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Plain View Search

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Law enforcement officers across the country have undergone extensive training and have been entrusted with powers to protect the public. They have every right to remain vigilant in conducting their job to ensure their safety as well as the publics. They are authorized to conduct specific types of searches with out a warrant and three types of searches are: plain view search, consent to search, and stop and frisk. We will look at each type of search closer and attempt to throughly describe each. A plain-view search is a tool an officer can utilize to legally confiscate or seize a specific item. This type of search requires the officer: to view the item while he or she is in the immediate area, recogize and realize the item can be seized, …show more content…

Officers spend years training and devolping key investigate tools, techniques, and continually learning how to be more effective in protecting the public. The Supreme Court affirms that once an officer detains or arrests a person for a weapons violation, tampers with evidence, or drugs; officers are authorized to search areas or vehicles the arrested person was in control of. Arizona v. Johnson established doctrine for the pat and frisk under the following requiremnts: an officer believes he witnessed criminal activity, he or she inititates contact, fearing the individual may have a concealed and dangerous weapon a pat down is conducted. The above case happend in Tucson, AZ while officers were patrolling a neighborhood known for Crip gang member activity. The task force pulled the vehicle over a moving violation, upon making contact with vehicle occupants, a male in the backseat displayed very unusual behavior. The officer also noticed colors associated with Crip gang members, and the officer asked Mr. Johnson to step out and away from the vehicle. He concducted a stop and frisk for his own safety and discovered a handgun. The stop and frisk took an active gang member and handgun off the streets, the may

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