Learn about the contentious legality of inventory searches when an arrestee is released without booking. Dive into the pivotal case of United States v. Sapalasan (9th Cir. Apr. 1, 2024) and its implications on police procedures and individual rights.
In our continuing discussion of the use of deadly force, qualified immunity and civil liability of municipalities, we examine a recent appeals court ruling in a Los Angeles shooting in which an officer fired multiple volleys of shots as an armed…
Recent appeals court ruling highlights the criteria officers need to consider when approaching someone in what may become a detention instead of a consensual chat. Rule of thumb: in the totality of the circumstances, would a reasonable person…
Questions asked during a lawful traffic stop in the normal time it takes to issue a citation do not unlawfully prolong the traffic stop, while placing an undercover officer in a suspect’s jail cell to record the suspect’s incriminating statements is…
While lawful possession of marijuana in a vehicle doesn’t provide probable cause for a search, unlawful possession does. In this case, the driver was a minor, and it is unlawful for him to have any amount of recreational marijuana. So, is the…
