In this unit, students will learn about constitutional limitations on a policeman's power in the United States. Specifically, students will consider the circumstances under which the police may conduct a search or seizure. Students will learn about the importance of warrants and of probable cause. They will also examine exceptions to the warrant requirement as well as exceptions to probable cause such as reasonable suspicion or special needs of the police beyond ordinary crime control. Students in this unit also examine the law of confessions. Among other things, they will look at the famous Miranda case, along with its various progeny. Students explore whether the law puts too many restrictions on the ability of the police to obtain confessions, or whether, to the contrary, it is too easy to obtain confessions. Finally, students will examine the different provisions the Court uses to limit allowable confessions.

Subject rules

Readings