That depends on what they're looking for. The United States Constitution does not permit police to search for anything. The search warrant has to specify what the police believe they will find, and why they believe it will be found where they search. In other words, search warrants have to be specific as to what is being sought, and the search cannot be made in places where the object sought cannot be found. For instance, the police cannot look into a bread box if the search warrant permits them to search for an elephant. On the other hand, if the search warrant permits the police to search for drugs or betting slips, almost anything is fair game for the search, and if other contraband is found, it can be seized.

Frequently Asked Questions

 


Q: When police have a search warrant for a person's house, may they search everywhere?

A: That depends on what they're looking for. The United States Constitution does not permit police to search "for anything." The search warrant has to specify what the police believe they will find, and why they believe it will be found where they search. In other words, search warrants have to be specific as to what is being sought, and the search cannot be made in places where the object sought cannot be found. For instance, the police cannot look into a bread box if the search warrant permits them to search for an elephant. On the other hand, if the search warrant permits the police to search for drugs or betting slips, almost anything is fair game for the search, and if other contraband is found, it can be seized.


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