Constitutional Policing in the United States

Constitutional Policing in the United States

The United States Constitution requires that the police, being the law enforcers, conduct
legitimate actions. The public often trusts these officers from this notion, hence helping to save
time during police check-ups. During the policing process, civilians have the rights to privacy
enforced through technological advancement. This paper has an objective to explain the United
States constitution influences policing in the case of a vehicle search.
A car search is legal if the car owner gave the police consent, the officer has probable
cause to trust that there could be evidence of crime within the vehicle when the search is
significant for the protection of the police, and when the search is mandatory because of its
relation to an arrest (Peak & Madensen-Herold, 2019). Hence, the car search was legal because
the individual gave consent.
Probable cause or reasonable suspicion is a valid reason for vehicle searches by police
(Peak & Madensen-Herold, 2019). The critical difference between probable cause and
reasonable suspicion is that in probable cause, there is solid crime evidence, which reasonable
suspicion happens when a sane officer has reasonable suspects of a crime.
It is possible to say no to a car search because it is lawfully correct not to consent. This
relates to the protection of privacy as per expectations of privacy (Peak & Madensen-Herold,
2019). The police, in this case, would have to require a search warrant or somewhat justify their
search to a probable cause. Constitutional policing puts forth the civilian awareness conserving
civil liberties within the society. Hence, police need to inquire which constitution allows them to
do public car searches.
In summary, the police have a duty to protect people's constitutional rights whenever they
interact with individuals in all cases. Policing has to be conducted lawful, constitutional, and

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consensual. In doing so, while dealing with crime, police have to be consistent with the wishes of
victims of crime.

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Reference

Peak, K. J., & Madensen-Herold, T. D. (2019). Introduction to criminal justice: Practice and
process. Sage Publications.