Introduction to Law Flashcards
1. Describe the foundation of law as developed in U.S. legal system. 2. Define consitutional law as it applies to the structure & limitations of US govt. 3. Explain the concepts of statutory & criminal law in US legal system. 4. Explain how the application of civil law provisions impacts a law enforcement officer's action. 5. Explain the role of administrative law for U.S. govt agencies. 6. Explain how the application of case law impacts the interpretation of statutes & rules in the federa
Constitutional Law
Defines form of govt American’s have established. Identifies the powers and limitations of each branch.
3 Branches
Executive, legislative, & judicial.
Statutory Law
Written &; enacted by congress, state legislature, local governing authorities in response to perceived need.
Includes 1: criminal, 2: civil, 3: administrative, & 4: regulatory laws.
Criminal Law
Aspect of statutory law, identifies unacceptable behaviors & allows govt prosecution of those who commit them. Also sets punishments for unacceptable behavior.
Ordinance
enacted by municipal or county govt. “curfews for minor, parking regulation.” APPLY ONLY WITHIN JURISDICTION. Cannot conflict w/ state or federal law.
Civil Law
legal action that a person takes to resolve private dispute with another person. Must have recognized a cause of action.
Cause of action
Is to civil case what a criminal statute is to criminal case.
Administrative Law
body of law that allows for creation of public regulatory agencies. Contains ALL statutes, judicial decisions, & regulations that govern. Ex: FAC; governs training & certs for leo’s.
Precedent
sets example for what the courts are to follow unless a higher court changes the rule.
Bill of rights
First 10 amendments.
1st Amendment
Protects freedom of speech, press, peaceful assembly, & religion.
2nd Amendment
Guarantees right to bear arms. Chapter 790 FL Statuate
4th Amendment
Prohibits unreasonable search & seizure.
Home’s, vehicle’s, luggage, purses or other places where a reasonable expectation of privacy.
5th Amendment
- Prohibits compelled self incrimination.
- Requires grand jury for capital crimes, prohibits double jeopardy &deprivation of life w/o due process.
Affected LEO: interviewing & arresting suspects &taking action that violates due process.
6th Amendment
Informed of nature of charges, receive counsel, undergo speedy trial, confront witnesses, face impartial jury.
Affected LEO: making contact while suspect has counsel.
8th Amendment
Prohibits excessive bail, fines, & cruel/unusual punishment.
14th Amendment
Due process clause “no deprivation of life, liberty, or property w/o due process of law. Be fair and consistent with enforcement of law.”
Substantive
Due process is fair & consistent enforcement of laws.
Procedural
Steps that must be followed to protect individual rights.
Offense
Criminal/noncriminal acts that are punishable under Florida law.
Criminal Offense
Punishable by incarceration & classified as either Felony or Misdemeanor.
Noncriminal Offense
“Civil Infractions” punishable by monetary fines or something other than incarceration. Ex: Traffic offense
Felony
Any crime committed where the maximum penalty is death or incarceration in state correctional facility for more than 1 year.
Capital Felony
Highest class of felony; penalty is death or life w/o parole. Example: 1st degree murder, only penalty in which Florida may impose death penalty.
All other capital felonies require state to impose life w/o parole.
Example: Sexual battery w/ child under 12 by 18+ yr old.
Life Felony
Life imprisonment; $15,000 fine or both.
Example: sexual battery w/ weapon. (originally 1st degree)
1st Degree Felony
30 yrs; $10,000 fine or both.
2nd Degree Felony
15 years imprisonment; $10,000 fine or both.
Example: Aggravated battery
3rd Degree Felony
5 years imprisonment; $5,000 fine or both.
Example: Aggravated assault.
Crime Enhance Factors
- Violent offense against LEO, Judge, CO’s, State Attorney’s
- Wearing mask, hood, to conceal identity while committing felony.
- Hate crime
- Possessing weapon in commission of crime.
- Taking, using, possession of LEO firearm.
- Misdemeanor/felony that facilitated terrorism.
Attempt Factor
An attempt is always a lesser charge than completion.
Misdemeanor
Criminal offense punishable by up to 1 yr in jail.
1st Degree Misdemeanor
Punishable by up to 1 yr in jail; $1,000 fine or both.
Example: Battery
2nd Degree Misdemeanor
Punishable by up to 60 days in jail; $500 fine or both.
Example: Criminal mischief w/ property damage under $200.
Noncriminal Offense
fine, forfeiture, or other civil penalty. “civil infraction”; doesn’t constitute a crime.
Ordinance
Only applies to jurisdiction in which enacted it. Punishable by up to 60 days in jail or $500 fine.
Consensual Encounter
Officer comes into voluntary contact w/person. Reasonable person would feel free to disregard and go about his/her business.
*Florida vs. Royer: whether encounter was consensual & circumstances surrounding encounter.
Violations/Considered a stop if following occurs: block movement, doing more than asking questions, physically stopped/restrained.
Mere suspicion
Hunch or gut feeling. Detaining a person requires more than mere suspicion.
Example: person wearing hoodie on a hot summer day.
Reasonable Suspicion
Standard needed to justify a legal “Terry Stop”
Information from fellow officers, “BOLO”
Also called articulable suspicion/founded suspicion.
*Illinois vs. Wardlow: Officers are not required to ignore relevant characteristics of a location in determining whether circumstances are sufficient to warrant further investigation.
Terry vs. Ohio
LEO may frisk exterior clothing if officer has reasonable suspicion to believe suspect is armed. Scope of frisk is limited solely to pat down of clothing, containers & property being carried by person.
Stop & Frisk Guideline
Requires probable cause before weapons pat down is permitted.
Stop & Frisk Guideline
Requires probable cause before weapons pat down is permitted.
2 Elements: person is lawfully detained; has reasonable suspicion to believe that person possesses dangerous weapon.
Plain Touch/feel doctrine
Allows officer to seize contraband even if it doesn’t feel like a weapon.
Contraband
Anything illegal to possess, produce, or transport.
- Minnesota vs. Dickerson- Officer must articulate through his/her training immediately recognized item as contraband.
- Cannot manipulate or grope to obtain.
Terry Stop Duration
Limited to reasonable time limit needed to conduct stop.
Stalling/further questioning in 4th amendment violation.
Pretext Stops
Officer suspects further criminal activity but to initiate stop needs to have a vehicle infraction in purpose to make contact. “taillight out, no turn signal.”
*Whren vs. US- courts not required to consider officer’s motive for stopping vehicle as long as officer had objective basis.
Probable Cause
Fair probability or reasonable grounds to believe that somebody committed crime.
Fluid: based on assessment of probabilities in particular factual context; (Reduced to neat set of legal rules) *Illinois vs. Gates
Draper vs. US- factual & practical considerations of everyday life on which resonable & prudent men, not legal technicians, act.
Reasonable Suspicion vs. Probable Cause
Amount & quality of information officer has at a certain time concerning a particular suspect or that evidence of a crime is present in place to be searched.
Totality of circumstances
All factors known to officer at the time of incident.
Sources of info for LEO’S.
Fellow officer, citizen informant, verified anonymous tips, credible confidential informant, line ups, show ups.
Fellow Officer Rule
Relying on collective knowledge of other officers when taking law enforcement action.
Example: making investigative stop on BOLO.
US. vs Meade- knowledge of facts when forming conclusion that suspect has committed or committing a crime.
Proof beyond reasonable doubt
Standard used to determine if criminal defendant is guilty.
PC may support a person’s commission of crime but w/o further evidence the state won’t prosecute.
Standards in Civil & Admin Cases
“Burden of proof; The greater weight”- Civil
Admin- “burden of proof is clear and convincing evidence.”
Each of these is lesser standard than proof beyond reasonable doubt.
Totality of circumstances
All factors known to officer at the time of incident.
Sources of info for LEO’S.
Fellow officer, citizen informant, verified anonymous tips, credible confidential informant, line ups, show ups.
Fellow Officer Rule
Relying on collective knowledge of other officers when taking law enforcement action.
Example: making investigative stop on BOLO.
Proof beyond reasonable doubt
Standard used to determine if criminal defendant is guilty.
PC may support a person’s commission of crime but w/o further evidence the state won’t prosecute.
Standards in Civil & Admin Cases
“Burden of proof; The greater weight”- Civil
Admin- “burden of proof is clear and convincing evidence.”
Each of these is lesser standard than proof beyond reasonable doubt.
Protection w/ 4th Amendment
Protects from search &seizure unless they’re conducted with probable cause & under reasonable circumstances.
Search
When govt intrudes into a place where a person has reasonable expectation of privacy.
Seizure
When govt affect’s person’s rights to have control of his/her property, usually by physically taking it.
Search Warrant
Court order that authorizes law enforcement to conduct a search & seizure.
Search Warrant Validity
- Authorized and signed by neutral magistrate/judge.
- Based on affidavit that states sufficient facts to establish that evidence of crime will be found in searchable place.
- Person serving warrant must be within their jurisdiction.
- Confidential informant must have provided reliable/credible information in the past.
Search Warrant Validity
- Authorized and signed by neutral magistrate/judge.
- Based on affidavit that states sufficient facts to establish that evidence of crime will be found in searchable place.
- Person serving warrant must be within their jurisdiction.
- Confidential informant must have provided reliable/credible information in the past.
- Detailed description is a crucial element; designed to prevent searching unauthorized areas.
- Directions to place w/ known landmark; “intersection.”
- Specific in detail of items to be possible “seized.”
Exclusionary Rule
Illegally obtained evidence cannot be used.
Davis vs. US- discourages officers from violating citizens’ rights during criminal investigations.
Davis vs. US
“When police conduct a search in a objectively reasonable reliance on binding appellate precedent, exclusionary rule does not apply.”
Officers not required to anticipate what Supreme Court may do, only based on what the Supreme Court has done.
Fruit of Poisonous Tree Doctorine
Evidence gathered illegally must be excluded from trial.
*If illegal interrogation generates murder weapon, both results of interview & weapon may be excluded.
Good Faith Doctrine
If officer executes a search warrant they believe to be valid & a court later determines the warrant has a legal error, any seizure evidence may be admitted.
Plain View
Any contraband an officer can see can be seized w/o warrant as long as 3 conditions are met.
- Officer lawfully present in place where he/she sees item. *Cannot creep up to house & look through window.
- The item is in plain sight.
* Cannot move blanket etc. - Officer has probable cause to believe item is contraband or crime evidence.
* Criminal nature of item immediately apparent.
Sawyer vs. State
Police officer saw a white pill thinking it was ecstasy, seized it. However court said pill’s nature as illegal drug not immediately apparent.
Carroll Doctrine
Carroll vs. US: scope of search under Carroll doctrine extends to the entire vehicle and to all containers where evidence could reasonably be found.
US. vs. Ross
If PC justifies the search was lawful, it justifies the search of contents that may conceal object of search.
*Canine’s positive alert on exterior provided PC justifying complete search of vehicle’s interior & all containers.
K9 Detection Court Judgements
Not a search to have K-9 detect odors. Length of stop cannot be extended to have arrival of K9 & sniff complete.
Exigent Cricumstances
Certain emergencies such as evidence destruction, emergency scene, fresh pursuit that justify warrantless entry.
Destruction of Evidence
If officer has PC that contraband/evidence will be destroyed, the officer does not need warrant before seizure of evidence occurs.
Hornblower vs. State
Officer cannot create exigent circumstance.
*Waiting outside on porch of known drug dealer’s house & hearing toilet flush after knocking on door & saying POLICE.”
Fresh Pursuit
Allows officer to enter residence while chasing a suspect.
- Probably will commit serious crime.
- Immediate or continuous pursuit
- PC that suspect is in the premise being entered w/o warrant.
* Any contraband/evidence in plain view can be used in court.
Emergency Scene
Officers may make a warrantless entry in order to ensure their own safety or that of the public. Must have an objectively reasonable basis to believe somebody is in danger.
Seibert vs. State
Officers were justified in entering house because they had objective reason to believe subject was going to commit suicide. Once within the house, discovered murder victim while securing subject to prevent his suicide.
Crime Scene Search
AKA “protective sweep” make sure no more victims & that the assailant is gone, to search crime scene any further would require warrant or valid exception.
Probable Cause Not Required
- Consent
- Inventory
- Administrative searches
- Incident to arrest.
Consent Given Search
Doesn’t require PC, reasonable suspicion, or even mere suspicion.
- If consent is known & voluntary & person giving consent has the authority to do so, then search is valid and any evidence found can be used in court.
- Reasonable person would feel he/she could refuse request for search.
Implies Consent to Search
Airline passengers, attending sporting event, search before entering courthouse etc.
3rd Party Consent
Search may be valid if 3rd party has mutual access to area being searched.
*Roommate in different room cannot give consent to search other roommate’s room.
Juvenile Consent Search
Consent of parent will generally overrule objection from child.
Child may provide consent to parent’s house if parent is not home to grant or deny consent.
Inventory
Not designed to search for evidence, but to protect arrested person & to protect officer of theft acquisitions. Can only be completed if the vehicle is impounded, must occur at same time as impoundment.
- Vehicle may be parked, locked, & left at scene of arrest if it can be done safely.
- Vehicle may be turned over to friend/family if available.
- Vehicle may be impounded.
Impound
Placing vehicle/personal property in custody of police or the court.
Administrative Searches
Schools, govt officers, certain licensed businesses, parole/probation.
*Desk, lockers, & vehicles.
Incident to Arrest
Once lawfully arrested & taken into custody he/she may be searched w/o warrant. “Admission to Jail”
- Supreme Court rationals:*
1. Need to disarm suspect in order to take into custody.
2. Need to preserve evidence for later use at trial.
*Must be custodial arrest; not for traffic citation or NTA.
Chimel vs. California
Scope of search incident to arrest is arrestee’s person & areas “within immediate control of arrestee” at time of arrest.
Thornton vs. US
Search incident to arrest may include vehicle in which arrested person was a passenger just before the arrest.
New York vs. Belton
Scope of vehicle search incident to arrest includes entire passenger compartment & all containers located therin, locked/unlocked.
*Trunk not considered passenger compartment, but the rear area of van/SUV is included in the search area.
Arizona vs. Gant
Further refined scope of search incident to arrest. Officers may only search passenger compartment when arrestee is unsecured and passenger compartment is within reaching distance.
Scope of Search
Limited to items being searched; once item is found the search is to end immediately unless PC for other specific items.
Forfeiture
Civil proceeding in which the law enforcement transfers ownership from defendant to govt. Govt then may sell property at auction, LEO purposes or give to public/nonprofit organization.
- Must have PC to seize property because it’s a “deprivation of property” 4th Amendment issue.
- Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act
Baker Act Weapon Authorization
Involuntary exam under Baker Act to seize & hold any firearms/ammo the person possesses if a danger to self or others & has made credible threat of violence.
16 Lawful Firearms Possession
- Members of Military when training for mobilization.
- Armed forces when on duty or preparing for duty.
- Carrying out emergecy mgmt duties under CH 252.
- LEO’s while carrying out offical duties.
- Officers of state authorized to carry concealed weapon.
- Guard/Common Carriers while carrying out duty. *Brinks
- Organized clubs; trap shooters, gun collectors, exhibits.
- Person engaged in hunting/fishing or returning from.
- Any person in business of repair or dealing firearms.
- Person firing weapons for testing/target practice.
- Person firing weapon in safe/secure indoor range.
- Person traveling by private conveyance w/weapon properly secured. *Not in manual possession.
- Carrying pistol in secure wrapper, “after purchase.”
- Person possessing arms at home/business.
- Investigator employed by public defenders, while carrying out duty.
- Investigators employe by capital collateral regional counsel, while carrying out official duties.
Can’t Carry Firearm where?
Police station, courthouse, detention facility, courtroom, polling place, meeting of governing body, school/college, career center, bar, airport.
Readily Accessible for Immediate Use
Carried on person or within close proximity & in such a manner that it can be retrieved & used as easily & quickly as if carried on the person.
Securely Encased
In glove compartment, snapped in holster, in a gun case, closed box or container. *May/may not be locked.
CWFL requirement
- Not required to tell LEO they have license or weapon.
2. Must carry license w/valid ID if in possession of weapon upon demand of LEO.
FCIC
Gives access to verify license of CWFL.
Reciprocity
Allows officers to recognize other state’s CWFL as long as state in question accepts Florida’s.
Arrest
Depriving a person of his/her liberty & legal authority.
Types of Arrest
- Arrest w/ warrant.
2. Arrest w.o warrant.
Steagold vs. US
Authorizes LEO officers to enter the residence of a wanted person in order to make an arrest.
Probable Arrest w/o Warrant Circumstances
- Committed felony/misdemeanor in presence of LEO.
- Committed felony outside of LEO presence, has PC to believe that person committed it.
- Warrant for arrest held by another LEO/agency.
- No arrest for misdemeanor not in presence, unless carrying firearm in violation of injunction, battery, retail theft, traffic offense related to crash (DUI), unlicensed carrying of concealed weapon, disorderly conduct, theft from dining establishment, trespass on school grounds, possession of canabis <20 grams, stalking, transit fare evasion, criminal mischief, certain property trespass, domestic violence act, violation of protection injunction, sexual cyberharassment.
Probable Cause Choice for LEO
- Terminate encounter
- Issue NTA
- Physically take suspect into custody.
Notice to Appear
Written order that may be issued by LEO in lieu of physical arrest requiring person accused to appear in court at a specific date & time.
Can’t Be Issued NTA
- Fails to identify him/herself.
- Refused to sign NTA.
- Unreasonable risk of injury to others.
- No ties w/jurisdiction. (Out of State violation)
- Accused may be wanted in any jurisdiction.
- Previously failed to appear at NTA, violated pretrial release.
Probable Cause Affidavit
AKA arrest affidavit, is a sworn, written statement by a LEO establishing facts/circumstances to justify an arrest.
*Used by judge to justify if sufficient PC to detain individual.
Fresh Pursuit
Legal doctrine that permits LEO to make an arrest of fleeing suspect crossing jurisdictional lines.
Requirements:
- Must have occurred within pursuing officer’s jurisdictional boundaries.
- Pursuit must be continuous.
- Commission of offense & pursuit within related time.
- Must take suspect before a trial judge in jurisdiction where arrest occurred,
Graham vs. Connor
U.S. Supreme Court held that all LEO use of force cases are to be judged by objective reasonableness (4th amendment)
1. Reasonable officer would use same force under same circumstances without benefit of hindsight.
Objective Reasonable Test
Not precise or clear rule; requires careful review of facts & circumstances of each case. severity, threat to LEO, whether person was actively resisting or attempting to flee.
- Was action reasonable & necessary?
- Was amount of force reasonable & necessary?
3 Conditions for Deadly Force w/ Fleeing Felon:
- When deadly force is necessary to prevent suspect from escaping after a warning has been given.
- When officer reasonably believes fleeing felon poses threat of death/physical harm to LEO or others.
- When fleeing felon has committed a crime involving infliction or threatened infliction of serious harm to another person.
Tennessee vs. Garner
U.S. Supreme Court struck down state law that allowed LEO’s to use whatever force necessary to stop fleeing felon.
- Used objective reasonableness, court found statute unconstitutional & set forth new guidelines deadly force.
- LEO now required to use less than deadly force to resolve deadly force situation.
Deadly Force
Any force likely to cause death or great bodily harm.
*Shooting at a fleeing motorist constitutes deadly force.
Terry Stop
LEO’s authorized to use reasonable & necessary force to affect an investigative detention.
Miranda vs. Arizona
Whenever LEO questions suspect in custody, officer must advise the person of constitutional rights.
- Include right to remain silent, right to have attorney present during questioning.
- If not Mirandized, any statement/admission is inadmissible.
Miranda Elements
- Custody
- Interrogation
- Understanding
- Voluntary Waiving
Custody
Person is deprived of freedom to leave.
*Terry Stops & Field sobriety not considered custody.
- What were facts/circumstances surrounding interrogation?
- Would reasonable person feel like they couldn’t terminate interrogation & leave. *Thomas vs. Keohane
Stansbury vs. California
Reasonable person would not feel as if they were free to leave. Then person is in custody and must have Miranda Warnings read.
Ramirez vs. State
Determination of whether a reasonable person in suspect’s position would consider himself in custody for purposes of Miranda requires consideration of the manner in which the police summoned the suspect for questioning; purpose, place, manner of custodial interrogation, extent to which suspect is confronted w/ evidence of guilt; whether suspect is informed that he is free to leave place of questioning.
Interrogation Elements
- Direct- “did you shoot the victim?”
- Indirect- officer making comments that could elicit incriminating statement *Rhode Island vs. Innis & Brewer vs. Williams.
Spontaneous Statement
Admissible even if officer does not advise suspect of Miranda Rights. May allow suspect to continue talking but may not ask any questions w/o giving Miranda warnings.
Understanding
Must ensure that the defendant understands his/her rights, taking into account once identified concerns relating to age, origin, education, circumstance of advising of rights, mental/physical disability, whether defendant is under influence of intoxicating substance.
Waiver of Rights
Waiver ensures that the suspect understands his/her rights & will speak with the officer. Written waiver is preferred but a waiver can be verbally given.
*May not coerce or make promises to obtain confession.
Invocation of Rights
If suspect makes a clear request to invoke any of his/her rights under Miranda, all questions must cease immediately.
*If requesting attorney, no further questioning is allowed.
Maryland vs. Shatzer
*May reinitiate contact after 14 day break in police custody; must Mirandize again.
Corpus Delicti
Body of the offense.
*Officer must determine whether elements of a criminal act are present & have probable cause to believe that the person to be charged committed the crime.
Criminal Offense
Requires person to take some physical action or act toward committing the act or omission did so knowingly or intentionally.
- Mere thoughts don’t constitute criminal liability.
- Person may commit criminal act by failing to act, by omission. *LEO ignoring assault.