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Law enforcement officers want to search your home or property.

SEE HOW THIS APPLIES IN YOUR STATE

1.Do not open the door if you are not sure who is there — ask who it is through the door
2.If police knock, ask: "Do you have a warrant?"
3.If they do not have a warrant, you may refuse entry: "I do not consent to a search or entry without a warrant"
4.If they present a warrant, ask to read it — check the address and what areas/items are covered
5.Do not physically block officers executing a valid warrant
6.Stay calm and do not make sudden movements
7.Invoke your right to remain silent
8.Ask for an attorney
9.Observe and remember everything — which officers, what they searched, what they took

Your Rights

"Do you have a warrant?"

"I do not consent to a search or entry."

"I would like to see and read the warrant."

"I am invoking my right to remain silent."

"I want an attorney."

Enter your home without a valid warrant, consent, or exigent circumstances

Search areas or seize items not covered by the warrant

Create exigent circumstances themselves to justify warrantless entry

Force entry without announcing themselves in most circumstances (knock-and-announce rule)

Detain you inside your home indefinitely without arrest

Court rulings related to this situation.

The government needs a warrant to listen to your private communications even in a public place if you have a reasonable expectatio…

If you're lawfully stopped for a traffic violation, police can use a drug-sniffing dog around the outside of your car without a wa…

Police can approach you on a bus, train, or in other public places, ask questions, and ask for permission to search — without any …

Schools can search students with less justification than police need. But the search must be reasonable: school officials need a r…