A search warrant is a legal document, issued by a judge or magistrate, that authorizes law enforcement officers to conduct a search of a person, location, or vehicle for evidence of a crime.
Think of the search warrant as your parents' permission slip. Just like you can't go on a school field trip without your parents' signed permission slip, police can't search someone's property without a judge's signed search warrant.
Probable Cause: This refers to reasonable grounds (more than just suspicion) for making a search, pressing a charge, etc., in the view of law enforcement officials.
Affidavit: A written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation, often used as evidence in court. In this context, it could be used to provide the probable cause necessary for issuing a search warrant.
Fourth Amendment: The part of the U.S. Constitution that protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures. It requires any warrant to be judicially sanctioned and supported by probable cause.
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.