Research Paper on:
4th Amendment of the US Constitution and the Exclusionary Rule

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
topic involves the admissibility of evidence collected as a result of a search and seizure. Several landmark cases are noted. Bibliography lists 6 sources. SA 1174th.doc  Most Americans are familiar with the Constitution and the Amendments that protect them. They understand that they have a right to bear arms,  but are not supposed to walk in the street sporting a rifle. They know they have freedom of speech but are not allowed to scream obscenities in public. While everyone  is somewhat aware of these rights, there are always exceptions, or guidelines in their implementation. As far as the forth amendment is concerned, regarding searches and seizures, most people realize  that a police officer needs a search warrant to enter a home and that they cannot stop and frisk people on a whim. There must be some evidence for people  to be stopped and searched. Reasonable searches and seizures are however allowed. Sometimes an overzealous police officer will break the rules and try to get convincing evidence into court. However,  if evidence was obtained illegally, it will not get in. The exclusionary rule seems to apply to many of these cases. In looking at problems as to what to do  when Fourth Amendment concepts have been violated, the Supreme Court often applies what is called the exclusionary rule (McWhirter, 1994). The exclusionary rule claims that if a police officer  has obtained evidence in a manner that violates the Fourth Amendment, the evidence must be excluded from a trial (1994). Many such cases arise. An officer stops a man on  the street and searches him for no reason. He may find a pound of cocaine. However, the evidence must be excluded from the case if the suspect was searched illegally.