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
Reasonable expectation of privacy
TOC standard
- person owned or had right to possess the place searched
- place searched is person’s home
- person is overnight guest of owner of place searched
Sometimes standing = owner of property seized, only if REP in item or area searched
Things with no REP (third parties)
Things held out to the public:
- sound of your voice
- style of your handwriting
- paint on outside of your car
- account records held by a bank
- location of your car on a public street or driveway
- anything seen across open fields
- anything seen from flying over public airspace
- odors from luggage or car
- garbage set out on curb for collection
Exceptions to third party rule and things out held to public
cell-site location information = search requiring warrant
GPS device = search requiring warrant
sense-enhancing technology not in general use to obtain information inside the home = search requiring warrant
Core requirements for a facially valid search warrant
- probable cause to believe that seizable evidence will be found at time of execution
- describe with particularity the place to be searched and items to be seized
- warrant MUST contain these details (can’t just be in underlying affidavit)
Affidavit based on informant’s tip
TOC test
- credibility and reliability of informant
- basis of knowledge
- can be anonymous
Test for invalidating affidavit:
- false statement was included by affiant
- affiant intentionally or recklessly included the false statement AND
- false statement was material to finding of PC
all three must be present - difficult rare for D to prove
Facially valid warrant not supported by PC
officers’ reasonable reliance on facially valid warrant = evidence can be used even if PC later found to be lacking
Anticipatory warrant
warrant that predicts when illegal items may be in a suspect’s home or office
items don’t need to be on premises at time warrant is ISSUED
Warrant execution
- only police may execute warrant
- no third parties allowed to accompany police unless they are there to ID stolen property
- violation of knock and announce rule ≠ suppression of evidence
- Persons in area can be detained during search of the area, but cannot be searched themselves unless they are NAMED in the warrant or if there is reason to believe they are armed and dangerous - then a Terry pat down for weapons is okay
Search incident to constitutional arrest
- police can search after a valid arrest
- any search incident to an invalid arrest is also invalid - police can make a protective sweep of the area
- to search for hidden weapons or evidence in person’s wingspan or any hidden accomplices - search must be contemporaneous in time and place with the arrest
Search of automobile incident to arrest
Gant rule = Police can search passenger compartment of a car incident to arrest IF at the time of the search:
1) arrestee is unsecured and may gain access to interior of car OR
2) police reasonably believe evidence of arrestable offense may be found in car
Does NOT include trunk of the car for SITA exception!
Technological searches
1) warrantless breath test permitted during DUI arrest but not blood test
2) violation of implied consent law (ie, by driving you consent to a blood test if stopped while drunk) can be punished CIVILLY but not criminally
3) physical attributes of cell phone may be searched but not data
Search incident to incarceration or impoundment
Inventory search during booking = police may search belongings pursuant to department procedure
Inventory search of an impounded car = includes searching vehicle and any containers within
Automobile exception
With PC that a vehicle contains evidence of a crime, police may search the entire vehicle and any container within that may reasonably contain evidence
- includes the trunk (unlike Gant rule)
- car parked on curtilage of a home requires a warrant
- PC that car itself is contraband = may seize from public place without a warrant
- if PC only to search a container (e.g., luggage inside the car), they may only search that container, not the whole car
PC for automobile exception
May arise after the car is stopped BUT BEFORE anything or anyone is searched
Plain view exception
Warrantless seizure allowed when police:
1) are legitimately (constitutionally) on premises
2) discover evidence or contraband
3) see such evidence in plain view
AND
4) have PC to believe the item is evidence or contraband
- must be IMMEDIATELY APPARENT that it is evidence
Consent exception
A warrantless search is valid if police have voluntary consent
Knowledge of right to withhold consent is not required for voluntariness
Scope of search limited by scope of consent
Never proper consent when police say they have a warrant (whether valid or not)!
Authority to consent to a search
- person with apparent equal right to use or occupy property may properly consent
- occupant can’t give valid consent when co-occupant is present and objects
- if objecting co-occupant is removed for unrelated reason, police may act on consent of remaining occupant
- parent with general access to their child’s room can give valid consent to search of the room (even if adult child)
Stop and frisk exception
brief detention for purpose of investigating suspicious conduct
Only requires articulable and reasonable suspicion for the stop
Pat down of outer clothing and body to check for weapons = must be plain feel
Plain feel = “flat hand” pat down
“manipulation” of object ≠ plain feel
Stop and frisk may give rise to PC leading to an arrest –> then SITA applies
Automobile stops
If car is properly stopped for a traffic violation and cop reasonably believes occupants may be armed and dangerous, the cop can:
1) conduct a frisk of suspected person and
2) search the vehicle in limited areas where weapon may be placed
Evanescent evidence exception
“fleeting” evidence that might disappear quickly if time is taken to obtain a warrant
Warrant still needed for a blood test, absent an exigent circumstance
Hot pursuit exception
Police in hot pursuit of a fleeing felon may make a warrantless search and seizure and may purse suspect into a home
- must be a FELON (not misdemeanant)
Hot pursuit = within 15 minutes behind fleeing felon
Emergency aid exception
Police may enter premises without a warrant if there is an emergency that threatens health or safety
Administrative searches and inspections
Inspectors must have warrant for searches of private residences and commercial buildings
Showing of general and neutral enforcement plan justifies issuing a warrant
2 key examples:
1) search of airline passengers before boarding a plane
2) drug tests of public school children involved in EC activities (including a school dance)