CRIM LAW Flashcards
(70 cards)
What does the 4th Amendment protect against?
The Fourth Amendment grants a person protection from unlawful government searches and seizures.
Private entities are not protected.
What is required to challenge a search under the 4th Amendment?
Standing is needed to challenge a search, which requires a reasonable expectation of privacy.
What are some items for which the Supreme Court has held there are no privacy rights?
1) Paint scrapings 2) Bank records 3) Anything visible from airspace 4) Garbage left on the curb 5) Sound of someone’s voice 6) Handwriting 7) Odors 8) Anything seen in or across areas outside one’s home.
Technologically enhanced methods not available to the public (e.g., thermal goggles) cannot be used.
What must police have for a proper arrest?
Police must have probable cause based on trustworthy facts or knowledge sufficient to warrant a reasonable person to believe that the person committed the crime.
Does an officer need firsthand knowledge for an arrest?
No, an officer may obtain information from an informant.
What are some exceptions to the warrant requirement?
Exigent circumstances, search incident to arrest, consent, automobile exception, plain view, inventory searches, special needs, and Terry stops/frisks.
What constitutes a search under the 4th Amendment?
A government violation of a person’s reasonable expectation of privacy or government intrusion.
What is a seizure?
A seizure occurs anytime a person would feel that they are not free to leave or terminate the encounter.
What is required for a stop and inquire by police?
Police must have reasonable articulable suspicion that criminal activity is underway for a brief detention for questioning.
What is the plain feel doctrine?
During a frisk, police may only seize items reasonably believed to be contraband or a weapon.
What are the requirements for a valid search warrant?
1) Probable cause 2) Must state with particularity the place and items to be searched/seized 3) Issued by a neutral and detached magistrate.
What is a warrantless search under the plain view doctrine?
Police may seize items observed in plain view from a place lawfully permitted to be, provided probable cause exists.
What can police search incident to an arrest?
Police may search a lawfully arrested person and their immediate surroundings, including the entire interior of a vehicle if certain conditions are met.
What is required for a warrantless search of a vehicle?
Reasonable suspicion is needed to stop a car; probable cause is required to search the entire vehicle.
What are exigent circumstances?
Exigent circumstances allow warrantless searches if evidence may disappear, necessary to prevent imminent destruction of evidence, hot pursuit of a felony suspect, or emergency aid is needed.
What is required for consent to search?
Consent must be given freely, voluntarily, and intelligently.
What is the standard for school searches?
Schools must have reasonable grounds to believe a search is necessary, and it must not be excessively intrusive.
What is the privilege against self-incrimination?
Protects the right not to incriminate oneself for compelled testimonial or communicative evidence.
What must police provide during custodial interrogation?
Miranda warnings must be given when in custody and interrogation occurs.
What is the standard for a valid Miranda waiver?
A valid waiver must be made knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily.
What is the right to counsel under the 6th Amendment?
The accused has the right to counsel in all criminal proceedings once formal adversarial judicial proceedings begin.
What is double jeopardy?
Prevents a defendant from being prosecuted twice for the same offense.
What are the elements of a crime?
1) Physical act (actus reus) 2) Mental state (mens rea) 3) Causation 4) Concurrence.
What constitutes a voluntary act?
The physical act of the defendant must be voluntary; omissions are generally not criminal unless certain conditions are met.