Chapter 7: Special Needs Searches

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to Special Needs Searches and privacy rights from the lecture notes.

Special Needs Searches

Warrantless searches conducted without probable cause or exigency, focusing on public welfare rather than criminal prosecution.

4th Amendment

The part of the U.S. Constitution that protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures.

Inventory Searches

Searches conducted by law enforcement to catalog items in police custody to protect property, prevent lawsuits, and ensure safety.

Reasonable Suspicion

A standard used in criminal procedure that allows police to make a stop or search based on specific facts, less than probable cause.

Balancing Test

A legal test weighing government needs against individual privacy rights.

Custody-Related Searches

Searches involving individuals in custody, like prisoners, parolees, and probationers.

Opperman Decision

A Supreme Court ruling affirming the legality of inventory searches under certain governmental needs.

Community Caretaking Function

A police practice where officers conduct searches for public safety rather than criminal investigations.

Probable Cause

A reasonable belief that a person has committed a crime, sufficient to obtain a warrant.

U.S. v. Ramsey

A case affirming that searches at U.S. borders do not require warrants due to national interests.

Airport Searches

Security measures undertaken to ensure passenger safety with minimal privacy invasion.

Hudson v. Palmer

A Supreme Court case stating inmates have no reasonable expectation of privacy in prison cells.

Florence v. Burlington County

Assessing whether strip searches of detainees violate the 4th Amendment.

Griffin v. Wisconsin

A case supporting the idea that probation officers can conduct searches of probationers' homes without warrants.

Samson v. California

A ruling emphasizing that parolees have diminished expectations of privacy justifying suspicionless searches.

Campus Searches

Searches conducted in an educational environment, balancing students' privacy rights and institutional needs.

Pretrial Release

The condition where a defendant is released from custody before trial, often involving certain restrictions.

Norris v. Premier

A case discussing the validity of drug testing under pretrial release conditions.

Emergency Justification

A condition under which privacy assertions may diminish due to immediate threats or concerns.

Expectations of Privacy

The subjective belief that an individual has in their personal space, which can vary in public and private settings.

Duty to Maintain Environment

An obligation of institutions to ensure safety and order within their premises.

Drug Testing

Procedures involving the assessment of individuals for illicit substance usage, often in the workplace or schools.

Skinner v. Railway Labor Executives Association

A case affirming the constitutionality of drug testing railroad employees for safety reasons.

Von Raab v. United States

A case affirming drug tests for U.S. Customs officials under a special needs context.

Strip Searches

Intimate searches of individuals typically involving the removal of clothing, subject to specific legal standards.

Government Agency

A body of government established for a specific function, such as law enforcement or health regulation.

Written Procedures

Documented standards and protocols that govern the operations of agencies conducting searches.

Administrative Searches

Routine inspections by government officials for regulatory compliance rather than criminal investigations.

Student Searches

Searches occurring within educational settings, often guided by institutional policies.

Privacy Interests

The rights individuals have regarding their personal information and spaces.

Search Warrant

A legal document authorizing police to conduct a search of specified premises.

Exclusionary Rule

A legal principle preventing the use of illegally obtained evidence in court.

Public Safety

The welfare and protection of the general public, often used as justification for certain searches.

Legal Custody

A status indicating that a person is under the supervision of the state, impacting their privacy rights.

Room Searches

Searches conducted in living quarters such as dorms, influenced by specific legal precedents.