# Police want to search my home in murder investigation **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 10, 2009, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-want-to-search-my-home-in-murder-investigation/517107 "2009-11-10T23:26:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-want-to-search-my-home-in-murder-investigation/517107/41 "2009-11-11T03:48:42Z")
Wow, I must be one of the last people in North America that still trust the (majority) of cops. I’d let them in to take a look. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-want-to-search-my-home-in-murder-investigation/517107/42 "2009-11-11T03:50:45Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > What rights are being violated if you voluntarily allow a search? The Right to be secure from unreasonable Searches, which this is. The right not to have your tax dollars squandered on a bit of worthless political grandstanding by the Chief. ---
**Author:** ![Logical\_Phallacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Logical\_Phallacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Logical_Phallacy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-want-to-search-my-home-in-murder-investigation/517107/43 "2009-11-11T03:53:10Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > Just you wait. At least one person will be arrested for something completely unrelated to the kidnapping as a result of these searches. This brings up an interesting point: If one volunteers to let the police search, and the cops find evidence of any unrelated crime, then obviously there is nothing stopping them from filing charges. If, on the other hand, one declines to let the cops in, and the cops come back with a warrant, then I believe that would ensure that the police can only search for stuff related to the missing person. If you happened to have a bong on the table, I think you’re probably better off in scenario 2 (search with warrant) than scenario one, though I’m not sure? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-want-to-search-my-home-in-murder-investigation/517107/44 "2009-11-11T03:55:07Z")
> [@EmAnJ](#): > > Wow, I must be one of the last people in North America that still trust the (majority) of cops. I’d let them in to take a look. Sure, I trust the police- to do their duty and enforce the law. Why do you think that that even a 100% trustful police officer would turn a blind eye to other violations? Let us take a worst case scenario- you are 100% innocent of this kidnapping (if that’s what it is, other than a runaway) but you have a basement full of bodies from other crimes. Should the police just tip their hats and thank you? How about if they spotted known stolen merchandise? Bomb-making supplies?.. … Seditious literature? Where are you sure the Police, no matter how trustworthy, will draw the line? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-want-to-search-my-home-in-murder-investigation/517107/45 "2009-11-11T03:57:55Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The Right to be secure from unreasonable Searches, which this is. No it isn’t. It’s a search you’re giving permission for. > [@](#): > > The right not to have your tax dollars squandered on a bit of worthless political grandstanding by the Chief. There is no such right. ---
**Author:** ![Stealth\_Potato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Stealth\_Potato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stealth_Potato)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-want-to-search-my-home-in-murder-investigation/517107/46 "2009-11-11T04:06:21Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > And why do people keep saying, “I’m not a suspect?” Yes you are. Of course you are. Do you think being categorized as a 'suspect" has some special, technical set of legal criteria that you don’t meet? It doesn’t. If the police think you _might_ have done it, then you’re a suspect. Deal with it. Saying “of course you are” doesn’t make it so. By your definition, every living person within a hundred miles of any crime is a “suspect.” And if the police are using your definition of the word, I honestly don’t care whether they “eliminate” me from their list or not, because their list is – both practically and legally – meaningless. ---
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-want-to-search-my-home-in-murder-investigation/517107/47 "2009-11-11T04:09:00Z")
I would be willing to answer questions, but I wouldn’t consent to the search of my home. I would politely ask the police to come back with a warrant. ---
**Author:** ![Rack-a-Bones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rack-a-Bones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rack-a-Bones)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-want-to-search-my-home-in-murder-investigation/517107/48 "2009-11-11T04:15:27Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > … But odds are I’d ask them to wait while I called one of my many uncles who are lawyers, or my cousin, the RCMP detective, and see what advice I received from them first!.. Actually, can you do this and let us know what advice they offer? ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-want-to-search-my-home-in-murder-investigation/517107/49 "2009-11-11T04:17:35Z")
Police don’t get to come into my house without a warrant. Just like I’m not going to talk to them without talking to my lawyer first. I have nothing to hide but I also have no reason to stick my neck out for some overzealous officer to use what he may find in my home or what I may say in future prosecutions. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-want-to-search-my-home-in-murder-investigation/517107/50 "2009-11-11T04:29:27Z")
> [@Rack-a-Bones](#): > > Actually, can you do this and let us know what advice they offer? While I know that they would help me if I needed it, I’m not really inclined to call them just to ask about a legal hypothetical from a message board! I’ll try and remember to ask next time I see my cousin, but it might be a while. I’m sure some Doper lawyers can probably give some advice sooner than I can get some! ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-want-to-search-my-home-in-murder-investigation/517107/51 "2009-11-11T04:34:54Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Sure, I trust the police- to do their duty and enforce the law. Why do you think that that even a 100% trustful police officer would turn a blind eye to other violations? This, absolutely. I am almost assuredly not in 100% compliance with all state/local laws regarding the contents of my house. I have had a number of drug users (inlaws) and petty thieves (ditto) in my house, and those are the lawbreakers that I know of; I do not know if any of them accidentally/intentionally left or stashed something in my house for later retrieval. I currently have a large amount of household/personal items stored in my basement that are not my property, and I do not know what all of those items include. That’s not even mentioning the items that might highly raise suspicion of criminal activities. ---
**Author:** ![Mikemike2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikemike2/32/305_2.png) [@Mikemike2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikemike2)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-want-to-search-my-home-in-murder-investigation/517107/52 "2009-11-11T04:35:29Z")
I have nothing to hide and want to help, so ya, stay the fuck out of my house. If I’m a suspect, get a warrent. I once “voluntary” allowed police to search my car at a routine stop because I felt intimidated, and will never make that mistake again. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-want-to-search-my-home-in-murder-investigation/517107/53 "2009-11-11T04:35:32Z")
> [@Stealth\_Potato](#): > > Saying “of course you are” doesn’t make it so. By your definition, every living person within a hundred miles of any crime is a “suspect.” I’ve got news for you, they are. > [@](#): > > And if the police are using your definition of the word, I honestly don’t care whether they “eliminate” me from their list or not, because their list is – both practically and legally – meaningless. It doesn’t matter if you care, and it’s meaningless to say the list is meaningless. If you’re on it, you’re on it. ---
**Author:** ![Stealth\_Potato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Stealth\_Potato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stealth_Potato)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-want-to-search-my-home-in-murder-investigation/517107/54 "2009-11-11T04:47:57Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I’ve got news for you, they are. So, everybody in the world is a suspect, at all times. Great. What are you driving at here? > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It doesn’t matter if you care, and it’s meaningless to say the list is meaningless. If you’re on it, you’re on it. Can you describe for me, then, in what way the list is meaningful if it’s not necessary for there to exist any reason to connect any name on it with the crime under consideration? Why should I care about this list? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-want-to-search-my-home-in-murder-investigation/517107/55 "2009-11-11T05:10:05Z")
> [@Stealth\_Potato](#): > > So, everybody in the world is a suspect, at all times. Great. What are you driving at here? That it’s fatuous to say you aren’t a suspect. If the police say you are, you are. > [@](#): > > Can you describe for me, then, in what way the list is meaningful if it’s not necessary for there to exist any reason to connect any name on it with the crime under consideration? Why should I care about this list? It’s not for you to decide if there’s any reaspon for your name to be on it. If the cops think it’s possible you did it, then you’re a suspect. That’s all there is to it. You have no right to not be a suspect. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-want-to-search-my-home-in-murder-investigation/517107/56 "2009-11-11T05:12:40Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > There is no such right. Yes, there is, you have a right to call for the immediate dismissal of any idiot Police Chief that tries this, and if your elected officials don’t go along with it, you have the right to vote the bastards out. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-want-to-search-my-home-in-murder-investigation/517107/57 "2009-11-11T05:14:13Z")
Nobody’s violating your right to vote against them. ---
**Author:** ![Stealth\_Potato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Stealth\_Potato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stealth_Potato)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-want-to-search-my-home-in-murder-investigation/517107/58 "2009-11-11T05:18:15Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It’s not for you to decide if there’s any reaspon for your name to be on it. If the cops think it’s possible you did it, then you’re a suspect. That’s all there is to it. You have no right to not be a suspect. That doesn’t really answer my question. If they’re going to put me on this list for no reason at all, I want to know why it would matter to me in the least. If they have some _reason_ to suspect that I committed a crime, then suddenly their attention on me is significant: they’ll get a warrant, I might be arrested, and so on. But if all they have is “well, you happen to be in the same general geographic area as the crime,” well that’s great for them. I don’t care. You’re basically saying that they can decide to consider me a suspect (along with countless other people) for no reason. I’m not disputing that. I’m saying that it matters to me about as much it matters what a hummingbird thinks about my haircut. So again, what’s your _point?_ ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-want-to-search-my-home-in-murder-investigation/517107/59 "2009-11-11T05:24:15Z")
So when a police department announces that they have “identified a suspect” in any given criminal case, they actually they’ve just “broadly defined a demographic?” And I suppose them talking about a “possible suspect” is merely a redundant exercise in redundancy, since any group identified as “_possible_ suspects” are _ipso facto_ “suspects”, full stop? Be interesting to see if Dio has any capacity to let a point go, now that we’re not slanging mud about religion or politics but rather highlighting a matter of simple common sense. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-want-to-search-my-home-in-murder-investigation/517107/60 "2009-11-11T05:26:39Z")
> [@](#): > > They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. – Ben Franklin > [@](#): > > **The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated** , and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. – Fourth Amendment > [@](#): > > No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; **nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself,** nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. – Fifth Amendment When come back, bring pie, and a warrant. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-want-to-search-my-home-in-murder-investigation/517107.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-want-to-search-my-home-in-murder-investigation/517107.md?page=4)