Remake of Search & Seizure by James Seifert

Warrant exception 1

jseifert11 — 2025-03-03 15:17:23 UTC

^{When the police}^arrest^{the person. The police must have a warrant or a reasonable suspicion that the person has committed a crime. They can search the person and the area within his immediate control as part of a lawful arrest.}

Warrant exception 2

jseifert11 — 2025-03-03 15:17:23 UTC

^{When the person}^{voluntarily agrees}^{to the search. The person must voluntarily grant permission for the search – it’s not consent if the person is forced or coerced to agree.}

Warrant exception 3

jseifert11 — 2025-03-03 15:17:23 UTC

^{When the police have probable cause to believe that a}^vehicle^{contains contraband. Police can search vehicles without warrants because the vehicle and the evidence might get away while police are waiting for the warrant. They must have probable cause to stop and search the vehicle, though.}

Warrant exception 4

jseifert11 — 2025-03-03 15:17:23 UTC

^{When the police officer reasonably thinks a person is}^{behaving suspiciously}^{and is likely to be armed. The officer may stop that person and frisk for weapons to protect officer safety. This is called a}^Terry^{stop and it is based on the famous Supreme Court case of}^Terry^v.^Ohio^.

Warrant exception 5

jseifert11 — 2025-03-03 15:17:23 UTC

^{When an object connected with a crime is in}^{plain view}^{and can be seen from a place where the officer is allowed to be. For example, if an officer stops a car for a traffic violation and sees a gun lying on the seat next to the driver, the officer may seize it.}

Warrant exception 6

jseifert11 — 2025-03-03 15:17:23 UTC

^{When the police encounter certain}^{emergency situations}^{where people are in danger and the police do not have time to get a warrant, they may enter and/or search the building to protect people’s safety. Examples include searching a building after a telephoned bomb threat, or entering a house that appears to be on fire.}

Warrant exception 7

jseifert11 — 2025-03-03 15:17:23 UTC

^{Government officials may search people and their belongings at}^{borders and airports.}^{In light of the danger posed, the government has placed restrictions on air travel and entering the country. By entering the secure area at an airport or a border checkpoint, people have agreed to accept a certain amount of government intrusion into their privacy.}

Scenario 1

jseifert11 — 2025-03-03 15:17:23 UTC

At the local shopping mall, an undercover detective notices a group of teenagers walking slowly and wearing backpacks. Following them, he observes them talking on their cellphones and laughing loudly. Once the teenagers exit the mall he stops them and orders them to turn over their bags where he finds several THC vape cartridges.

Scenario 2

jseifert11 — 2025-03-03 15:17:23 UTC

A police officer driving behind Tom sees the car swerve significantly and cross the center line several times. The officer pulls the car over, asks Tom to step out and searches the area around the driver’s seat. The officer finds an opened liquor bottle and a small amount of marijuana under the seat.

Scenario 3

jseifert11 — 2025-03-03 15:17:23 UTC

Officer Jones is trying to find a convict who escaped from a nearby jail. Going door-to-door in the neighborhood surrounding the jail, he asks permission to enter each house and search it. The Nguyens deny him permission but he enters their house anyway. Once in the house, the officer sees and seizes an unregistered firearm that is on a bookshelf.

Scenario 4

jseifert11 — 2025-03-03 15:17:23 UTC

Sylvia is at the airport, in a hurry to catch her flight. After checking her luggage, she goes to the security checkpoint, puts her bag through the machine and walks through the metal detector. At the gate, when she goes to board the plane, the TSA officials pull her aside and say that they are randomly screening people and want to check her bag.

Scenario 5

jseifert11 — 2025-03-03 15:17:23 UTC

While chaperoning a high-school football game, police in Mississippi see a gun on the front seat of a parked car. Opening the car door, they discover not only the gun but also bullets and a knife.

Scenario 6

jseifert11 — 2025-03-03 15:17:23 UTC

Jody and Chandra attend a college party where all of those drinking are of legal age. The police break up the party after several noise complaints without arresting anyone. They seize Jody's purse. Inside, they find marijuana and arrest Jody for possession.

Scenario 7

jseifert11 — 2025-03-03 15:17:23 UTC

A college dorm building catches fire and emergency personnel respond including police and fire departments. Inside one of the dorm rooms near the source of the fire a police officer finds a large quantity of cocaine.