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Simple English definitions for legal terms
exigent circumstances
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A quick definition of exigent circumstances:
Exigent circumstances are situations where police officers can search or seize something without a warrant because waiting to get a warrant could cause harm to people, destroy evidence, or let a suspect escape. For example, if someone is in danger or a suspect is running away, the police can act quickly without a warrant. Courts will look at the situation to see if it was urgent and if a reasonable officer would have acted the same way.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Exigent circumstances refer to situations where law enforcement officers are allowed to conduct a search or seizure without a warrant. These situations arise when there is an urgent need to act to prevent physical harm, destruction of evidence, escape of a suspect, or other circumstances that would frustrate legitimate law enforcement efforts.
Examples:
- If the police receive a report of a person screaming for help inside a house, they can enter the house without a warrant to provide emergency assistance to the occupant.
- If a suspect is fleeing from the police, the police can pursue the suspect without a warrant to prevent their escape.
- If the police receive a report of a fire in a building, they can enter the building without a warrant to put out the fire and investigate its cause.
These examples illustrate how exigent circumstances can arise in different situations where there is an urgent need for law enforcement to act to prevent harm or preserve evidence.