Criminal Procedure Flashcards
Rights binding on the states
4th Am - searches and seizures and exclusionary rule
5th Am - self-incrimination and double jeopardy
6th Am - speedy trial, public trial, trial by jury, confront witnesses, compulsory process for confronting witnesses, effective assistance of counsel
8th Am - cruel and unusual punishment and excessive fines
Rights not binding on the states
Right to indictment by grand jury for capital and infamous crimes
Right to bail
4th Am Seizure
exercise of control by a government agent over the person or thing
When a seizure occurs and applicable test
Reasonable person would not feel free to terminate the encounter with police (“tough cookie”)
totality of the circumstances test
Arrest
Occurs when police take a person into custody against their will for criminal prosecution or interrogation
Probable Cause
trustworthy facts or knowledge sufficient for reasonable person to believe that crime has occurred
Requirements for arrest
in public, probable cause based on TOC
nonemergency arrest in a person’s home, warrant required
station house detentions, full PC for arrest
Effect of invalid arrest
arrest with no PC (unlawful arrest) has no impact on prosecution on it’s own
- later PC evidence = no problems
Terry stops
investigatory detentions or stop and frisks
police can briefly detain a person or property if there is reasonable suspicion of criminal activity supported by articulable facts (not just a hunch)
may conduct a pat-down (frisk) for weapons if there is RS that the detainee is armed and dangerous
Reasonable suspicion
more than vague suspicion but less than probable cause
TOC test
Reasonable suspicion based on informant’s tip
Must be an indicia of reliability, including predictive information, to be sufficient for RS
Duration and scope of Terry stops
not subject to specific time limit
police have enough time to diligently and reasonably confirm or dispel their suspicions
can ask for identification and arrest for failure to comply
may turn into an arrest if PC arises during stop
Automobile stops
police may stop a car if there is RS that a traffic law has been violated
Drug dog sniffs
Not a search during a traffic stop, as long as the police do not extend the stop beyond the time needed for the purpose of the stop
An alert from the dog during the traffic stop can give rise to PC for a search of the car
NO sniffs outside of the home of a suspected drug dealer without PC
Officer’s mistake of law
does not invalidate a search as long as the mistake was reasonable
E.g., believing that a vehicle must have two working brake lights when that is not the law
Seizure during an automobile stop and standing to challenge
Cops may order passengers out of the car during a stop
If cops reasonably believe there are weapons, they may frisk occupants and search passenger compartment for weapons
all passengers are considered seized during a car stop
all passengers have standing to raise a wrongful stop as a reason to exclude evidence found during the stop
Informational checkpoints and roadblocks
stopping cars without individualized suspicion
purposes other than seeking incriminating information about drivers stopped = constitutional
for law enforcement purposes = constitutional, as long as
1) cars are stopped based on a neutral, articulable standard (e.g., every other car) AND
2) purpose is closely related to problem pertaining to cars and their mobility (e.g., DUI checkpoint on NYE)
Pretextual stops
If there is PC that a driver violated a traffic law, police can stop the car, even if the ulterior motive is to investigate a crime for which they lack sufficient cause to make a stop
“hidden agenda” allowed if car stop was lawful
Other detentions
Preventing destruction of evidence inside the home until a warrant is obtained = must have PC
Search of the premises pursuant to a valid warrant
Seizure of a person by subpoena for a grand jury appearance = not protected by 4th Am
Deadly force to apprehend a suspect = 4th Am seizure
- no deadly force unless reasonable to do so under circumstances
Framework for analyzing search and seizure
- Is there governmental conduct? (Does the 4th Am right apply?)
- Is there standing?
(Does the person have a REP or was there physical intrusion into constitutionally protected area?) - Is there a valid warrant?
(Neutral magistrate, PC and reasonably precise?) - If no valid warrant, does one of the six exceptions apply?
Six exceptions to warrant requirement
- Search incident to arrest
- Automobile search
- Plain view
- Consent
- Stop and frisk
- Hot pursuit and exigent circumstances
Governmental conduct
police officers, government agents, private individuals acting at the direction of police
privately paid police ≠ government
4th Am protection against unreasonable search and seizure implicated when:
- there was a REP
- physical intrusion into constitutionally protected area
Standing to challenge a search
must have REP in object seized or place searched