Category Archives: Prison and jail searches

IL: Officers executing SW lawfully seized gun in plain view

The trial court erred in suppressing evidence. The officers were lawfully on the premises with a warrant when a gun was seen in plain view. People v. Serrato, 2023 IL App (2d) 220100, 2023 Ill. App. LEXIS 3 (Jan. 6, … Continue reading

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CA6: Plastic bag on car console wasn’t obviously “dope” to justify automobile exception

The government argued that the search of defendant’s car was justified by the automobile exception because contraband was in plain view. The court disagrees. There was a plastic bag on the console, and the photographic evidence from inside the car … Continue reading

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SC Const. search and seizure and privacy provision protects abortion rights; Idaho says theirs doesn’t

The state 1971 constitutional amendment recognizing a right to privacy was really enacting what the people always believed about privacy. It provides: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches … Continue reading

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D.Minn.: Involuntary civil detainees in a sex offender program have no REP in their rooms

Involuntary civil detainees in a sex offender program have no reasonable expectation of privacy in their rooms. White v. Dayton, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 71 (D. Minn. Jan. 3, 2023). Habeas petitioner’s claim that a bad photo ID led to … Continue reading

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MD: RS is based on an objective test

“[T]he totality of the circumstances assessment to determine the existence of reasonable articulable suspicion is and remains an objective test.” Flight can also be consistent with innocence. Washington v. State, 2022 Md. LEXIS 524 (Dec. 19, 2022). Reasonable suspicion developed … Continue reading

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CA6: Violation of Robert’s Rules of Order prior to ptf’s arrest not a constitutional violation

Plaintiff was arrested for disorderly conduct for disrupting a public meeting after repeatedly being told to shut up. His claim that his ejection from the meeting and then the arrest violated Robert’s Rules of Order isn’t a constitutional claim. Burton … Continue reading

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E.D.Ark.: Inmate states claim against Sheriff and jail phone provider that privileged attorney calls were turned over to police

Plaintiff Texas inmate was in an Arkansas county jail in 2015-17, and he discovered in 2021 through his current defense lawyer that the county jail phone contractor turned over telephone calls between him and his criminal defense lawyer to the … Continue reading

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E.D.N.Y.: A single incident of legal mail being opened in jail doesn’t state a claim

A single incident of legal mail being opened before it got to plaintiff in a county jail doesn’t state a constitutional violation. Braithwaite v. Suffolk Cty. N.Y., 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 204233 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 9, 2022). There is no reasonable … Continue reading

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NC: Not plain error for officer to read from SW affidavit at trial

The officer’s reading from the search warrant affidavit at trial because it contained hearsay may have been error, but it wasn’t plain error. Defendant was free to cross-examine on all of that to mitigate prejudice [if he could]. State v. … Continue reading

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FL1: SW cured alleged defect in probation search where roommate wasn’t on probation

Defendant, not on probation, lived with two probationers. POs showed up for a probation search, and when they saw the extent of what they found and had a nonprobationer, they got a search warrant for the rest of the house. … Continue reading

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E.D.Cal.: Contraband cell phone in prison can be wiretapped outside of Title III

Because there is no reasonable expectation of privacy in a prison or in a cell phone in prison, a contraband cell phone can be wiretapped without a Title III warrant. United States v. Bash, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 180680 (E.D. … Continue reading

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E.D.Pa.: Searching administratively impounded taxi states 4A claim

Plaintiff states a claim against the Philadelphia Parking Authority for detaining his temporarily impounded taxi for a later search without justification. Mbagwu v. PPA Taxi & Limousine Div., 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 167790 (E.D. Pa. Sep. 16, 2022). A cross-sex … Continue reading

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S.D.N.Y.: Warrantless seizure of a vehicle to pay fines violates 4A and 14A

The warrantless seizure of a vehicle because of owed fines violates the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments. Santander Consumer USA, Inc. v. City of Yonkers, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 164416 (S.D.N.Y. Sep. 12, 2022). Pretrial detainees also have no reasonable expectation … Continue reading

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D.Idaho: This protective sweep was based on speculation and was unreasonable

Here, the protective sweep claim of the government was factually based on speculation, and was unreasonable. United States v. Iverson, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 156914 (D. Idaho Aug. 29, 2022). Defendant’s stop for suspieion of criminal activity was reasonable. United … Continue reading

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CA6: No QI for 3 strip searches a day for inmate in segregation

Plaintiff’s prison warden denied qualified immunity for ordering three strip searches a day on plaintiff when he was in segregation. Fugate v. Erdos, 2022 U.S. App. LEXIS 23208 (6th Cir. Aug. 18, 2022). “The defendant officers were attempting to locate … Continue reading

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W.D.N.Y.: 4A doesn’t protect a jail cell shakedown search; procedural due process does not apply

Defendant’s jail cell was subjected to a shakedown search, and it was reasonable. His claim of procedural due process safeguards come from civil cases and don’t apply. United States v. Arrington, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 142770 (W.D.N.Y. Aug. 10, 2022). … Continue reading

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D.Minn.: No 4A claim for seizure of legal papers in prison

There is no Fourth Amendment claim for seizure of legal papers when an inmate was moving within a prison. Smith v. Starr, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 139361 (D. Minn. Aug. 5, 2022). “Following the arrest, however, the agents lawfully knew … Continue reading

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E.D.Cal.: 4A does not require medical personnel participate in a prison strip search

The Fourth Amendment does not require medical personnel participate in a prison strip search. Graham v. Wright, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 136026 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 1, 2022). Defendant’s stop for late night knocking on the door of a house where … Continue reading

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MI directs its CoA to consider application of exclusionary rule in zoning case

The Michigan Supreme Court remanded Long Lake Twp. v. Maxon, 2021 Mich. App. LEXIS 1819 (Mar. 18, 2021) (posted here) to determine below whether the exclusionary rule should apply in a zoning case. Long Lake Twp. v. Maxon, 2022 Mich. … Continue reading

Posted in Exclusionary rule, Mail and packages, Prison and jail searches, Reasonable suspicion, Subpoenas / Nat'l Security Letters | Comments Off on MI directs its CoA to consider application of exclusionary rule in zoning case

E.D.Cal.: Inmate has no standing in a contraband cell phone

A person in prison has no standing to contest a wiretap on a contraband cell phone. United States v. Yandell, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 91166 (E.D.Cal. May 20, 2022). “The facts of this case indicate that [Officer] Leitzen, while conducting … Continue reading

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