
US V Mendenhall
Female carrying heroin was approached by DEA who asked to see her ticket. When they noticed 2 different names, they asked her to accompany them to a nearby office where a consent search led to the discovery of the drugs. Court found she had not been seized since nobody “demanded” her ticket, or did anything to communicate she was officially restrained no seizure occurred.
Examples of circumstances that might indicate a seizure.
threatening presence of several officers
display of a weapon by an officer
some physical touching of the person of the citizen
the use of language or tone of voice indicating that compliance with the request might be compelled
Florida V. Bostick
During a stop-over on a bus deputies approached Bostick and asked to see his ID, and Ticket. They were returned and he then consented to the search of his luggage and cocaine was located. Court held that there was no difference between the incident on a bus, and consensual encounter in an airport.
Florida V. Royer
Police engaged in a unreasonable detention when they did not return Royer’s documents before asking him to accompany them to another location. Officers intending to confine an initial contact to a consensual encounter should not retain the suspect’s ID or other property after a brief consensual inspection.
Police Officers can engage a pedestrian in a consensual encounter on the street as long as there are
no commands, involuntary touching, etc. and if any ID consensually examined is promptly returned so that the person would be able to depart at will.
Parked Vehicles
If the vehicle is parked in a place open to the public such as along the street or in a driveway, carport, or parking lot officers can walk up to the vehicle and attempt a consensual encounter. Officers cannot signal the occupant to roll the window down, or order anyone to get out of the vehicle though these may be requested.
Michigan V. Chestenrut
Police see a male look at them and run. They drive beside the male while he discards items later found to be drugs. The male is stopped. Since police did not engage in actions that would have compelled him to stop, the investigatory pursuit was not a detention. Once he threw down the drugs there was probable cause for his arrest.
California V. Hodari D.
Male began running from police, just before catching the juvenile the officer saw him throw down a crack rock. The Supreme Court reversed, making a distinction between attempted detention where the subject does not submit and accomplished detention. The Court held that the male was not detained until he was physically caught. Reasonable Suspicion is only required before the person submits or is brought under restraint.
Knock and Talk
A consensual encounter can happen in a person’s driveway. Anybody has access to a person’s front door including postal carriers and delivery persons. The resident doesn’t need to answer the door, no do they have to remain at the door.
Temporary Detentions V. Consensual Encounters
If an officer commands a person to stop a detention occurs, if the person is requested to talk to the officer, a consensual encounter occurs. The fact that a particular individual personally believed that they had no option but to comply with a police request is not controlling.
The reasonable person test
presupposes an innocent person.
If a group is spoken to consensually and one is arrested does not mean that everybody in the group has been detained, or that the officer is not free to continual the consensual encounter with the others.
US V. Drayton
If a ______, __________ person would have felt free to disregard the police in spite of guns, badges and uniforms, and despite the detention or arrest of a companion, the exchange between that person and police remains a consensual encounter, requiring no justification.
reasonable, innocent
Simply asking for ID does not amount to a ________. In the course of a consensual encounter, ______ cannot be required but it may be reuqested.
ID
INS V. Delgado
INS would go into garment factories to check on the citizenship status of employees. The Ninth Circuit held the agents at the doors created a detention. The US Supreme Court held that because the workers were free to walk around the factory and no one was prevented from leaving by the agents there was no seizure.
There is no requirement that a person be told during a consensual encounter that he has the right to refuse to consent to the encounter or to furnish ID.
Held in Delgado
US V. Drayton
Held that officers can ask for consent to search during consensual encounters, and they are not required to inform those encountered of their right to refuse to consent to search.
During a consensual encounter, an officer makes take note of a person’s _______ physical attributes. These may along with other information give rise to reasonable suspicion to justify turning the incident into a detention
observable
Benefits of Consensual Encounters
If an investigative stop begins as a consensual encounter, it allows an officer to ask questions, request ID, request consent to search and make observations of the suspect’s appearance and demeanor. This could allow the suspect to be cleared or the justifiable development of reasonable suspicion or PC.
A temporary detention is a Fourth Amendment seizure of the person, requiring ______ _________ _________ that the detainee is involved in criminal activity
objectively reasonable suspicion
US V. Hensley
Male was stopped after being recognized from a wanted flyer, and when stopped police saw a firearm. Court held that reasonable suspicion existed to conduct traffic stop.
Vehicle stops can be made when reasonable suspicion exists that a ________.
misdemeanor, felony, or traffic violation