Understanding Probable Cause and Reasonable Suspicion in Law Enforcement

2. Probable Cause and Reasonable Suspicion • Probable Cause • Practical Definition- >50% Certainty • Definition is the Same for All Areas of Police Work: • Searches and seizures with and without warrant • Arrests with and without a warrant

3. Probable Cause and Reasonable Suspicion • Probable Cause (cont.) • With a Warrant versus without a Warrant • Advantages of Obtaining a Warrant • Determining Probable Cause • Establishing Probable Cause by What Is Found after an Illegal Act • What Can Be Used to Establish Probable Cause

4. Probable Cause and Reasonable Suspicion • Probable Cause (cont.) • How Probable Cause Is Established • An Officer’s Own Knowledge of Facts and Circumstances • Sight • Hearing • Smell • Touch • Taste

5. Probable Cause and Reasonable Suspicion • Probable Cause (cont.) • How Probable Cause Is Established • Information Given by an Informant • Informant Engaged in Criminal Activity • Two-Pronged Test • Reliability of the informant • Reliability of the informant’s information

6. Probable Cause and Reasonable Suspicion • Probable Cause (cont.) • How Probable Cause Is Established • Information Given by an Informant Not Engaged in Criminal Activity • The Importance of the Identity of the Informant • Information given by an ordinary citizen • Information given by another police officer • “Stale” information

7. Probable Cause and Reasonable Suspicion • Probable Cause (cont.) • How Probable Cause Is Established • Information plus Corroboration • Probable Cause and Motor Vehicle Passengers

8. Probable Cause and Reasonable Suspicion • Reasonable Suspicion • Defined • The Totality of Circumstances

9. Absolute certainty Guilty beyond a reasonable doubt Clear and convincing evidence Probable cause Preponderance of the evidence Reasonable suspicion Suspicion Reasonable doubt Hunch None Not required in any legal proceeding Convict an accused; Prove every element of a criminal act Denial of bail in some states and insanity defense in some states Issuance of warrant; search, seizure, and arrest without warrant filing of an indictment Winning a civil case; affirmative criminal defense Stop and Frisk by police Start a police or grand jury investigation Acquit an accused Not sufficient in any legal proceeding Not sufficient in any legal proceeding Probable Cause and Reasonable Suspicion Level of Proof 100% Type of Proceeding 0%

10. Probable Cause and Reasonable Suspicion

11. Probable Cause and Reasonable Suspicion • Appealing a Finding of Probable Cause or Reasonable Suspicion