Over the years, the use of no-knock warrants has grown exponentially. With a regular warrant, police are required to knock and announce their presence before entering a private building. No-knock warrants allow police to immediately make forcible entry. Because of this, their expanded use has been hotly contested.
Do you have to consent to a search of your home?
What You Need to Know About Car Searches
Search & Seizure Ground Rules
Plain English Summary: Fernandez v. California and Consent to Search
A place of dwelling (usually a home or apartment) is quite often rented or lived in by more than one person. The Fourth Amendment requires that police, upon entering such a dwelling, must usually have a warrant based upon probable cause to enter the dwelling to search for persons or property. Otherwise, the search or seizure would be illegal. There are a variety of exceptions to the warrant requirement.
