Criminal Procedure
1) The ability for courts to eliminate the “knock and announce” requirement when issuing a search warrant has recently come under attack as an abuse of police powers and a threat to public safety. Do you think judges/magistrates should have the ability to waive the knock and announce requirement or do you believe legislatures should make knock and announce a mandatory requirement that cannot be waived by the court? Please explain your answer in detail, justifying your position.
2) The Carroll Doctrine, which allows law enforcement officers to search a vehicle when they have probable cause to believe the vehicle contains evidence of a crime, traditionally allowed officers to search a vehicle whenever they smelled the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. Do you believe the Carroll Doctrine should still apply in a state that has legalized the use and possession of medical marijuana? Please explain and support your answer.
3) Law enforcement is under scrutiny for some of the techniques utilized (i.e. chokeholds, knee-to-neck) to restrain and apprehend offenders. Do you think law enforcement’s use of force needs to be curtailed and/or regulated? Explain your answer in detail. For more information on Criminal Procedure check on this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_procedure
