Important Case Law for TCOLE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
RATED A+
U.S. v Leon 1984 - Established that evidence obtained in good faith by police relying upon a
search warrant that subsequently is found to be deficient may be used in a criminal trial.
Exclusionary Rule - Evidence collected or analyzed in violation of the defendant's constitutional
rights is sometimes inadmissible for a criminal prosecution in a court of law.
Aguilar v Texas 1964 - References the validity of statements and credibility of informants for
basis of a search warrant.
Illinois v Gates 1983 - Established the "totality of circumstances" test in finding probable cause
under the Fourth Amendment.
Chimel v California 1969 - Search incidental to lawful arrest
Search of immediate area accessible to the actor
Carroll v U.S. 1925 - Search a vehicle for contraband if probable cause exists. Vehicle is mobile.
"Automobile exception"
Mincey v. Arizona 1978 - Search warrant required even for murder scenes. Protective sweep for
suspect without a warrant
Lippert v Texas 1982 - "Non-Occupant" present at house cannot be searched. Officers were
searching a suspected drug house when a man and woman arrived and were detained and search.
Michigan v Long 1983 - Limited search of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle for
weapons. Also "plain view" doctrine.
Monroe v Pape 1961 - Officers conducting unreasonable search and seizure, had committed an
action which was under the color of law, and that the police could be held liable individually
under the Civil Rights Act.
Gault v U.S. 1967 - Juveniles tried for crimes in delinquency proceedings should have the right
of due process protected by the Fourteenth Amendment.
Duran v City of Douglas (Arizona) - First Amendment.
-Mere boisterous conduct was alone insufficient to give a police officer any cause to detain the
plaintiff.
Florida v Royer 1983 - While it is legal for authorities to target and approach a person based on
their behavior, absent more, they cannot detain or search such individual without a warrant.
, U.S. v Mendenhall 1980 - Respondent suspiciously walked through Detroit Metropolitan Airport
in a manner resembling a drug courier profile. Respondent VOLUNTARILY searched and found
in possession of heroin.
Maryland v Shatzer 2010 - Police may re-open questioning if there has been a two-week break in
Miranda custody.
Creager v State 1997 - No written statement made by an accused as a result of custodial
interrogation is admissible as evidence against him in any criminal proceeding unless it is shown
on the face of the statement that he received Miranda warnings.
Dyar v State 2003 - Defendant was involved in a one car accident and was transported to a
hospital where he was visited by an officer investigating the accident. The officer noted the
following: a visible head injury, speech slurred, admission by Defendant that he had been
partying with friends, odor of alcoholic beverage, defendant under 21 years of age. Placed
Defendant under arrest and after reading him the DIC-24 Defendant agreed to give a blood
specimen. Issue on appeal was whether this was a valid warrantless arrest and could a hospital be
a "suspicious place?" Court holds that a hospital can be, and was a suspicious place, under the
totality of the circumstances relied upon in this case.
Frye v State 1982 - ...
Payton v New York 1980 - The Fourth Amendment, made applicable to the States by the
Fourteenth Amendment, prohibits the police from making a warrantless and nonconsensual entry
into a suspect's home in order to make a routine felony arrest.
Brigham City, Utah v Stuart - Police may enter a home without a warrant when they have an
objectively reasonable basis for believing that an occupant is seriously injured or imminently
threatened with such injury. Exigent Circumstances.
Kentucky v King 2011 - Warrantless searches conducted in exigent circumstances do not violate
the Fourth Amendment so long as the police did not create the exigency by violating or
threatening to violate the Fourth amendment.
Steagald v U.S. 1981 - An arrest warrant is not sufficient under the Fourth Amendment to the
United States Constitution to search the home of a third party unless exigent circumstances are
present.
Brinegar v U.S. 1949 - While the police need not always be factually correct in conducting a
warrantless search, such a search must always be reasonable.
Beck v Ohio 1964 - United States Supreme Court decision holding that the police arrested the
defendant without probable cause, and therefore the evidence found on his person after taking
him to the police station were found as part of an unconstitutional search.
RATED A+
U.S. v Leon 1984 - Established that evidence obtained in good faith by police relying upon a
search warrant that subsequently is found to be deficient may be used in a criminal trial.
Exclusionary Rule - Evidence collected or analyzed in violation of the defendant's constitutional
rights is sometimes inadmissible for a criminal prosecution in a court of law.
Aguilar v Texas 1964 - References the validity of statements and credibility of informants for
basis of a search warrant.
Illinois v Gates 1983 - Established the "totality of circumstances" test in finding probable cause
under the Fourth Amendment.
Chimel v California 1969 - Search incidental to lawful arrest
Search of immediate area accessible to the actor
Carroll v U.S. 1925 - Search a vehicle for contraband if probable cause exists. Vehicle is mobile.
"Automobile exception"
Mincey v. Arizona 1978 - Search warrant required even for murder scenes. Protective sweep for
suspect without a warrant
Lippert v Texas 1982 - "Non-Occupant" present at house cannot be searched. Officers were
searching a suspected drug house when a man and woman arrived and were detained and search.
Michigan v Long 1983 - Limited search of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle for
weapons. Also "plain view" doctrine.
Monroe v Pape 1961 - Officers conducting unreasonable search and seizure, had committed an
action which was under the color of law, and that the police could be held liable individually
under the Civil Rights Act.
Gault v U.S. 1967 - Juveniles tried for crimes in delinquency proceedings should have the right
of due process protected by the Fourteenth Amendment.
Duran v City of Douglas (Arizona) - First Amendment.
-Mere boisterous conduct was alone insufficient to give a police officer any cause to detain the
plaintiff.
Florida v Royer 1983 - While it is legal for authorities to target and approach a person based on
their behavior, absent more, they cannot detain or search such individual without a warrant.
, U.S. v Mendenhall 1980 - Respondent suspiciously walked through Detroit Metropolitan Airport
in a manner resembling a drug courier profile. Respondent VOLUNTARILY searched and found
in possession of heroin.
Maryland v Shatzer 2010 - Police may re-open questioning if there has been a two-week break in
Miranda custody.
Creager v State 1997 - No written statement made by an accused as a result of custodial
interrogation is admissible as evidence against him in any criminal proceeding unless it is shown
on the face of the statement that he received Miranda warnings.
Dyar v State 2003 - Defendant was involved in a one car accident and was transported to a
hospital where he was visited by an officer investigating the accident. The officer noted the
following: a visible head injury, speech slurred, admission by Defendant that he had been
partying with friends, odor of alcoholic beverage, defendant under 21 years of age. Placed
Defendant under arrest and after reading him the DIC-24 Defendant agreed to give a blood
specimen. Issue on appeal was whether this was a valid warrantless arrest and could a hospital be
a "suspicious place?" Court holds that a hospital can be, and was a suspicious place, under the
totality of the circumstances relied upon in this case.
Frye v State 1982 - ...
Payton v New York 1980 - The Fourth Amendment, made applicable to the States by the
Fourteenth Amendment, prohibits the police from making a warrantless and nonconsensual entry
into a suspect's home in order to make a routine felony arrest.
Brigham City, Utah v Stuart - Police may enter a home without a warrant when they have an
objectively reasonable basis for believing that an occupant is seriously injured or imminently
threatened with such injury. Exigent Circumstances.
Kentucky v King 2011 - Warrantless searches conducted in exigent circumstances do not violate
the Fourth Amendment so long as the police did not create the exigency by violating or
threatening to violate the Fourth amendment.
Steagald v U.S. 1981 - An arrest warrant is not sufficient under the Fourth Amendment to the
United States Constitution to search the home of a third party unless exigent circumstances are
present.
Brinegar v U.S. 1949 - While the police need not always be factually correct in conducting a
warrantless search, such a search must always be reasonable.
Beck v Ohio 1964 - United States Supreme Court decision holding that the police arrested the
defendant without probable cause, and therefore the evidence found on his person after taking
him to the police station were found as part of an unconstitutional search.
