Exclusionary rule exists to protect the rights of citizens to due process when accused or suspected of criminal activities. There are therefore certain constitutional specifications according to which incriminating information can be seized. Without adhering to these specifications, seized items cannot be allowed as evidence against an accused person in a criminal trial. There are, however, certain exceptions to the exclusionary rule, including fleeing suspects and the good faith exception.
In the case of a fleeing suspect for example, pursuit of a suspect may cause the person to enter a residence in order to avoid arrest, since the usual rule is that evidence acquired without a warrant cannot be submitted in a court of law. However, an officer in pursuit of such a suspect may enter the residence without a search warrant to prevent the suspect from destroying or discarding the evidence. One example of this is flushing drugs down a toilet.
An emergency search can also be conducted without a police warrant to promote public safety. A fleeing subject, for example, might be dangerous in cases such as wielding a weapon. A suspect with a gun, for example, could endanger the lives of those in the immediate vicinity.
Vehicles may also be included in this rule. If a police officer has probable cause to search a motor vehicle, he or she is allowed to do this without a warrant. The reason behind this is that vehicles can...
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