Criminal Procedure Flashcards
4th: Investigatory Detentions (Terry Stop)
A person is legally detained if a reasonable person would not feel free to leave. Police may detain a person based on reasonable suspicion supported by articulable facts of criminal activity. This is more than a mere hunch but less than probable cause based on the totality of the circumstances. Here,
4th: Terry Stop - Duration and Scope
A detention should last no longer than required to confirm or dispel the reasonable suspicion. If the detention is unreasonably long, or if the person is transported to station, then the detention becomes an arrest requiring probable cause. Here,
4th: Terry Stop - Frisk
After a reasonable detention based on an articulable suspicion the person is armed and dangerous, police may conduct a protective frisk for the limited purpose of discovering weapons. This is limited to a pat down of outer clothing with no manipulation, followed by reaching into pockets if pat down reveals weapons. Here,
4th: Arrest
An arrest is a seizure of the person, and it must be supported by probable cause. Probable cause exists if a reasonable person would believe there is a fair probability the person committed a crime. The charged offense does NOT need to match the probable cause for arrest. An unlawful arrest is not a defense to the charged offense, but incriminating evidence may be excluded. Here,
4th: Arrest - Home Arrest
Generally, no arrest warrant is required to arrest a person outside his home on suspicion of a felony, or if a misdemeanor occurred in the officer’s presence. However, arresting a person in his home requires a warrant unless an exception applies. Officers must knock and announce unless exigency or futile. Arresting a person in the home of a third party requires a search warrant for that home. Here,
4th: Search and Seizure
4th A protects citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures. The 4th A is applicable to the states via the Due Process Clause of the 14th A. A person has standing under the 4A if there is Government conduct and the D had a reasonable expectation of privacy.
4th: Search and Seizure - Governmental Conduct
D must show that the police/government or someone acting at the behest of the government were involved in the search and seizure. Here,
4th: Search and Seizure - Reasonable Expectation of Privacy
D must show he had an ownership or a possessory interest in the place searched or the items seized, i.e. D’s own privacy must be invaded, not the rights of a 3rd party. There is a strong REP in a person’s home, moderate REP as houseguest, and no REP as commercial user or as an auto passenger. However, things held out to the public carry no protections, i.e. voice/handwriting, open fields, airspace, bank records, garbage, odors, and automobiles. Here,
4th: Search and Seizure - REP Electronic Surveillance
Wiretapping or eavesdropping is a “search” under the 4th A and requires a warrant, as is using technology not available to the general public. However, all speakers assume the risk that a person they are speaking with is wired. Here,
4th: Warrant Requirement
Searches require a warrant unless a warrant exception applies. A valid warrant must be 1) issued by neutral and detached magistrate 2) based on probable cause stated with 3) particularity and 4) be properly executed. An invalid warrant may be saved by the Good Faith Exception. Here,
4th: Warrant Requirement - Probable Cause
Probable cause for a warrant exists if a reasonable person would believe there is a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in the area searched. Here,
4th: Warrant Requirement - Probable Cause - Informant Tip
If probable cause is based on an informant tip, the judge must look at the totality of the circumstances, including the credibility and basis of knowledge of the informant. Anonymous tips are insufficient unless supported by indicia of reliability. Here,
4th: Warrant Requirement - Particularity
The warrant must state the area to be searched and the items to be seized. Here,
4th: Warrant Requirement - Execution
Execution of the warrant must comply with the warrant particularities, avoid undue delay, and comply with knock and announce. A search warrant carries an implied authority to detain people in immediate vicinity of the search, but these people cannot be searched unless incident to lawful arrest. Here,
4th: Warrant Requirement - Good Faith Exception
Evidence obtained with a defective warrant will NOT be excluded if the police demonstrate good faith reliance. If warrant is egregiously lacking probable cause, particularity, or shows clear bias then the good faith burden will not be met. Here,
4th: Warrant Exception - ESCAPIST
If the G does not have a warrant then all evidence will be deemed inadmissible unless an exception to the warrant applies and G can show probable cause. Here, the G did NOT use a warrant when they…
4th: Warrant Exception - Exigent Circumstances
An exception to the warrant requirement applies when police are acting in an emergency, in hot pursuit, or if evidence is evanescent (fleeting) in nature. Here,
4th: Warrant Exception - Exigent - Emergency
Police may enter premises or seize evidence without a warrant to address emergencies that could affect health and safety. Here,
4th: Warrant Exception - Exigent - Hot Pursuit
Police in hot pursuit of a fleeing felon may make a warrantless search and seizure and may even pursue the subject into a private dwelling. Must be within a reasonable time frame, i.e. 15 minutes after felon entered house? Here,
4th: Warrant Exception - Exigent - Evanescent Evidence
Police may seize without a warrant evidence likely to disappear before a warrant can be obtained. Here,
4th: Warrant Exception - Search Incident to a Lawful Arreset
Upon a lawful arrest based on probable cause, the police may contemporaneously search a person (protective sweep) and the area in his immediate control (wingspan). This is allowed for officer safety and for the need to preserve evidence. Phones/computers are generally protected from searches without a warrant. Here,
4th: Warrant Exception - Automobile Arrest Search
If an arrestee is 1) unsecured, OR 2) police reasonably believe that evidence of the offense for which the person was arrested may be found in the vehicle, then police may search only the interior of the car. Here,
Watch for handcuffed in back of squad car trap. Can’t search vehicle.
4th: Warrant Exception - Consent
A warrantless search is valid if the police have voluntary and intelligent consent. Police are not required to inform people of their right to deny consent. A person with apparent authority to grant consent (e.g. roommate) may consent and evidence may be used against others. The person granting consent has the right to define the scope of the consent. Here,
4th: Warrant Exception - Automobile Exception
Due to mobility, autos have a reduced expectation of privacy and police can search the entire vehicle, without a warrant, if police have probable cause to believe the vehicle contains evidence of a crime. The search must be limited to the extent of the PC basis, e.g. can’t search glove box looking for rifle. Here,