Exigent Circumstances

Definition

A broader exception to the warrant requirement that permits warrantless searches or entries when there are urgent circumstances that make obtaining a warrant impractical, such as hot pursuit of a suspect, destruction of evidence, or an immediate threat to life. The emergency aid exception is a specific type of exigent circumstance.

Examples

• •Montana argued its officers faced exigent circumstances because Case might have shot himself and could be bleeding out behind the door

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