When law enforcement officers come to your house, what can you do to protect yourself? First, ask to see a warrant. Police must have this on hand before they’re allowed to enter your property. If they force their way in anyway, you may be able to take legal action. Here’s what to know and when to contact an attorney after the police search your home.
What You Can Say To Police Who Can’t Show You A Warrant
You don’t have to let police officers into your home before they show a warrant. No matter what they try to say, you aren’t required to let them in without one. If they do have a warrant, be sure it has the right name, date, and street address.
If the police don’t have a correct warrant, you can say that you don’t give them permission to search. They might search anyway, but you need to be able to prove that the search wasn’t permitted.
What You Can Do With Police Who Make Forcible Entry
If the police don’t have a warrant, they should leave and only come back after they get one from a judge. But this isn’t guaranteed. If officers decide to act outside the law to search your property, you may be at a loss for what to do next.
Don’t resist – this can be used against you later, even when the officers are conducting an illegal search. Instead, document the search as thoroughly as possible. If you can, ask to record them as they conduct the search.
Are There Any Cases Where Cops Don’t Have To Get A Warrant?
Law enforcement officials aren’t required to get a warrant before entering someone’s home in a few specific circumstances:
- They believe someone inside is at risk of harm
- They have evidence that someone inside is a fugitive
- They are able to see evidence of a crime from outside the building
In these situations, police can act right away to protect public safety. If authorities want to get other evidence from the property later, they’ll have to get a search warrant then.
If the Florida police have searched your property without a warrant, don’t wait to get legal help. Call experienced criminal attorney in West Palm Beach Michael T. Rabideau now at (561) 820-4848.
