Katz v. United States: Established that warrantless searches are unconstitutional if they violate a person's reasonable expectation of privacy.
** Weeks v. United States: This case introduced the Exclusionary Rule, stating that evidence obtained from an illegal search is inadmissible in court. The Supreme Court ruled that the warrantless search of Mr. Weeks' home violated the Fourth Amendment.
New Jersey v. T.L.O.: The Supreme Court held that school officials can search students if they have reasonable suspicion, which is a lower standard than probable cause. This case balanced students' rights with the school's responsibility to maintain a safe environment.
Safford Unified School District v. Redding: The Court ruled that a strip search of a student by school officials was unreasonable and violated the Fourth Amendment, as there was no evidence suggesting that the student was carrying dangerous items.
Board of Education v. Earls: The Supreme Court upheld a school district's policy of random drug testing for student athletes, stating that it did not violate the Fourth Amendment as it served the school's interest in preventing drug use among students.
Key Principles of Fourth Amendment Protections:
Probable Cause: Law enforcement must have sufficient evidence to believe a crime has occurred before conducting a search.
Warrants: Generally, searches require a warrant issued by a judge, detailing the specific place and items to be searched.
Exclusionary Rule: Evidence obtained through illegal searches cannot be used in court, reinforcing the protection against unreasonable searches.
Exceptions to the Warrant Requirement: Certain situations allow for warrantless searches, such as exigent circumstances, consent, and searches of vehicles under probable cause.
Peace