Week 7 Assignment – Search and Seizure Case Study

Overview

The Fourth Amendment is one of the cornerstones of ourfreedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. It protects people againstunreasonable search and seizure of their person, property, and belongings. Lawenforcement officers must work to ensure they do not violate the FourthAmendment while performing their duties. They have a responsibility to protectpeople’s rights and not invalidate evidence for any future court cases.

In this assignment, you will analyze a case study based onan actual case to determine whether police officers’ search and seizure actionsrelated to suspected illegal drug activities were constitutional. Here is thecase study you will analyze in your assignment.

Case Study

In the Los Angeles Brentwood neighborhood, neighbors havenotified the police that they have seen vehicles coming and going from onespecific home. The incidents occur between 11:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. Theneighbors believe drug activity may be taking place. The local police divisionassigns officers Williams and Martinez to investigate possible drug activity atthat location.

Officer Williams contacts the neighborhood’s regular trashcollection service and asks it to put the contents of the subject’s(defendant’s) garbage left at the curb in plastic bags so as to not mix thesubject’s garbage with others. He also asked the trash collector to turn thesubject’s bags over to him at the end of trash day collections. The trashcollector did as Officer Williams requested. Officer Williams’s partner,Officer Martinez, searched through the garbage and found items indicative ofnarcotics use. Officer Williams and Officer Martinez then listed theinformation obtained from the trash in an affidavit to support a warrant tosearch the defendant’s home. Officer Martinez and Officer Williams encounteredthe defendant at the house later that day upon execution of the warrant. Theofficers found quantities of cocaine and heroin during the search and arrestedthe defendant on felony narcotics charges.

Note: As you complete this assignment, it will be helpful toyou to read the actual case on which this case study is based: California v.Greenwood.

Instructions

Write a three- to four-page analysis of this case study inwhich you:

Explain in your own words the Fourth Amendment, whichgoverns the officers’ actions.

Determine which of the following doctrines apply to thiscase study: plain view, abandonment, open fields, or border searches.

Be sure to support your determination by citing specificcase law and/or contemporary cases.

You may find the CQ Supreme Court Collection database usefulas you conduct your research. You will also find this database and other usefulones under Strayer’s B.S. in Criminal Justice library resource page. Click onSpecialized Databases.

This less than two-minute video, called Finding SupremeCourt Cases Relating to Specific Amendments, shows you how to search for casesby amendment.

Assess the constitutionality of the officers’ actions in thecase study.

Use three sources to support your writing.

Choose sources that are credible, relevant, and appropriate.

Cite each source listed on your source page at least onetime within your assignment.

For help with research, writing, and citation, access thelibrary or review library guides.

You may use your textbook as one of your resources.

Formatting

This course requires the use of Strayer Writing Standards.For assistance and information, please refer to the Strayer Writing Standardslink in the left-hand menu of your course. Check with your professor for any additionalinstructions. Note the following:

The preferred method is for your paper to be typed,double-spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins onall sides.

Include a cover page containing the assignment title, yourname, your professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page isnot included in the required page length.

Include a source list page. Citations and references mustfollow SWS format. The source list page is not included in the required pagelength.

Learning Outcomes

The specific course learning outcome associated with thisassignment is:

Decide when to apply the Fourth Amendment and when to applyexceptions.

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