CRIM Flashcards
(92 cards)
4th Amendment
The 4A protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. It is incorporated to the states through the 14th. To be valid, there must be a valid warrant or the circumstances meets one of the exceptions
REASONABLE EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY
4A requires officers to produce a warrant
4A Search: Exclusionary Rule and FOTPT
The exclusionary rule is a judge-made doctrine that excludes evidence obtained in violation of the 4th/5th/6th Amendments.
Exceptions:
Inevitable discovery through lawful means: If the evidence would have been discovered through a legal means, despite the illegal action, the evidence will be admissible.
An independent source unrelated to the taint: The evidence was discovered by an independent source.
The passage of time: Sufficient time has passed between the illegal action and the discovery of the evidence.
Good faith reliance: The police execute a warrant believing it is valid in good faith and find evidence, but the warrant is later found to be defective; the evidence is admissible.
4A Gov Actors
The 4A only protects against searches and seizures by gov actors at the state, federal, or local level.
4A Standing
Defendant only has standing under the fourth amendment if he had a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Warrant Exception: Seizure of Person/Stop
A police officer may stop a person if he had a reasonable suspicion based on specific and articulable facts that the person has committed or is in the process of committing a crime
Warrant Exception: Frisk
Police officer may frisk the suspect if he has a reasonable suspicion that the suspect is armed and dangerous. The officer may only pat down suspect’s outer clothing.
4A Warrant Exception: Plain View/Feel
When an officer is lawfully present on the premises and sees an item that is immediately apparent is incriminating evidence, the officer may obtain the evidence
5th Amendment
The 5A grants the privilege against self-incrimination and the right to speak to an attorney before police interrogation. It applies to testimonial evidence.
Go into Miranda rule
5A Miranda
Police officers must give defendants Miranda warnings when the defendant is in custody and
being interrogated. Miranda warnings inform the defendant of his right to remain silent and the
right to an attorney.
There must be both custody and interrogation
5A Miranda - Custody
A suspect is in police custody if he reasonably believes that he does not have the right to leave
Look at the totality of the circumstances
“Although imprisonment alone does not create a custodial situation, a look at the totality of the circumstances here would show D was in custody as far as the 5th Amendment is concerned since he was locked in a cell and being asked about the crime he was locked up for.”
5A Miranda - Interrogation
A person is subject to interrogation if the police engage in any conduct that is likely to elicit a
response, whether incriminating or exculpatory
Miranda - Assertion of Right to Remain Silent
After a suspect unambiguously asserts his right to remain silent, the questioning must stop for a reasonable period of time and may not resume without re-mirandizing the suspect.
Involuntary Confession
An involuntary confession is inadmissible for all purposes under the due process clause of the 5A.
6th Amendment Right to Testify
In a criminal trial, the defendant has the constitutional right to take the stand and testify on his own behalf.
6th Amendment Right to Self-Representation
In Frettata, the court held that the 6A right to counsel includes the right to self-representation. Nevertheless, the court has discretion to deny this right if the defendant is found to be incompetent to represent himself or if not in the interests of justice.
Warrant Requirements
In order for there to be a valid search or seizure or arrest, there must be a valid warrant on probable cause. PC = sufficient facts that render a reasonable officer to conclude that a crime has been committed or is about to be committed.
Must be from a neutral and detached magistrate
Must state with specificity what is to be searched
Based on PC
All prior to conducting the search or seizure.
No Warrant
If officers do not have a W, they may arrest citizens or conduct searches based on probable cause that the suspect is or has been engaged in criminal activity
4A Warrant Exception: Terry Stops
Officers may conduct lesser searches and seizures based on reasonable suspicion
(Must be more than mere hunch)
Explain why RS
Frisk of a Person – The officer can then frisk or pat down the outer clothing of the
defendant for purposes of officer safety. If the officer feels an object whose identity is
immediately obvious as contraband, it can be seized during the frisk under the “plain
feel” exception
Automobile Frisk – If an officer lawfully stops a car (reasonable suspicion that a traffic
violation has occurred), the officer may frisk the inside of the car if she has reasonable
suspicion that there is a weapon in the car. However, the office can only frisk the areas
of the car that may contain a weapon
Fruit of the Poisonous Tree
Evidence that is obtained as a result of other evidence procured from unlawful searches and seizures may not be admissible unless too attenuated from initial search
Exceptions: inevitable discovery, attenuation, independent act of free will
Dog Sniff
Florida v Harris: the USSC held that drug detection dogs are reliable and a trained dog’s reaction or indication is sufficient to substantiate reasonable suspicion of criminal activity
However, officers may not conduct snooping w a dog or binoculars in the front porch of a citizen’s house without reasonable suspicion
Curtilage
Officers may not trespass onto curtilage of a house to conduct a search if they have no reasonable suspicion that the occupants are engaged in criminal behavior
4A Warrant Exception: SILA
Where an officer has probable cause (which is required for arrest) to arrest a person, the officer may search the person and his immediate wingspan
Arrest lawful?
If the arrestee is at home, the police can search closets or other spaces adjoining the place of arrest in the home where an attack is likely. If the arrestee is in a vehicle, the police may search the glove compartment if the arrestee is within reaching distance of it or it is reasonable that evidence might be in the vehicle.
4A Attack Plan
-4A Gen Rule
-Gov/state action
-REP
-Seizure: reasonable person not free to leave
-Search: valid warrant, exceptions to no warrant, exclusionary/FOTPT
Miranda Attack Plan
-Miranda General Rule
-Custody
-Interrogation
-Conclusion