CrimP 2 - 4A Arrests Flashcards
FOURTH AMENDMENT—ARRESTS AND OTHER DETENTIONS
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SEIZURE
The Fourth Amendment provides that people should be free from unreasonable searches and seizures.
Any exercise of control by a government agent over a person or thing is a seizure.
Governmental seizures of persons, including arrests, are seizures within the scope of the Fourth Amendment and so must be reasonable.
What constitutes a seizure:
A seizure occurs when, under the totality of circumances, a Reasonable person would not feel free to decline officer’s requests or terminate the encounter.
What constitutes an Arrest:
An arrest occurs when Police take a person into custody against their will for purposes of criminal prosecution or interrogation.
Arrests: Require what?
PC required for arrest?
Any arrest must be based on probable cause.
a. Probable Cause Requirement: An arrest must be based on probable cause—that is, trustworthy facts or knowledge sufficient for a reasonable person to believe that the suspect has committed or is committing a crime for which arrest is authorized by law. Probable cause is based on the totality of the circumstances.
PC for arrest
Trustworthy facts or knowledge sufficient for a reasonable person to believe that the suspect has committed or is committing a crime for which arrest is authorized by law
Arrests:
Are warrants required?
Public arrests
Home arrests
Warrant not required for arrests in public place.
Warrant required for arrests in home.
b. Warrant Generally Not Required Except for Home Arrests
A warrant generally is not required before arresting a person in a public place.
However, police generally must have a warrant to effect a nonemergency arrest of a person in their home.
The officers executing the warrant may enter the suspect’s home only if there is reason to believe the suspect is within it.
Station house detentions
Police must have PC for arrest to bring a suspect to the station for questioning or fingerprinting against the persons will.
Effect of invalid/unlawful arrest
An unlawful arrest, by itself, has No impact on any subsequent criminal prosecution.
Investigatory Detentions - Terry stops ***
The police have the authority to briefly detain a person even if they lack probable cause to arrest.
TERRY STOP: Police can BRIEFLY detain person for investigatory purposes if reasonable suspicion of criminal activity supported by articulable facts (not merely a hunch).
- If the police have a reasonable suspicion of criminal activity or involvement in a completed crime, supported by articulable facts (that is, not merely a hunch), they may detain a person for investigative purposes.
TERY FRISK: If the police have RS that the person is armed and dangerous, they may FRISK them for weapons.
- If the police have reasonable suspicion that the detainee is armed and dangerous, they may frisk the detainee for weapons.
Reasonable Suspicion
More than vague, less than PC. Depends on totality of circumstances.
Reasonable suspicion is more than just vague suspicion but is less than probable cause. Whether the police have reasonable suspicion depends on the totality of the circumstances.
RS based on Informations
When RS is based on informants tip, there must be some indicia of reliability for it to be sufficient.
Does not have to have PREDICTIVE infromation, but helpful.
Terry Stops: Duration and scope
Police must act in diligent and reasonable manner in confirming or dispelling suspicions.
Investigatory stops are not subject to a specific time limit.
The police may ask the detained person to identify themself (that is, state their name) and generally may arrest the detainee for failure to comply with such a request.
The detention will also turn into an arrest if during the detention other probable cause for arrest arises.
Property seizures
Brief property seizures are valid if based on reasonably suspicion.
Automobile stops
Generally police may stop a car if they have reasonable suspicion to believe law was violated.