'Knock and Talk' and the Fourth Amendment

31 Pages Posted: 22 Jan 2009 Last revised: 1 Jul 2013

See all articles by Craig Bradley

Craig Bradley

Indiana University Maurer School of Law

Abstract

"Knock and talk" is a technique employed by police, in theory, to make legitimate inquiries about alleged criminal activities by knocking on people's doors and talking to them about the allegations. In fact, it is used to check out yards and to get views (and smells) from the inside of houses, as well as to locate potential arrestees, without probable cause or a warrant. If the information thus obtained amounts to probable cause, either to search or arrest, the police then claim "exigent circumstances," enter the house, search, arrest, and search further incident to arrest, all without a warrant. Although the Supreme Court clearly disapproved of this sort of activity in 1948 in Johnson v, United States, 333 U.S. 10, that case has been largely ignored by the courts of appeal, which have widely approved of "knock and talk." The Supreme Court has not addressed this subject since Johnson. This article reviews the many cases on this issue and suggests some possible limits on the police.

Keywords: Criminal Procedure, Fourth Amendment, Search and Seizure, Knock and Talk

Suggested Citation

Bradley, Craig, 'Knock and Talk' and the Fourth Amendment. Indiana Law Journal, Vol. 84, No. 4, 2009, Indiana Legal Studies Research Paper No. 120, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1331075

Craig Bradley (Contact Author)

Indiana University Maurer School of Law ( email )

211 S. Indiana Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47405
United States

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