{"id":352398,"date":"2023-11-28T16:18:32","date_gmt":"2023-11-28T21:18:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/criminal\/criminal-rights\/u-s-constitution-fourth-amendment.html"},"modified":"2023-11-28T16:18:32","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T21:18:32","slug":"u-s-constitution-fourth-amendment","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-rights\/u-s-constitution-fourth-amendment.html","title":{"rendered":"Fourth Amendment Protection Against Unreasonable Searches and Seizures"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Fourth Amendment Protection Against Unreasonable Searches and Seizures<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Samuel Strom, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Rhonda Earhart, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects citizens’ privacy. It guarantees the right to be free from unreasonable government intrusions into your person, home, business, and property. If the government performs an unreasonable search, it can be prohibited at trial from presenting the incriminating evidence seized during that search.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

The law addressing governmental searches and seizures is both complicated and extensive. At\u00a0common law, the government could perform\u00a0warrantless searches. The Bill of Rights, including the Fourth Amendment, changed that. A\u00a0search warrant\u00a0is required in most cases.<\/p>\n

The U.S. Supreme Court has interpreted and clarified the Fourth Amendment protection throughout American history. It has answered the following questions, among others:<\/p>\n