Police officers are routinely confronted with Fourth Amendment issues during citizen interactions. As guardians of a free society, officers must know, understand, and properly apply the Fourth’s foundational tenets. If they don’t, officers risk making evidence inadmissible, and incurring both personal and professional liability. This class is prepared with both an academic and practical perspective in mind and reviews fundamental Fourth Amendment issues such as:
- Reasonable Suspicion
- Probable Cause
- What is a Search or Seizure?
- Consensual Encounters
- Investigative Detentions
- Stop and Frisks
- Detaining Victims or Witnesses
- Arrests; Vehicles; Homes
- Warrants of Arrest
- Search Warrants
- Warrant Exceptions
- Electronic Searches
- Class examples and exercises using Maine case law.
Develop Better Liability Awareness: Officers may not be immune in Fourth Amendment cases, even when acting in good faith. Learn how to best protect yourself, your department, and your community.
Course Instructor: Paul Cavanaugh, Assistant District Attorney at DA IV – Augusta
This class uses Maine Fourth Amendment Case law
