Case Study Of A Homeland Security Task Force

You are a member of a Homeland Security Task Force. You unit’s assignment is to investigate terrorist activities on U.S. soil. Your unit receives information that a terrorist cell has been activated in a major metropolitan city. However, the location and details of their mission is unknown. Subsequent to the alert, a local police department in your jurisdiction has apprehended a potential suspect on unrelated charges. The arrest was made at an abandoned warehouse that contained one laptop computer. Based on information revealed in the interrogation, it is believed the location, mission, and identities of the terrorist cell are contained in the laptop. Complete the following tasks: • Provide the case law that would allow the search of office computer of the suspect. • Detail the investigative technique used to trace the instant message communication. • Did you state the techniques used to accomplish the tasks? …show more content…

The first is the basic where you have the time obtain a warrant and evidence to support a search on the property or in this case a laptop (United States v. Leon, 1984). The second is a plain view search warrant where if you see that there are criminal acts or illegal substances visible you have cause to search. It doesn’t require a search because you seen the evidence with your eyes. The third is exigent circumstances where agents are aware and know for a fact that evidence is going to be destroyed and require a warrantless search of the property (United States v. Arias). The degree of urgency that is involved and the time one has in preserving or losing evidence. If there are exigent circumstances before evidence may be lost a warrantless search and seizure is taken into count like the case United States v. David, 1991. It is always necessary to obtaining a warrant, unless the evidence is about to be removed or destroyed and the possibility of danger (United States v. Reed,