1 / 28

The Fourth Amendment

The Fourth Amendment. Protects the people’s right to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures

loki
Download Presentation

The Fourth Amendment

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Fourth Amendment • Protects the people’s right to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures • Requires that warrants to search places and to seize people and things must be supported by probable cause and must be issued on information given under oath or affirmation

  2. Admissibility of Hearsay at Suppression Hearing Before or During Trial • Rules 104(a); 1101(b) • Admissibility of evidence determined by court • Court not bound by rules of evidence, except for privileges • Cases on admissibility of hearsay: • Brinegar v. U.S., 338 U.S. 160 (1949); Draper v. U.S., 358 U.S. 307 (1959); State v. Roberts, 276 N.C. 98 (1970); Melton v. Hodges, 114 N.C. App. 795 (1994)

  3. Objective Standard in Evaluating Search or Seizure • Definition of seizure: reasonable person, innocent of criminal activity, in defendant’s position • Officer’s subjective view of whether encounter was search, seizure, investigative stop, arrest is irrelevant • Even if officer’s justification for investigative stop or arrest was invalid, it may be upheld if another justification existed • Cases • State v. Bone, 354 NC 1 (2001); State v. Peck, 305 NC 734 (1982); US v. Analla, 975 F2d 119 (4th Cir. 1992); US v. Taylor, 956 F2d 572 (6th Cir 1992); State v. Zuniga, 312 NC 251 (1982); Glenn-Robinson v. Acker, 140 NCApp 606 (2000); State v. Freeman, 307 NC 357 (1983); State v. Coffey, 65 NCApp 751 (1984).

  4. Terry v. Ohio and later cases • Terry v. Ohio 392 U.S. 1(1968) • Frisk with reasonable suspicion is constitutional • Justice Harlan’s concurring opinion on stop issue • Adams v. Williams, 407 U.S. 143 (1972) • Investigative stop and frisk based on informant’s information • U.S. v. Brignoni-Ponce, 422 U.S. 873 (1975) • Investigative stop of vehicle with reasonable suspicion • Pennsylvania v. Mimms, 434 U.S. 106 (1977) • Order driver out of lawfully-stopped car without any justification • Delaware v. Prouse, 440 U.S. 648 (1979) • Random stop of car on highway for license or registration is unconstitutional without reasonable suspicion • Court appears to approve roadblock type license checks and weight station inspections • Michigan v. Summers, 452 U.S. 692 (1981) • Automatic authority to detain occupants of home while conducting search with search warrant, even if occupants outside home when officers arrive

  5. Cases Based on Terry v. Ohio • U.S. v. Place, 462 U.S. 696 (1983) • Application of Terry to seizure of luggage with reasonable suspicion of drugs inside • Seizure of luggage for 90 minutes to await drug dog was beyond scope of seizure based on reasonable suspicion • Michigan v. Long, 463 U.S. 1032 (1983) • Application of Terry to search car for weapons with reasonable suspicion—”car frisk” • U.S. v. Hensley, 469 U.S. 221 (1985) • Application of Terry to stop of vehicle based on wanted flyer (for robbery) from another jurisdiction • U.S. v. Sharpe, 470 U.S. 675 (1985) • Length of investigative stop (20 minutes) was proper in this case • No rigid time limitation for investigative stops

  6. Cases Based on Terry v. Ohio • U.S. v. Sokolow, 490 U.S. 1 (1989) • Reasonable suspicion is based on totality of circumstances • Consideration of drug profile • Facts describing “ongoing criminal activity” not required • Later case of United States v. Arvizu, 534 U.S. 266 (2002) • Michigan Dept. of State Police v. Sitz, 496 U.S. 444 (1990) • DWI roadblock is reasonable • Minnesota v. Dickerson, 508 U.S. 366 (1993) • Frisk for weapons; “plain feel” is within “plain view” doctrine • Whren v. United States, 517 U.S. 806 (1996) • Officer’s motivation for stopping vehicle for traffic violation is irrelevant, if probable cause exists for violation • Maryland v. Wilson, 519 U.S. 408 (1997) • Officer who lawfully stopped vehicle may order passengers out of vehicle without justification

  7. Cases Based on Terry v. Ohio • Knowles v. Iowa, 525 U.S. 492 (1998) • Search of vehicle is not permitted incident to stopping vehicle to issue citation to driver • Illinois v. Wardlow, 528 U.S. 119 (2000) • Defendant’s unprovoked flight on seeing officers and presence in heavy drug trafficking area provided reasonable suspicion to stop • Terry v. Ohio accepts risk innocent people may be stopped • Florida v. J. L., 529 U.S. 266 (2000) • Anonymous tip insufficient to support reasonable suspicion to stop; Alabama v. White, distinguished • City of Indianapolis v. Edmond, 531 U.S. 32 (2000) • Checkpoint whose primary purpose is to detect illegal drugs is unconstitutional

  8. Seizure of a Person • Three levels of officer’s interaction with a person • Interaction that does not constitute seizure • Seizure that constitutes investigatory stop requiring reasonable suspicion • Seizure that constitutes arrest requiring probable cause • Definition of a seizure: when a reasonable person would have believed that he or she was not “free to leave” • Modification of definition under California v. Hodari D. (1991) and Florida v. Bostick (1991)

  9. California v. Hodari D. (1991) • 499 US 621, 111 SCt 1547, 113 LEd2d 690 • Officer chasing suspect, suspect drops object, and officer tackles suspect • “Seizure” redefined • Definition of seizure • Applying actual physical force to suspect, or • Suspect submitting to officer’s “show of authority”

  10. Florida v. Bostick (1991) • 501 US 429, 111 SCt 2382, 115 LEd2d 389 (1991) • Officers boarding bus to ask consent to search for drugs • Passengers are not automatically seized because officers boarded bus • Court rejects “free to leave” standard in deciding this case • Test: reasonable person would feel free to decline an officer’s requests or otherwise terminate encounter • “Reasonable person” standard presupposes an innocent person

  11. Factors in Determining Reasonable Suspicion • Officer’s observations in light of officer’s training and experience • Information received from others • Time of day or night • High-crime area? • Suspect’s location to criminal activity • Suspect’s reaction to and flight from officer • Illinois v. Wardlow, 528 U.S. 119 (2000) • Officer’s knowledge of suspect’s past • Suspect’s matching profile of criminal behavior

  12. Whren v. United States (1996) • Facts: traffic stop by drug officers • Is pretextual stop unreasonable under Fourth Amendment? • Ruling: When probable cause for traffic violation: officer’s motivation for making stop is irrelevant under Fourth Amendment • Reasonable suspicion for traffic violation; U.S. v. Knights, 534 U.S. 112 (2001); U.S. v. Dumas, 94 F.3d 286 (7th Cir. 1996) • Stop for improper racial purpose: analyze only under Equal Protection Clause of Fourteenth Amendment • Motivation is relevant for: DWI or license checkpoint, inventory search, or administrative search, which are not based on probable cause or reasonable suspicion • City of Indianapolis v. Edmond, 531 US 32 (2000) • State v. McClendon, 350 NC 630 (1999) (adopting (Whren); State v. Hamilton, 125 N.C. App. 396 (1997); State v. Morocco, 99 N.C. App. 421 (1990) (no longer valid under Whren)

  13. Driver’s License and Impaired Driving Checkpoints • Delaware v. Prouse, 440 U.S. 648 (1979); Michigan Dept. of State Police v. Sitz, 496 U.S. 444 (1990); City of Indianapolis v. Edmond, 531 U.S. 32 (2000) • State v. Sanders, 112 N.C. App. 477 (1993) (SHP license check) • State v. Barnes, 123 N.C. App. 144 (1996) (SHP DWI check) • State v. Grooms, 126 N.C. App. 88 (1997) (Deputy sheriff license check) • State v. Foreman, 351 N.C. 627 (2000) (avoid DWI checkpoint) • State v. Tarlton, 146 N.C. App. 417 (2001) (SHP license check) • State v. Colbert, 146 N.C. App. 506 (2001) (DWI checkpoint; advance plan for Alco-Sensor tests) • State v. Mitchell, ___ N.C. App. ___ (11/19/02) (license check; supervisory approval & written guidelines not required) • G.S. 20-16.3A

  14. Alabama v. White (1990) • 496 U.S. 325, 110 S.Ct. 2412, 110 L.Ed.2d 301 • Reasonable suspicion to make investigative stop vehicle for drugs • Anonymous telephone tip • Amount of detail in tip • Anonymous caller’s prediction of future events • Anonymous information and law enforcement corroboration • “Sufficient indicia of reliability”

  15. Florida v. J.L. (2000) • 529 U.S. 266, 120 S.Ct. 1375, 146 L.Ed.2d 254 • Anonymous telephone call • Young black male standing at bus stop, wearing plaid shirt, and carrying gun • Officers go to bus stop and see male person matching description • Male person makes no threatening or unusual movements • Officer stops and frisks him • Court’s ruling: information was insufficient to support stop and frisk • Court distinguished rulings in Alabama v. White (1990) and Adams v. Williams (1972)

  16. Anonymous Information and Reasonable Suspicion • Pure anonymous telephone caller • Anonymous caller giving some information about himself or herself • Officer’s in-person contact with unknown person • Basis of source’s knowledge • Direct observation? • Amount of detail given • Reporting past or present criminal activity • Prediction of future behavior • Corroboration by law enforcement officer • Need for immediate law enforcement response—report of person carrying bomb; erratic driving on highway; shooting in house

  17. Anonymous Information • State v. Hughes, 353 N.C. 200 (2000) (drugs; insufficient) • State v. Bone, 354 N.C. 1 (2001) (murder; sufficient) • State v. Brown, 142 N.C. App. 332 (2001) (drugs; insufficient) • State v. Young, 148 N.C. App. 462 (2002) (armed robbery; sufficient) • State v. Allison, 148 N.C. App. 702 (2002) (armed robbery; sufficient) • US v. Wheat, 278 F3d 722 (8th Cir. 2001) (reckless driving stop; sufficient)

  18. What Constitutes Reasonable Suspicion: State Cases • State v. Butler, 331 N.C. 227 (1992) • State v. Fleming, 106 N.C. App. 165 (1992) • State v. Foreman, 351 N.C. 627 (2000) • State v. Bonds, 139 N.C. App. 627 (2000) • Reference to NHTSA website information • State v. Watson, 122 N.C. App. 596 (1996) • State v. Battle, 109 N.C. App. 367 (1993) (collective knowledge)

  19. Length of Time to Conduct Investigative Stop • Whether officer diligently pursued means of investigation likely to confirm or dispel suspicions quickly • But courts generally should not second-guess whether officer should have used alternative investigative means • Suspect’s reaction to officer’s stop • Officer’s need to adjust response to what is happening • Seriousness of crime • Nervousness of suspect • Stopping vehicles: license & registration check; motor vehicle and criminal record check • Need to investigate other violations of law • Cases: U.S. v. Sharpe, 470 U.S. 675 (1985); U.S. v. Place, 462 U.S. 696 (1985); State v. Jones, 96 N.C. App. 389 (1989); State v. Morocco, 99 N.C. App. 421 (1990); State v. Aubin, 100 N.C. App. 628 (1990); State v. Hunter, 107 N.C. App. 402 (1992); Rousselo v. Starling, 128 N.C. App. 439 (1998); State v. Falana, 129 N.C. App. 813 (1998); State v. McClendon, 350 N.C. 630 (1999); State v. Fisher, 141 N.C. App. 448 (2000); State v. Munoz, 141 N.C. App. 675 (2001)

  20. Scope of Investigative Stop • U.S. v. Shabazz, 993 F.2d 431 (5th Cir. 1993) • Questioning unrelated to investigative stop are permissible unless they prolong stop • During traffic stop, officer asks “Are any drugs or weapons in your car?” • Other cases: U.S. Holt, 264 F.3d 1215 (10th Cir. 2001); U.S. Childs, 277 F.3d 947 (7th Cir. 2002) • State v. Kincaid, 147 N.C. App. 94 (2001) • Questioning about another matter after traffic stop completed was permissible when defendant consented to questioning • Asking consent to search during stop • Ohio v. Robinette, 519 U.S. 33 (1996) • Asking consent to search after valid detention has ended • Specific warning (“you are free to go”) is not required

  21. Investigative Techniques During Investigative Stop • Ordering driver and passengers out of vehicle • Ordering them to stay in vehicle • Using force • Blocking suspect’s car with officers’ cars • Drawing weapon on suspect • Making suspect lie on ground • Handcuffing suspect • Questioning • State v. Benjamin, 124 N.C. App. 734 (1996) (Miranda warnings not required) • Moving suspect for safety and security reasons or for identification by victim

  22. Frisking People for Weapons • Reasonable suspicion of danger is generally required • Exception: dangerous crimes or crimes, such as drug trafficking, associated with possession of firearms • Exception: execution of search warrant in nonpublic place • Factors in determining reasonable suspicion • Kind of crime for which person was stopped • Information from others that person armed and dangerous • Behavior of person to be frisked • Bulge in suspect’s clothing or observation of object there • Suspect’s prior criminal record and history of dangerousness • Objective test—officer’s subjective beliefs irrelevant • Arrest of person and whether frisk of companions is automatically permissible

  23. Frisking People for Weapons • Cases • State v. Pearson, 348 NC 272 (1998) • State v. McGirt, 345 NC 624 (1997), affirming, 122 NC App 237 (1996) • Scope of frisk • Plain feel rationale under Minnesota v. Dickerson, 508 US 366, 113 S Ct 2130, 124 LEd2d 334 (1993)

  24. Plain Touch (Feel) Doctrine: Minnesota v. Dickerson (1993) • Officer must have justification to touch (feel) person or object • Officer’s authority to frisk person for weapons • Officer may not exceed scope of justification when touching (feeling) person or object • Exceeding scope of frisk for weapons • Incriminating character of object must become “immediately apparent” to officer • “Immediately apparent” is equivalent to probable cause • Cases: State v. Beveridge, 112 N.C. App. 688 (1993), aff’d per curiam, 336 N.C. 601 (1994); State v. Briggs, 140 N.C. App. 484 (2000) (felt cigar holder in defendant’s pocket—totality of circumstances); State v. Wilson, 112 N.C. App. 777 (1993); State v. Whitted, 112 N.C. App. 640 (1993); In re Whitley, 122 N.C. App. 290 (1996); State v. Benjamin, 124 N.C. App. 734 (1996) (“What is that” during frisk not subject to Miranda)

  25. Search Incident to Arrest of Vehicle Occupant • Must be arrest; writing citation is insufficient • Knowles v. Iowa, 525 US 113 (1998) • State v. Fisher, 141 NCApp 448 (2000) • New York v. Belton, 453 US 454 (1981) • Arrest of vehicle occupant • Removal of occupants permitted before search • Entire interior of vehicle • Containers within interior of vehicle • Cases: State v. Vancamp, 150 N.C.App. 347 (2002); State v. Andrews, 306 N.C. 144 (1982) ; State v. Cooper, 304 N.C. 701 (1982); State v. Clyburn, 120 N.C. App. 377 (1995); State v. Massenburg, 66 N.C. App. 127 (1984)

  26. Search Incident to Arrest of Vehicle Occupant • Other occupants • Excludes trunk of vehicle, based on this justification

  27. Other Permissible Searches or Seizures Without Probable Cause • Vehicle “frisk” for weapons based on reasonable suspicion • Michigan v. Long, 463 U.S. 1032 (1983); State v. Braxton, 90 N.C. App. 204 (1988) • Impoundment and inventory of vehicle • South Dakota v. Opperman, 428 U.S. 364 (1976); Colorado v. Bertine, 479 U.S. 367 (1987); Florida v. Wells, 495 U.S. 1 (1990); State v. Phifer, 297 NC 216 (1979); State v. Peaten, 110 NCApp 749 (1993) • Pretext may be an issue • Community caretaking function • Cady v. Dombrowski, 413 U.S. 433 (1983) • Checking VIN on vehicle • New York v. Class, 475 U.S. 106 (1986) • Protective sweep of home • Maryland v. Buie, 494 U.S. 325 (1990) • Warden v. Hayden, 387 U.S. 294 (1967)

  28. Is There “Custody” under Miranda During Investigative Stop? • State v. Benjamin, 124 N.C. App. 734 (1996) • Berkemer v. McCarty, 468 U.S. 420 (1984)

More Related