LEGAL

RESEARCH

Caniglia v. Strom

Facts

Petitioner Edward Caniglia and his wife were having an argument with Caniglia took out a handgun, placed in on the table and asked his wife to “shoot him” now and get it over with.” She said no, and then spent the night at a hotel. The next morning, the wife had not heard from her husband and called 911 for a welfare check. Police and the wife arrived to the house to find petitioner on the porch. Petitioner agreed a psychotic evaluation. Once petitioner had left, guided by petitioner’s wife, the officers entered the home and took two handguns.

Issue

“Whether Cady’s acknowledgment of these “caretaking” duties creates a standalone doctrine that justifies warrantless searches and seizures in the home.”

Held

“Whether Cady’s acknowledgment of these “caretaking” duties creates a standalone doctrine that justifies warrantless searches and seizures in the home.”

Discussion

“Cady’s unmistakable distinction between vehicles and homes also places into proper context its reference to !community caretaking.” This quote comes from a portion of the opinion explaining that the !frequency with which . . . vehicle[s] can become disabled or involved in . . . accident[s] on public highways” often requires police to perform noncriminal !community caretaking functions,” such as providing aid to motorists. 413 U. S., at 441. But, this recognition that police officers perform many civic tasks in modern society was just that—a recognition that these tasks exist, and not an open-ended license to perform them anywhere.”

Citation

141 S.Ct. 1596 (2021

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