Criminal Procedure: Search + Seizure Flashcards
When is search or seizure governed by 4th Amend.?
If executed by government official and there was a reasonable expectation of privacy in area searched or item seized
Who are government actors for 4th Amend. purposes?
- Public police
- Private citizens acting per police
- Private police if deputized to arrest
What are 4th Amendment protected areas?
- Persons
- Houses (and curtilage)
- Papers
- Effects (bags)
What are 4th Amendment unprotected areas?
Anything knowingly exposed to third parties
When 4th Amend. standing?
- Own, reside, overnight guest in premises
- Own property seized if reasonable expectation privacy in AREA from which seized
NOT in residence used solely for business
When does search warrant comply with 4th Amend.?
- Warrant supported by probable cause and particularity
- If not, officers relied on defective warrant in good faith (not in NY)
- Warrant properly executed by police
What is enough for probable cause for warrant?
Requires proof of “fair probability” that contraband or evidence of crime will be found in area searched
Hearsay admissible
Is anonymous informant information for warrant good enough to get warrant?
MBE: enough corroboration for magistrate to make common sense determination probable cause exists
NY: must establish informant’s basis of knowledge AND veracity or reliability
How particular does the warrant have to be?
Must specify place to be searched AND items to be seized
When does officer’s good faith save defective search warrant?
NY: Never
Generally overcomes, EXCEPT:
- Affidavit supporting warrant so egregiously lacking probable cause no reasonable officer would have relied
- Affidavit supporting warrant so egregiously lacking particularity no reasonable officer would have relied
- Affidavit relied upon by magistrate contained knowing or reckless falsehoods
- Magistrate biased in favor of prosecution
When is search warrant properly executed by police?
- Officers comply with terms/limitations of search warrant
2. Officers comply with “knock and announce” rule
What is the knock and announce rule?
Police must knock and announce their presence AND their purpose before forcibly entering place to be searched
UNLESS officer reasonably believes that doing so would be futile, dangerous, or inhibit the investigation
What is the acronym for exceptions to warrant requirement?
ESCAPIST
- Exigent circumstances
- Search incident to arrest
- Consent
- Automobile
- Plain view
- Inventory
- Special needs
- “Terry” stop and frisk
Describe what the exigent circumstances are that mean an officer can search without a warrant.
Evidence that would dissipate or disappear in time it would take to get a warrant
Hot pursuit allows police to enter suspect’s or third party’s house into which he fled; during that time, any evidence of a crime in plain view while searching for suspect admissible
What are the rules when I want to perform a search incident to arrest?
Arrest must be lawful
Search must be contemporaneous
Can search wingspan, which includes body, clothing, and containers within arrestee’s immediate control
NY: to search containers police must suspect he is armed