Inventory Searches
Channel: Street Cop Training
Date: 2023-06-21

An inventory search is a search conducted by law enforcement during an arrest or seizure to document and protect the belongings of the individual involved. It aims to prevent claims of theft or damage, ensure officer safety, and establish a record of the items present. Here are a few things you need to know regarding LAWFUL inventory searches.

Case law supporting inventory searches includes South Dakota v. Opperman (1976) and Colorado v. Bertine (1987), which established that inventory searches are permissible under the Fourth Amendment if conducted according to standardized police procedures and in good faith.