Maricopa Community Colleges

Official Course Description:  MCCCD Approval: 6-23-2009

LEO243  2009 Fall – 2010 Fall

L+L  4.0 Credit(s)  6.0 Period(s)  5.4 Load  Occ

Search Warrant Preparation

Overview of statutes, constitutional requirements, and case law covering searches, seizures, and detentions relative to the search warrant process. Includes procedures and tactical considerations for obtaining and serving search warrants. Also covers review and documentation of probable cause related to property, persons, and drug-related crimes within a search warrant affidavit as well as search warrant draft procedures.

Prerequisites: One (1) year experience as a police officer and nine semester hours related college courses.

 

Cross-References: LET243

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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:

 

 

LEO243  2009 Fall – 2010 Fall

Search Warrant Preparation

 

1.          Name the elements of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution.  (I)

2.          Describe the exemptions to the Fourth Amendment.  (I)

3.          Review definitions as related to search warrants.  (I)

4.          Define probable cause relative to search warrants, facilities to be searched, and property to be seized.  (I, II, III)

5.          Describe legislative and case law relative to search warrants. (II)

6.          Explain procedures for obtaining a search warrant.  (II)

7.          Describe procedures for executing a search warrant.  (II)

8.          Compare and contrast procedures for dealing with confidential and non-confidential information and informants.  (II)

9.          Explain procedures for returning a search warrant.  (II)

10.        List the search requirements and procedures needed to serve a search warrant.  (II, III)

11.        Define limitations related to who can be detained at a search warrant scene.  (II, III)

12.        Apply relevant legislative and case laws during the development process of a search warrant. (I, II, III)

13.        Draft a search warrant for an individual wanted on a felony warrant.  (III)

14.        Draft a search warrant for a property-related crime.  (III)

15.        Draft a search warrant for a persons-related crime.  (III)

16.        Draft a search warrant for a drug-related offense.  (III)

17.        Draft a covert operation-related search warrant.  (III)

 

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MCCCD Official Course Outline:

 

 

LEO243  2009 Fall – 2010 Fall

Search Warrant Preparation

 

I.          Introduction to Search Warrants

            A.        Fourth Amendment

                        1.         Elements

                        2.         Exemptions

            B.        Definitions

                        1.         Search

                        2.         Seizure

                        3.         Evidence

                        4.         Probable Cause

                        5.         Search Warrant Exceptions

                        6.         Search Warrants

                        7.         Exclusionary Rule

                        8.         Standing

                        9.         Four Corners Doctrine

                        10.       Civil Liabilities

II.        Searches

            A.        Fourth Amendment Requirements

            B.        Law

                        1.         Arizona

                        2.         Case

            C.        Warrants

                        1.         Reasons for Drawing

                        2.         Method of Obtaining

                        3.         Serving

                        4.         Limitations

                        5.         No Knock

            D.        Vehicle Searches and Exceptions

                        1.         Mobility

                        2.         Search Incidental to Arrest

                        3.         Inventory

                        4.         Passenger Compartment

                        5.         Vehicle Compartments

                        6.         Trunk

            E.         Inventory

            F.         Return of Service

            G.        Departmental Reports

            H.        Informants

                        1.         Confidential

                        2.         Non-Confidential

            I.          Night Time Services

            J.          Search Warrant Service Preparation

                        1.         Uniform Presence

                        2.         Time and Entry Tape Recording

                        3.         Scene Photographs

                        4.         Property Receipt

            K.        Wiretap

                        1.         Probable Cause

                        2.         Exhaustion

III.       Warrant Writing

            A.        Felony

                        1.         Validity Probable Cause

                        2.         Location Probable Cause

                        3.         Affidavit Amendment

            B.        Property-Related Crime

                        1.         Property Verification/Documentation

                        2.         Probable Cause

                        3.         Amendment

            C.        Person-Related Crime

                        1.         Elements of the Crime Probable Cause

                        2.         Location Probable Cause

                        3.         Identifying Evidence Probable Cause

            D.        Drug Related Offenses

                        1.         Intelligence Source Information

                        2.         Probable Cause

                        3.         Undercover Police Operations

            E.         Covert Operations

                        1.         Global Positioning Tracking System

                        2.         Sneak and Peek

                        3.         Historical Cellular Telephone Tower/Sector Information

 

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