Law enforcement officers are entrusted with the power to conduct investigations, make arrests, perform searches and seizures...

...of persons and their belongings, and occasionally use lethal force in the line of duty. But this power must be exercised within the boundaries of the law, and when police officers exceed those boundaries they jeopardize the admissibility of any evidence collected for the prosecution.

A police officer is only allowed to search your person or your private property if the officer has probable cause.

That is, a reasonable belief that a crime has been committed or is about to be committed. Without probable cause or consent from the person to be searched, generally searches and seizures are illegal.

Police officers know the restrictions, and know that they are not allowed to search without probable cause.

To get around this requirement, they will often ask for your consent. If a police officer asks for permission to search your car, your home, or your person - you generally have the right to say no. Too many people surrender their right to privacy without realizing that they are doing so. If you give a police officer permission to search, anything that officer finds can be used against you in the court of law. If you or a love one is been affected by an illegal search and seizure, protect your legal rights.

A person who is convicted of a crime in general faces societal stigmas and potentially irreparable damage to his or her reputation. It is almost always unwise to represent yourself. Retain the services of a seasoned and experienced criminal defense attorney. Contact the Law Offices of Tom R. Medrano for your no-cost consultation.