Criminal Procedure Flashcards
(125 cards)
Exclusionary Rule
Prohibits the introduction of evidence obtained in violation of a D’s 4th, 5th, and 6th amendment rights
Fruit of the Poisonous Tree
Evidence obtained from exploitation of the unconstitutionally obtained evidence
Fruit of the Poisonous Tree - Exceptions
1) Fruits derived from statements obtained in violation of Miranda; 2 ) Evidence obtained from a source independent of the original illegality; 3) An intervening act of free will by the D; 4) Inevitable discovery; 5) Violations of the knock and announce rule
Fruit of the Poisonous Tree - Limitations
1) Inapplicable to Grand Jurise, civil procedures, violations of State law, internal Agency Rules, and Parole revocation proceddings; 2) Good faith reliance on Law, Defective Search Warrant, or clerical error; 3) Use of excluded evidence for impeachment purposes; 4) Knock and Announce Rule Violations
Exclusionary Rule - harmless error test
If illegal evidence is admitted, a resulting conviction should be overturned on appeal unless the government can show beyond reasonable doubt that the error was harmless.
Who bears burden of establishing the admissibility of evidence RE: Exclusionary Rule?
Prosecution - Preponderance of the evidence standard
Fourth Amendment
People should be free from unreasonably searches and seizures
What constitutes a seizure?
Under the totality of the circumstances, a reasonable person would feel that he was not free to decline the officer’s requests or otherwise terminate the encounter
What constitutes an arrest?
When police take a person into cutody against her will for purposes of criminal prosecution or interrogations
Requirement to arrest
Probable Cause - Warrant generally NOT required if they are arresting someone in a public place.
Other types of detention
Stop and Frisk, Automobile Stops, Detention to Obtain a Warrant, Occupants of the Premises, Station House Detentions
Stop and Frisk
Police need reasonable suspicison of criminal activity or involvement in a completed crime, supported by articulable facts. Investigative purposes. If police have reason to believe the person is armed and dangerous, they may frisk for a weapon. Duration and Scope - Police must act in a diligent and reasonable manner in confirming or dispelling their suspicions. May ask detainee for name. Brief property seizures are similarly valid if based on reasonable suspicison
Automobile Stops
Generally - cannot stop absent at least reasonable suspicion that a law was violated. However - If special law enforcement needs are involved, cops can set up roadblocks.
Roadblock requirements
1) Stop cars on the basis of some neutral, articulable standard; and 2) Be designed to serve purposes closely related to a particular problem pertaining to automobiles and their mobility.
Does a roadblock constitute a sezirue? To Whom?
Yes, to the driver and any passengers. Passengers have standing to raise wrongful stop as a reason to exclude evidence found during stops
Pretextual Stops
If police have probable cause to believe a driver violated a traffic law, they may stop the car, even if their ulterior motive is to investigate a crime for which they lack sufficient cause to make a stop.
Detentions to Obtain a Warrant
If police have PC to believe a suspect had hidden drugs in his home, the may, for a reasonable time, prevent him from going into the home unaccompanied so that they can prevent him fro destroying the drugs while they obtain a warrant
Occupants of the Premises
With a search Warrant to search for contrband, cops can detain occupants of the premises during a proper search
Station house detentions
Police must have full PC for arrest to bring a suspect to the station for questioning or fingerprinting against the person’s will
Grandy Jury Appearance
Not within 4th amendment protections, may seize someone to bring them before grand jury
Deadly Force - When can office use to apprehend a suspect?
When it is reasonable to do so
Evidentiary search and seizure issues analytical model
1) Does a D have a 4th amendment right?; 2) Did the Government have a valid warrant?; 3) If the police did not have a valid warrant, did they make a valid warrantless search and seizure?
Does a D have a 4th Amendment right?
4th Amendment protects only against governmental conduct, and need to have legitimate expectation of privacy.
Legitimate Expectation of Privacy
With respect to the place searched or the item seized. A person has a legitimae expectation of privacy any time: 1) He owned or had a right to possession of the place searched; 2) The place searched was in fact his home, whether or not he owned or had a right to possession of it; or 3) He was an overnight guest of the owner fo the place searched. Things held out to the public means to privacy