Walk It Through: The Search Warrant
No search of a home without a warrant, an arrest on probable cause of a felony, and what a judge weighs for release.
Officers come to a house early one morning with a search warrant.
Two things a person in this spot might do. Picking one shows what the law says about it.
One house and one bag. How a warrant is applied for and served, which court rules set, and the drug charge itself 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.
- Gross misdemeanorThe crime level between a misdemeanor and a felony, punishable by up to three hundred sixty four days in jail, a fine up to five thousand dollars, or both.
- Search warrantThe authority, issued upon a complaint as the law provides, without which no police officer or other peace officer may enter and search a private dwelling house or place of residence.
- Conditions of releaseThe conditions a judicial officer sets to reasonably assure the safety of other people and the community, after weighing the offense and the evidence, the defendant's character, ties and history, and the record of appearing in court.
- StalkingIntentionally and repeatedly harassing or following someone, or contacting, following, tracking or monitoring them after actual notice that they do not want it, causing fear a reasonable person would feel.
- Criminal trespassKnowingly entering or remaining unlawfully in a building, the first degree, or in or upon other premises of another, the second degree.
- HarassmentKnowingly threatening, without lawful authority, to cause bodily injury, damage property, or confine someone, where the words or conduct place the person in reasonable fear the threat will be carried out.
- Protection orderAn order of one of the kinds the statute lists, among them domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, vulnerable adult and extreme risk protection orders.