Devallis RutledgeMore from Devallis RutledgePatrolPreserving and Disclosing EvidenceMost law enforcement officers are familiar with the term “Brady error.” But what exactly does the Brady rule cover, and what obligation does it impose on police? Under the Brady line of cases, when must officers preserve evidence, and what must be revealed to the prosecutor? These questions have been answered in a series of opinions from the U.S. Supreme Court.November 30, 2006PatrolID Procedures and the Right to CounselThere are several ways a crime victim or other eyewitness might have an opportunity to identify a stranger-perpetrator of a crime before being called as a witness in court. (If the perpetrator is an acquaintance, the ID will not generally be an issue.)October 31, 2006Patrol30th Anniversary: High-Impact DecisionsEvery U.S. Supreme Court decision on the criminal justice provisions of the Constitution (especially the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments) is important to law enforcement, but some have a more significant day-to-day impact on police work than others.September 30, 2006PatrolMiranda WordingWhen custodial interrogation is imminent and it's time to give the suspect a Miranda warning, what exactly do you have to say? The answer is, nothing exactly. The U.S. Supreme Court, which created the necessity of a warning of rights and a waiver as prerequisites to the prosecutorial use of a statement obtained through custodial interrogation, has never held that any precise wording is required.September 30, 2006PatrolParole and Probation SearchesAfter pussyfooting around the issue for years, the U.S. Supreme Court has finally come to a decision on what justifies a probation or parole search.August 31, 2006PatrolKnock Notice After HudsonNever mind the headlines and the editorials proclaiming that the Supreme Court did away with the knock-and-announce requirement for execution of search warrants in the recent case of Hudson v. Michigan. The court did no such thing.July 31, 2006PatrolEntry to Quell a DisturbanceAny law enforcement entry into private premises, including a residence, or an office or other commercial area that is not open to the public, is governed by the Fourth Amendment. Officers may make lawful entry only in four ways, and the consequences of unlawful entry can include suppression of evidence and civil liability.June 30, 2006PatrolAnticipatory Search WarrantsCan you get a search warrant in advance that will authorize you to enter and search for the suspected items once the designated time arrives or the triggering event occurs? According to a 2006 U.S. Supreme Court decision, the answer is, yes.May 31, 2006PatrolThird Party Consent SearchesOne of the "firmly established exceptions" to the warrant requirement for searches and seizures is the "consent exception."April 30, 2006PatrolKeeping the Peace During Civil DisputesAlthough it’s tempting to take sides on certain calls, doing so can have major repercussions for you and your agency.March 31, 2006Previous PagePage 13 of 17Next Page
