Criminal Procedure Flashcards
(128 cards)
When does a seizure occur?
when an officer restrains a person’s freedom of movement by means of physical contact or show of authority
What is the test for whether a seizure has occured?
whether a reasonable person would feel free to disregard the officer
What is a Terry stop?
A Terry stop occurs when an officer stops an individual when the officer has a reasonable suspicion, based on articulable facts, to believe the suspect is involved in criminal activity
What is the requirement for an arrest?
the officer must have probable cause to believe that the arrested individual has committed a crime
- an objective test
- pretextual arrests are ok, so long as someone violated the law
When is a search warrant needed?
a search warrant is needed when the government conducts a search in a place where one has a reasonable expectation of privacy
What are the requirements of a warrant?
PNP
- must be based on Probable cause to believe that the items sought are fruits, instrumentalities, or evidence of crime
- must be issued by a Neutral and detached magistrate
- must describe the property and place to be searched with Particularity
What are the seven major exceptions to the warrant requirement?
ESCAPES
- exigent circumstances
- search incident to lawful arrest
- consent
- automobiles
- plain view
- evidence obtained from administrative searches
- stop and frisk
What is the automobile exception to the warrant requirement?
If police have probable cause to believe an automobile contains contraband or evidence of a crime they can search those parts of the vehicle that might contain contraband, even without an arrest
+This includes a container in a car that might contain the illegal evidence
What is a warrantless administrative search (that does not need a warrant)? What are some examples?
These are searches used to ensure compliance with administrative regulations
- airplane boarding area
- international borders
- highly regulated industries (liquor stores, gun shops)
- students in public schools
- special needs searches (e.g., drug testing of railroad employees after an accident)
- roadblocks for drunk driving or seeking information
What is the general rule of Miranda?
statements made as a result of custodial interrogation are inadmissible unless they are accompanied by procedural safeguards (i.e., the Miranda warnings)
What does custodial mean?
the person being questioned has been arrested or the person’s freedom of movement is restrained to such a degree that a reasonable person would not feel free to terminate the encounter
+A suspect who voluntarily went to the police station and could have ended the encounter because he was unrestrained is NOT in custody
What does interrogation mean?
words or conduct by the police that they should know are reasonably likely to elicit an incriminating response
The suspect must be aware of the interrogation.
What are the exception to giving Miranda warnings before questioning?
[PUR]
Public safety exception
Undercover police
Routine booking questions
When public safety is at risk, the police do not have to give Moranda warnings before questioning
What are the rules on using involuntarily obtained statements?
- involuntarily obtained statements are NEVER admissible against a D
- the conviction must be thrown out unless the court believes beyond a reasonable doubt that the introduction of the statement was harmless
- evidence obtained as a result are fruit of the poisonous tree and are presumptively inadmissible
What are the rules on using statements obtained in violation of Miranda?
- Inadmissible in the prosecution’s case in chief, but can be admitted in order to impeach the defendant to challenge his credibility
- evidence obtained as a result of a voluntary statement taken in violation of Miranda is admissible
What is the exclusionary rule?
evidence obtained in violation of the 4th, 5th, or 6th Amendments cannot be introduced at trial to prove a D’s guilt
However, it does NOT apply in the grand jury
What are the exceptions to the exclusionary rule?
Isolating Independent Kingdoms Inevitably Gains Animosity
- isolated negligence by law enforcement
- independent source
- knock and announce
- inevitable discovery
- good faith
- attenuation in the causal chain
When does a D have a 6th Amendment right to a jury trial?
A D has a right to jury trial for all serious offense, for which the authorized punishment is more than 6 months
What are the four factors a court considers when dealing with a Speedy Trial Clause claim?
[LARP]
1) Length of the delay
2) whether the D Asserted his right to a speedy trial
3) Reason for delay
4) risk of Prejudice to the D
What is the Brady doctrine?
prosecutors must turn over all material exculpatory evidence to the defense
When does jeopardy attach?
Jeopardy attaches when the jury is sworn in or, in a bench trial, when the first witness is sworn in
What does the 4th Amendment do?
The 4th Amendment protects individuals against unreasonable searches and seizures of property and against unlawful arrests
What is probable cause?
A reasonable basis, amounting to more than mere suspicion, to believe that a person is engaged in criminal activity or that evidence relevant of a crime exists in a particular location.
When may the police stop a car?
an officer may stop a car if there is an articulable, reasonable suspicion of a violation of the law