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Probable cause

A traffic stop shows a police cruiser with flashing lights sitting behind a white car on the side of the road | Mike2focus/Dreamstime

War on Drugs

Minnesota's Top Court Rebukes Cops Who Searched a Car After Claiming To Smell Pot That Wasn't There

In light of the state's marijuana reforms, the court says, the odor of weed is not enough to establish probable cause.

Jacob Sullum | 10.6.2023 2:40 PM

Forrest-City-police-badge-background | Forrest City Police Department

Fourth Amendment

A Federal Judge Says a Victim of Retaliatory Prosecution Can Sue a Cop Who Treated Criticism As a Crime

An Arkansas police officer used trumped-up charges to punish a man who criticized him for violating the Constitution.

Jacob Sullum | 3.31.2022 5:30 PM

middlefingers_1161x653 | Maxim Lupascu / Dreamstime.com

Brickbats

Brickbat: Fingered

Charles Oliver | 8.19.2019 4:00 AM

Large image on homepages | The Kansas City Star/Screenshot

Police

Black Man Cuffed on His Own Property While Moving Into New Home

"I'm being handcuffed right here on my own damn property," Karle Robinson said while watching body camera footage of the incident.

Joe Setyon | 10.4.2018 1:00 PM

Large image on homepages | Jason Kolenda / Dreamstime.com

Brickbats

Brickbat: In Plain Sight

Charles Oliver | 4.19.2018 4:00 AM

Large image on homepages | Jenn Durfey/Flickr

Supreme Court

Supreme Court Considers: Can Cops Arrest You for Going to a Party Where You Don't Know the Host?

The case has already produced some fun SCOTUS banter. It could have major consequences for due process and police accountability.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 10.11.2017 2:50 PM

Large image on homepages

War on Drugs

Should Used Tea Leaves Give Probable Cause for Drug Raids?

Justin Monticello | 1.3.2016 5:00 PM

Large image on homepages | g_cowan/Flickr

Politics

How a Bipartisan Majority in Congress Shredded the Constitution, Again.

Hidden in the Cromnibus was a clause allowing the NSA to gather your private data and share it with law enforcement and foreign governments.

Andrew Napolitano | 12.18.2014 7:00 AM

Large image on homepages | Wikimedia

Policy

Probable Cause is Too Hard for the NSA? Too Bad.

The NSA knows it is violating the Fourth Amendment, which expressly forbids general warrants.

Andrew Napolitano | 3.27.2014 7:00 AM

Large image on homepages | michellecarl/Flickr

Civil Liberties

Brooklyn Men Claim Cops Arrested Them for Not Turning Over White Castle Sliders

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 3.17.2014 12:20 PM

Civil Liberties

The Anal Rape Non-Drug Bust in New Mexico: The Reason for the Warrant

Brian Doherty | 11.7.2013 1:55 PM

Civil Liberties

FL Woman Can Sue Over Arrest for Annoying Police

Contempt of cop isn't a crime

Reason Staff | 3.12.2013 5:40 PM

Civil Liberties

Meet the Guys Calling Out Police's Super-Sniffing Skills

Science leading to skepticism over officers' ability to smell pot whenever they need an excuse to search

Scott Shackford | 10.4.2012 5:42 PM

War on Drugs

Ability of Cops to Smell Marijuana Challenged

Believe it or not, there is an expert on the matter

Reason Staff | 10.4.2012 12:23 PM

Politics

Stopping Crime Before It Starts

Predictive policing helps police protect citizens. It could also be used to oppress them.

Ronald Bailey | 7.10.2012 5:00 PM

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