Protection against Unreasonable Searches and Seizures

Definition

This is a legal protection provided by the Fourth Amendment which prevents law enforcement from conducting searches of person's property and seizures without a warrant or probable cause.

Analogy

Imagine if your school principal decided they wanted to look through everyone’s backpacks randomly without any reason. That would feel unfair, wouldn't it? The Fourth Amendment works similarly - it says police can’t just search your stuff unless they have a good reason (probable cause) or a warrant from a judge.

Related terms

Fourth Amendment: Part of the U.S. Constitution that guards against unreasonable searches and seizures, along with requiring any warrant to be judicially sanctioned and supported by probable cause.

Probable Cause: A reasonable basis for believing that a crime may have been committed (for an arrest) or when evidence of the crime is present in the place to be searched (for a search).

Warrant: A legal document issued by a judge authorizing police officers to take certain actions; typically involving searching someone’s property.