1. Criminal Justice Process: The Investigation
Chapter 12
Street Law Text pp

2. Most crimes are prosecuted under State Law
The Criminal Justice System includes everything that happens to an individual; investigation, arrest, prosecution, conviction, detention, and release
Most crimes are prosecuted under State Law
Typically all cases follow a certain process going from step to step.
After arrest a person could be freed at any step of the process
The Investigation is the important first step!
The investigation, and following steps, must follow the laws and regulations set out by the Constitution and the Courts of the United States

4. Arrest
Arrest- when a person suspected of a crime is taken into custody
An arrest is a seizure under the 4th Amendment
A person that is taken into custody under circumstances in which a reasonable person would not feel free to leave is considered to be under arrest, whether or not he or she is told that
Arrest Warrant- A court order commanding that a person named be taken into custody
A warrant is obtained from a judge [or magistrate] after an officer provides information that a specific person is believed to have committed a crime
Not all Arrests need a warrant, most felonies and misdemeanors can cause immediate arrest if the crime is witnessed by the officer or if the arrest is based on Probable Cause
Probable Cause- Reasonable belief that a specific person has committed a crime
Probable Cause is based on much less evidence than what is needed to convict a person

5. Arrest cont.
Drug Courier Profile- suspected criminal based on typical age, race, personal appearance, behavior, and mannerisms of people trafficking drugs
Police can establish probable cause based on information given to them from the community or informants
Judges will base decisions on warrants or arrests based on many things but may include an informants track record, and corroboration by officers
Corroborate- to confirm, usually by police officers of information given by a “layperson”
Reasonable Suspicion- Evidence that justifies an officer in stopping and questioning a person believed to be involved in a crime [less evidence than Probable Cause]
Stop and Frisk- Pat down, to search person for weapons, is only a quick “pat” through clothing

6. 12.1
The Police receive a tip that a drug pusher named Richie will be flying from New York City to Washington, D.C., sometime the morning of 9/8. The informant describes Richie as a tall man with reddish hair and a beard. He also tells police that Richie has a habit of walking fast and that he will be carrying illegal drugs in a brown leather bag. The police have received reliable information from this informant in the past. On the morning of 9/8, the police watch all passengers arriving from New York. When they see a man who fits the description- carrying a brown leather bag and walking fast, they arrest him. A search of the bag reveals a large quantity of cocaine.
Do you think the police had probable cause to arrest Richie? Explain 
Should the police have obtained a warrant before arresting Richie? Why or why not? 
Assume the police have not received a specific tip but they know that crack cocaine is being brought regularly on trains from on city to another by teenagers hired by older drug dealers. They see a 16 year old African American male arriving by train. He is alone and is carrying a small canvas bag. Should the police be able to stop and question him? Under what circumstances should they be able to search or arrest him?

9. Search and Seizure
Citizens of the United States expect to have a “right to privacy”, unfortunately there is no explicit “right to privacy” in the Constitution.
There is obviously the 4th Amendment and the freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures, but that is only directed at the “state” not private citizens or companies.
If there is an unwanted violation of privacy by a person or company their may be civil or even criminal action… peeping toms, trespassing, etc.
As for the “state” dealing with searches and seizures there are limits but there are many exceptions to unreasonable searches and seizures.
Exclusionary Rule- Evidence seized in an unlawful manner cannot be used at trial. This does take a motion by the defense attorney to ensure illegally seized evidence is excluded.
Remember illegal searches and seizures only apply to law enforcement, not private citizens.

11. Searches With a Warrant
Search Warrant- Court order to search and seize evidence
Bona Fide- Genuine
Affidavit- Sworn Statement of facts that provides “probable cause” to get a warrant
The affidavit and warrant must be specific to detail the location, items to be searched for, and items to be seized. Any deviation from this will cause the Exclusionary Rule to apply
In almost all cases law enforcement must knock and announce their presence, they are not allowed to do a “no knock” entry into the home using force. Exceptions include anytime evidence can be destroyed before officers search [Drugs]

13. Searches Without a Warrant
Search Incident to a Lawful Arrest
If a person is being arrested their “person” and the immediate area surrounding them
Stop and Frisk
You can be questioned and “patted down”
Consent
If you give permission- ONLY for your OWN property
Border and Airport Searches
Search prior to entering certain areas, “person” & belongings
Vehicle Searches
If there is probable cause after a stop [even containers]
Plain View
If evidence is in “sight” while conducting a lawful search or stop
Hot Pursuit
If chasing a suspect, legal to enter, and evidence is in “sight”
Emergency Situations
Any time there is an “emergency” and through legal entry evidence is found usually in “plain sight”

14. Suspicionless Searches
School Searches
The Supreme Court has granted public schools broad powers to search without warrants or even “probable cause”, because of the interest to protect ALL students from dangers [Drugs, alcohol, weapons, bombs]
There are very few limits, but one “interesting” limit is not allowing “strip searches”… I guess in my mind this is like the whole requirement to put “contents may be hot” on a coffee cup… I would hope it was common sense!!
Suspicionless Searches
Individual Suspicion is important in almost all situations, but there are some areas that the courts have allowed multiple individuals to be searched without warrants
Police sobriety checks, boarder and airport checks, and even metal detectors are examples of Suspicionless Searches.

16. Racial Profiling in Police Investigations
Racial Profiling- Inappropriate use of race as a factor identifying people who may break or have broken the law
Profiling can take the form of inappropriate police action based on ethnicity, national origin, or religion as well as race.
Example: Searching an “Arab” looking person because of that at an airport
The general rule is that it is inappropriate for an officer to stop a person SOLEY based on his or her race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion.

18. Interrogations and Confessions
Interrogate- Process of questioning the accused person
Many times the interrogation process will result in a confession, sometimes these are coerced though
Self Incrimination- The right from the 5th Amendment to not testify against yourself
The Supreme Court has ruled that a confession is not admissible as evidence if it is NOT voluntary.
Escobedo v. Illinois [64]- If a defendant has asked for an attorney and that request is denied a confession is “excluded”
Miranda Rights: Miranda v. Arizona 1966 court case that required law enforcement to read those arrested their constitutional rights
Custodial Interrogation- A person is in custody, not free to leave, and being interrogated.
Custodial Interrogation is the standard that the court has set for the requirement of Miranda
Just like in the exclusionary rule a defense attorney will ask that any statement made prior to the Miranda warnings be excluded