Police searches are common in the United States, as a method of either gathering evidence or arresting a suspect. At the same time, the idea of personal property and privacy is very important. The police can only enter your house and perform a search for very specific reasons.
It’s important to know how this works, especially if you haven’t lived in the United States for your entire life. The following are three examples of reasons why the police could enter your home.
They get a search warrant
To start with, police officers will sometimes get a search warrant in advance. This is a court order from a judge, and it must be followed. The order may state what evidence the police can look for and where in your home they can look – such as giving them permission to search your garage, but not your entire property. But the police can execute a search warrant against your will.
They get your consent
Next, the police may just ask for your consent to come inside. If they don’t have a warrant, then the decision is up to you. You can say no, and they’re not going to arrest you for doing so.
There is an emergency
Finally, even if the police don’t have a warrant, they can sometimes enter your home without consent in an emergency scenario. One example of this is if they are chasing a suspect who just entered the home. Another example is if they think that someone in the house is in danger and needs protection.
It’s important to ensure that the police correctly follow all procedures when performing a search. Make sure you know your defense options if you’ve been arrested.