KEY COURT CASES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT

1st Amendment

Protects freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.

Fighting Words

Words that may incite violence or breach of the peace, not protected by the First Amendment.

Child Pornography

Laws prohibiting child pornography are constitutional regardless of obscenity.

Obscenity

Material lacking serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value, not protected.

Symbolic Speech

Nonverbal communication, such as wearing armbands in protest, protected by the First Amendment.

True Threats

Statements that threaten violence and require proof of the speaker's understanding.

Compelled Speech

The government cannot force individuals to express specific beliefs or slogans.

Political Speech

Nonviolent expression related to politics is protected under the First Amendment.

Exclusionary Rule

Legal doctrine preventing the use of unlawfully obtained evidence in court.

Probable Cause

The standard required for law enforcement to make an arrest or search.

Miranda Rights

Rights that must be read to a suspect upon arrest to inform them of their rights.

Double Jeopardy

The prosecution of a person twice for the same offense, prohibited by the Fifth Amendment.

Right to Counsel

The guarantee that a defendant has legal representation during criminal proceedings.

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Punishments that are disproportionate to the crime, prohibited by the Eighth Amendment.

Due Process

The legal requirement that the state must respect all legal rights owed to a person.

Fourth Amendment,

Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Expectations of Privacy

A standard for determining when Fourth Amendment protections apply.

Search Warrant

A legal document authorizing law enforcement to conduct a search.

Consent Search

A search conducted without a warrant after an individual voluntarily agrees to it.

Stop and Frisk

Stopping a person for questioning and patting them down for weapons, based on reasonable suspicion.

6th Amendment

Guarantees the right to a fair trial, legal counsel, and an impartial jury.

8th Amendment

Prohibits excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment.

14th Amendment

Guarantees citizenship rights and equal protection under the law.

Civil Rights

Rights that protect individuals' freedom from infringement by governments, social organizations, and private individuals.

Free Exercise Clause

Protects individuals' right to practice their religion freely.

Establishment Clause

Prohibits the government from establishing a religion.

Self-Incrimination

The act of implicating oneself in a crime, protected against in the Fifth Amendment.

Grand Jury

A group that examines whether there is enough evidence to indict a suspect.

Eminent Domain

The right of a government to take private property for public use with compensation.

Speedy Trial

The right of a defendant to a trial without delay.

Witness Confrontation

The right to face one's accuser in court.

Proportional Punishment

The principle that punishment should fit the nature and severity of the crime.

Juvenile Sentencing

Legal principles concerning the punishment of young offenders.

Exigent Circumstances

A legal justification for conducting a search without a warrant due to emergency situations.