Question 1

The drafters of the Bill of Rights specifically wanted law enforcement officers to have the freedom to make general, exploratory searches through a person's belongings.

Accepted Answer

The drafters of the Bill of Rights wanted to protect individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures, and the Fourth Amendment requires a warrant based on probable cause for searches. The idea of general, exploratory searches goes against the principles of the Bill of Rights.

Question 2

In order to understand the rules for policing established by the U.S. Constitution and reaffirmed by the Supreme Court in Florida v. Jardines , which of the following amendments must law enforcement officers understand?

Accepted Answer

The Fourth Amendment is relevant as it addresses the rights related to search and seizure, which was the central issue in Florida v. Jardines.

Question 3

Despite the Katz ruling, taking steps to protect one's privacy is not enough to protect against law enforcement intrusion.

Accepted Answer

The Katz ruling established that the Fourth Amendment protects people, not places, and that privacy expectations must be reasonable. However, even with steps to protect privacy, law enforcement can still obtain warrants or use other legal means to intrude.

Question 4

Which of the following is a critical legal concept pertaining to the Fourth Amendment?

Accepted Answer

The requirement of probable cause to issue a warrant is a critical legal concept pertaining to the Fourth Amendment. This means that in order for law enforcement to obtain a warrant to perform a search or seizure, they must provide a judge with sufficient evidence that a crime has been committed or is about to be committed. Without probable cause, the warrant is not valid and any evidence obtained through the search would be inadmissible in court.

Question 5

According to American case law, searches in public places are more likely to be found reasonable than searches of the home.

Accepted Answer

In American case law, the Fourth Amendment provides greater protection to the home, requiring a warrant for searches, whereas searches in public places often have more lenient standards, such as reasonable suspicion or probable cause without a warrant.

Question 6

Which of the following is a limitation of probable cause?

Accepted Answer

Probable cause requires more than mere suspicion; it necessitates a reasonable belief, based on facts, that a crime has been or is being committed.

Question 7

Thermal imagers are devices that are particularly effective in detecting marijuana plants grown indoors because of the heat thrown off by the "grow lights" that the plants need to survive.

Accepted Answer

Thermal imagers can detect the heat emitted by grow lights used in indoor marijuana cultivation, making them effective for identifying such operations.

Question 8

A stop is followed by a frisk simply to try to find items besides weapons, such as illegal narcotics, on a suspect.

Accepted Answer

A frisk is specifically intended to find weapons for officer safety, not to search for other items like narcotics.

Question 9

Seth is a law enforcement officer who has been trying to establish probable cause in the case of a person he suspects to be guilty of money laundering. Since mere suspicion is regarded unreasonable unless supported by probable cause, Seth has been referring to eyewitnesses and official sources. Which of the following sources is Seth using to establish probable cause?

Accepted Answer

Seth is using "Information" from eyewitnesses and official sources to establish probable cause, as these sources provide data or details that can support his suspicion legally.

Question 10

Drake is a police officer. He has been monitoring James, a suspected drug dealer. Drake is aware of the Fourth Amendment's prohibition. Therefore, even though he knew he would find evidence on searching James's house, he decides to apprehend James in a public place while indulging in the illegal act. In this case, Drake's decision is an example of _____.

Accepted Answer

Drake's decision to apprehend James in a public place rather than searching his house without a warrant demonstrates reasonableness in adhering to the Fourth Amendment's prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Question 11

As a general rule, officers cannot make a warrantless arrest for a crime they did not see even if they have probable cause to believe that a felony has been committed.

Accepted Answer

Officers can make a warrantless arrest for a felony even if they did not witness the crime, as long as they have probable cause to believe that the person committed the felony.

Question 12

In the Jardines case, the Supreme Court accepted the argument that the search had been reasonable under the Fourth Amendment's rules regarding searches and seizures.

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court in Florida v. Jardines ruled that the use of a drug-sniffing dog on a homeowner's porch constituted a search under the Fourth Amendment, and it was not reasonable without a warrant.

Question 13

Which of the following is true about the Supreme Court ruling in Florida v. Jardines ?

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court ruled that the use of a drug-sniffing dog on the front porch of a home constituted a search under the Fourth Amendment, thus requiring probable cause or a warrant.

Question 14

If a police officer spots a person with a known criminal background dining at a restaurant in an area where criminal activity is known to take place, the officer has probable cause to arrest that person.

Accepted Answer

Probable cause requires more than just a person's criminal background and presence in a high-crime area; there must be specific evidence or reasonable suspicion of involvement in a crime.

Question 15

One of the implications of the exclusionary rule is that it forces police to gather evidence properly.

Accepted Answer

The exclusionary rule states that evidence obtained through illegal or improper means cannot be used in court. This incentivizes police to gather evidence properly to ensure it can be admissible in court.

Question 16

Among the sources that can establish probable cause, _____ is known to be inadequate.

Accepted Answer

Association alone is inadequate to establish probable cause because it merely implies a connection without providing specific evidence of wrongdoing.

Question 17

In 2009, the Supreme Court extended the stop-and frisk authority by ruling that a police officer can order a passenger in a car that has been pulled over for a traffic violation to submit to a pat-down.

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court's decision in Arizona v. Johnson (2009) allowed officers to frisk passengers during a traffic stop if they have reasonable suspicion that the person is armed and dangerous.

Question 18

Warrantless searches and seizures can be lawful when police are in "hot pursuit" of a subject.

Accepted Answer

The "hot pursuit" exception allows police to conduct a warrantless search and seizure if they are actively pursuing a suspect who they have probable cause to believe presents an immediate threat to public safety or must be apprehended quickly in order to prevent their escape. This exception is recognized by the Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution and has been upheld by the US Supreme Court in various cases.

Question 19

Which of the following must be of priority to police officer's conducting searches and seizures?

Accepted Answer

Being reasonable is the most important priority for police officers conducting searches and seizures. This is because the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Question 20

In California v. Greenwood (1988), the Supreme Court believed that the suspect had a reasonable expectation of privacy when it came to his garbage bags.

Accepted Answer

In California v. Greenwood (1988), the Supreme Court found that the suspect did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in the contents of his trash bags that he left for collection outside of his home. Therefore, law enforcement did not need a warrant to search through the trash bags for potential evidence.

Quiz 6: Police and the Constitution the Rule of Law Enforcement