Criminal suspect search involves the police searching a person’s body or personal effects for evidence of a crime. This search can occur before or after arrest.
A search incident to an arrest doesn’t require a warrant and can be 흥신소 broad in scope.
A private citizen can help federal agents during a search if it serves a legitimate investigative purpose. This includes swabbing the victim’s mouth to get DNA samples or locating missing property.
Identifying the Suspect
If the police are investigating you for a crime, they have probable cause to believe that you committed it and could be charged with it. This is why you should consider getting legal advice if you think you are under investigation or suspect that you are being accused of a crime.
Traditionally, investigators have relied on intel from their department and a manual process of scanning booking database records against crime scene video footage to identify suspects. The present invention provides a system for identifying suspects more quickly and accurately.
The modus operandi, or method, of the criminal’s offense often helps to identify him as many offenders repeat similar crimes in a similar manner. Eyewitness statements can also help to identify a suspect. They may include a description of his general appearance, his height and width, the best captured images from the crime scene, the estimated direction that he travelled at the time of the crime, the type of weapon (revolver, shotgun, etc.) and his facial hair (clean shaven, beard or mustache).
Obtaining a Search Warrant
For evidence obtained by a search warrant to be admissible in court, the police must have followed certain procedures. If an attorney can prove that the police violated these procedures, it could significantly weaken the prosecution’s case and make it impossible for them to secure a conviction.
To obtain a search warrant, the police must convince a neutral and detached magistrate that they have probable cause to believe that criminal activity is occurring at the place they wish to search and that evidence of crime will likely be found there. The police normally present this information in the form of written statements under oath, called affidavits.
Exceptions to the warrant requirement may exist, including searches incident to arrest and protective sweeps (Terry stops). A judge may also authorize a general emergency search without a warrant if officers have reasonable suspicion that a suspect is involved in a serious crime and that a delay in searching could threaten public safety or allow crucial evidence to be destroyed.
Performing the Search
The suspect’s first clue that they are under investigation may come when law enforcement officials show up at their home or work place. They might also call or leave a card asking to talk with the suspect, which could indicate that they are looking for evidence.
Officers can search a person and the areas immediately surrounding them without a warrant if they have probable cause to arrest them. This is called a search incident to arrest and can be done even if the suspect committed an offense that would normally result in a citation.
Officers can use a pat-down search when they have reasonable suspicion that the suspect has a weapon to prevent them from harming officers or destroying evidence during their escape attempt. The police can also search a person’s vehicle or tangible property (like a wallet) if they have probable cause to believe that it contains criminal evidence. Officers must secure any items they take during the search and not leave them unattended, however.
Arresting the Suspect
Once a suspect has been identified, police can arrest the individual. They may also search a person’s belongings for evidence of a crime or to identify potential motives. In some cases, detectives might go undercover to perform a search or question someone.
For example, if the police are investigating a report of an assault on the street, they might ask people nearby to describe the attackers. A witness might spontaneously exclaim that a certain man was the perpetrator, and the police might arrest the person based on that statement alone.
After an arrest, the suspect will be handcuffed and taken to a police station. During transport, officers should be vigilant to ensure that the suspect does not obtain a weapon. They should also search the suspect each time they transfer them to another officer or drop them off somewhere else, and they should check their waist and groin area first because these are places where weapons are commonly concealed.