Walk It Through: The Knock at Dawn
A search warrant at a house, the hours a home may be searched, the copy and the receipt, and an inventory.
Soon after sunrise, detectives knock at a rowhouse in Wilmington with a search warrant for stolen electronics.
Two things a person in this spot might do. Picking one shows what the law says about it.
A daytime search of a home under a warrant. Searches without a warrant, consent, cars and phones are not worked through here.
A practice walkthrough, not a prediction of how any real one will go. Legal information, not legal advice.
Words this turns on
Terms with a legal meaning that is narrower than the everyday one. Each links to the definition and the authority behind it.
- Physical injuryThe harm that makes assault in the third degree, a class A misdemeanor, and with a deadly weapon or a victim 62 or older, the second degree.
- Search warrantA judge's written authority to search a described place for described things, on sworn facts showing probable cause.
- SummonsA written order to appear in court an officer may give instead of arresting for a misdemeanor. Wilfully failing to appear can bring up to $100 or 30 days.