WHEN DOES A POLICE SEARCH EXCEED THE SCOPE OF A SEARCH WARRANT?

A police search exceeds the scope of a search warrant when it goes beyond the specific areas or items specified in the warrant. For example, if a search warrant authorizes the search of a specific room in a house, the police cannot search other rooms or areas of the house unless they have additional probable cause to do so.

The purpose of a search warrant is to provide specific and limited authorization for the police to search a particular place or thing. The warrant must specify the place to be searched and the items to be seized, and the search must be limited to these areas and items.

If the police exceed the scope of the warrant, any evidence they find may not be admissible in court. This is because the warrant serves as a safeguard against unreasonable searches and seizures, and violating the scope of the warrant undermines this purpose.

It's important to note that the scope of a search warrant can also be exceeded if the police use excessive force or engage in unnecessarily destructive behavior during the search.