Law Enforcement Procedure and Case Law Flashcards

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers essential legal standards, Supreme Court cases, warrant procedures, and confidential informant policies for law enforcement.

Miranda v. Arizona

The Supreme Court case linked to the Fifth Amendment requirement that law enforcement advise suspects in custody of their right to remain silent and to obtain an attorney.

Maryland v. Shatzer

The SCOTUS case holding that police may re-open questioning of a suspect who asked for counsel if there has been a 14-day or more break in Miranda custody.

Shatzer Rule

A rule allowing police to re-initiate interrogation after a 14-day break in custody following a suspect's invocation of the right to counsel.

Whren v. United States

The 1996 case ruling that a traffic stop is reasonable under the Fourth Amendment if there is probable cause for a traffic violation, regardless of the officer's underlying intent.

Pretext Stop

A traffic stop initiated for a minor violation with the underlying purpose of investigating a separate, unrelated crime.

Reasonable Suspicion

A legal standard that is more than a hunch but less than probable cause, allowing law enforcement to stop, question, and sometimes search individuals.

Probable Cause

A Fourth Amendment requirement referring to a reasonable basis for believing a crime has been committed or that evidence is present in a specific location.

Rachel's Law

Formally Florida Statute Section 914.28, this law protects confidential informants and sets agency guidelines for their use following the murder of Rachel Hoffman.

LCPD Juvenile CI Policy

Policy stating a juvenile can be a CI only with advanced approval from the Chief of Police, consent from a legal guardian, and visual/electronic monitoring.

CI Disqualifiers

Specific criteria that prevent someone from being an informant, including dishonesty, theft or perjury charges, and failing to return calls or attend meetings.

Warrant Validity Timeline

A signed warrant must be served within 10 days of the signature date (including the date received) and returned to the clerk within 10 days.

Consent

A warrantless search exception where an individual with authority over an area freely and voluntarily allows police to conduct a search.

Search Incident to Arrest

A warrantless search of a lawfully arrested person and the immediate area around them to protect officer safety and prevent evidence destruction.

Exigent Circumstances

Emergency situations involving threats to public safety, destruction of evidence, or suspect escape that allow for a warrantless search.

Plain View Doctrine

An exception allowing officers to seize evidence without a warrant if they are lawfully present and the evidence is in clear sight.

Automobile Exception

Allows officers to search a vehicle without a warrant if they have probable cause to believe it contains evidence, justified by the vehicle's mobility.

Terry v. Ohio (1968)

The US Supreme Court case establishing that police can conduct a brief investigatory stop and frisk based on reasonable suspicion that a person is armed and dangerous.

Stop and Frisk

A brief detention and pat-down for weapons allowed when an officer has reasonable suspicion that a person is armed and dangerous.