Document: 403 U.S. 573 91 S.Ct. 2075 29 L.Ed.2d 723 UNITED STATES, Petitioner,v.Roosevelt Hudson HARRIS. No. 30. Argued March 23, 1971. Decided June 28, Syllabus Respondent was convicted of possessing nontaxpaid liquor in violation 26 U.S.C. § 5205(a)(2). The Court Appeals reversed on the ground that federal tax investigator's affidavit supporting search warrant, execution which resulted discovery illicit liquor, insufficient to establish probable cause. stated that: respondent had a reputation with investigator for over four years as being trafficker distilled spirits; during time local constable located whiskey an abandoned house under respondent's control; date affiant received sworn oral information from person whom found be prudent person, and who feared his life should name revealed, informant purchased residence described, period exceeding two years, most recently within weeks; asserted he knew another bought such days; personal knowledge consumed certain outbuilding; seen go nearby outbuilding obtain other persons. relied Aguilar v. Texas, 378 108, 84 1509, 12 723, stressing never alleged truthful, but only prudent, Spinelli United States, 393 410, 89 584, 21 637, giving no weight affiant's assertion concerning reputation. Held: judgment is reversed. Pp. 577—585. 412 F.2d 796, THE CHIEF JUSTICE, joined by Mr. Justice BLACK, BLACKMUN, STEWART (as first sentence item 1) concluded 1. this case, based tip similar one held sufficient Jones 362 257, 80 725, 4 697 (which approved Aguilar, supra), contains ample factual foundation believing which, when taken conjunction background, afforded basis upon mgistrate could reasonably issue warrant. Both here (contrary situation Spinelli, supra) purport relate unidentified informant's observations recite prior events knowledge. While here, unlike affidavit, did not aver previously given 'correct information,' averment previous reliability essential supported, information; read precluding magistrate's relying officer's suspect's 577—583. WHITE, 2. fact made statement against own penal interest admitted purchases provides additional crediting tip. 583—584. Beatrice Rosenberg, Washington, D.C., petitioner. Steven M. Umin, respondent. Chief BURGER announced opinion BLACK BLACKMUN join, Part I joins, III WHITE joins. 1 We granted certiorari case consider recurring question what showing constitutionally necessary satisfy magistrate there substantial report known police, identified magistrate, purports criminal activity. 2 In 1967 entered premises Harris, pursuant warrant issued seized jugs been paid. solely recited following: 3 'Roosevelt Harris has me spirits, have numerous (sic) all types persons activities. Constable Howard Johnson sizeable stash Harris' control time. This date, fears their property revealed. interviewed have, verbal statement, gained following information: more than past weeks, days house, purchasers utilized 'dance hall,' Roosevelt outbuilding, about 50 yards residence, occasions, persons.' subsequently charged possession His pretrial motion suppress evidence cause overruled, after jury trial sentenced years' imprisonment. Sixth Circuit conviction, holding enable assess trustworthiness. 797 (1969). 5 (1964), we hearsay must set forth 'some underlying circumstances officer * 'credible' or 'reliable." Id., at 114, S.Ct., 1514. It because presented evaluate court noted absence any allegation 'truthful' 'prudent.' Having inadequate Appeals, 637 (1969), looked remaining allegations determine whether they provided independent corroboration informant. constable's cache too remote, and, citing language it gave whatever general illegal whiskey. 6 For reasons below, reverse reinstate conviction. 7 evaluating support Fourth Amendment's prohibition unreasonable searches seizures, would do well heed sound admonition States Ventresca, 380 102, 85 741, 13 684 (1965): 8 '(T)he commands, like constitutional requirements, are practical abstract. If teachings Court's cases followed policy served, affidavits warrants, involved tested interpreted magistrates courts commonsense realistic fashion. They normally drafted nonlawyers midst haste investigation. Technical requirements elaborate specificity once exacted common law pleadings proper place area. A grudging negative attitude reviewing toward warrants will tend discourage police officers submitting judicial before acting.' U.S., 746. 9 way departed these principles. There nothing reciting: 10 'Affiants reliable credible believe heroin, marijuana, barbiturates narcotics narcotic paraphernalia kept above described purpose sale use contrary provisions law.' 109, 1511. 11 therefore, contained none 'facts circumstances' find Nathanson 290 41, 47, 54 11, 13, 78 L.Ed. 159 (1933). On contrary, 'mere affirmation suspicion belief' (Nathanson, supra, 46, 13) incorporation reference unsupported belief. See 114 n. 4, 1513. Significantly, cited approval upheld (1960). That pertinent part follows: 'In late afternoon Tuesday, August 20, 1957, I, Detective Thomas Didone, Jr. Cecil Earline Richardson were traffic ready supply heroin hand mentioned apartment. source also relates aforementioned same either pillow, dresser window ledge said goes many occasions gone apartment drugs secreated places. last 1957.' 267—268 2, 734. 14 substance tip, Jones, closely parallels Appeals. recount recent* activity factor manner, serving distinguish both tips failed explain how came information. 416, 589. 15 seems believed, however, truthful. Indeed, emphasized 'prudent,' word 'signifies circumspect conduct affairs, reveals credibility.' F.2d, 797—798. Such construction very sort hypertechnicality—the 'elaborate law'—condemned Ventresca. policeman's 'should judged entry essay contest,' 438, 600 (Fortas, J., dissenting), but, rather, facts contains. bare believed truthful not, itself, provide unnamed informant, conclude present coupled accusation plainly declaration since readily prosecution sustain conviction himself. developed III. II 16 determining quantum belief suitable benchmark. recounted anonymous claimed defendant apartment, some detail. After reciting swore 17 'Both familiar undersigned members Narcotic Squad. display needle marks same. 18 'This information, regarding traffic, conducted (the defendant) squad sources 19 'Because opening paragraph occasion correct, does now *.' 262 268 20 Frankfurther, writing Although almost entirely hearsay, 'substantial basis' hearsay. accurate story corroborated 'other sources' (albeit unnamed); additionally user narcotics. Frankfurter factors: 'Corroboration through reduced chances reckless prevaricating tale; petitioner charge him much less subject scepticism without history. 271, 736. 22 cannot questioning approach Jones. And unless somehow, acknowledgment, overruled wanting. informant—a clearly distinguishes knowledge—the Johnson's seizure case—indicating trafficked contraband. These again supplied 'known bookmaker, associate bookmakers, gambler, gamblers.' 422, 592. 23 To sure suggested necessary. inquiry is, always cause, reliable, curious, least, HARLAN stress vague attributes 'general employment position community (Post, 600.) Were doubtful reveal suspect. rejected entitled 'bald unilluminating' suspect gambler. 414, 588. proposition But careful examination shows fully reflect critical points limited reputation, standing alone, insufficient; surely hold irrelevant supported reading confirmed Brinegar 338 160, 69 1302, 93 1879 (1949), Court, sustaining finding warrantless arrest, searching arrested offense hauling liquor. rarely admissible trial, took pains emphasize different functions trials preliminary determinations Trials necessarily surrounded evidentiary rules 'developed safeguard men dubious unjust convictions.' 174, 1310. deal probabilities 'are technical; considerations everyday reasonable men, legal technicians, act.' Brinegar, 175, 24 reputation—something policemen frequently know impressed 'legal technician' Frankfurter—is 'practical consideration life' (or magistrate) may properly rely assessing extent prohibits probative our cases, logic, experience decline apply preclude enforcement 25 Quite apart activities, reason Here warrant's extrajudicial statements declarant, safety if identity times 'illicit whiskey.' interest, thereby major elements Internal Revenue Code. Section 5205(a) (2), Title 26, Code, proscribes sale, purchase, unstamped Common sense important daily affairs induce disinterested observer credit statements. People lightly admit crime hands form admissions. Admissions crime, admissions proprietary interests, carry indicia credibility least search. paid promised 'break' eliminate residual risk opprobrium having conduct. Concededly lend contemporaneous later accusations another. admission long currently buying premises, itself more, implicated furnished 27 out-of-court declarations Donnelly 228 243, 33 449, 57 820 (1913), Bruton 391 123, 88 1620, 476 (1968). Donnelly's implication value per se inadmissible widely criticized; see dissenting Holmes Donnelly, 277, 461; J. Wigmore, Evidence 1477 (3d ed. 1940), partially Rule 804 Proposed Rules District Courts Magistrates. More important, proceedings guilt beyond doubt occurrence secreting specific premises. 173, 1309. Whether survive rule trials, extended prevent crediting, circumstances, declarant containing As Bruton, rested Confrontation Clause Amendment inapposite ex parte Amendment. 28 say uncorroborated avoids statement. Nor especially significant neither nor produced magistrate. themselves certainly name, truth issue, McCray Illinois, 386 300, 87 1056, 62 (1967), disposed claim whenever so demands. Reversed. 30 joins JUSTICE's Court. 31 agrees considered whole, issuance He therefore concurs reversal. 32 concurring. join JUSTICE further overrule those wipe holdings books reasons, among others, dissent Clark joined, my Spinelli. 34 35 add comment order make clear posture several places opinion. member 6—2 majority Eighth 382 871 5—3 vote reversed, pivotal concluding concurring opinion, 429, 595, observation that, 'Pending full-scale reconsideration (Draper 358 307, 79 329, 327 (1959)), hand, Nathanson-Aguilar other, reversal, affirm produce evenly divided Court.' Obviously, then felt correctly decided case. Nothing convinced contrary. continue feel today level wrongly it. 36 HARLAN, DOUGLAS, BRENNAN, MARSHALL dissenting. 37 presents decisions where issuing faced task informants describe knowledge, appear officers. 38 agree determination neutral officer, existed. Accordingly, Five separately expressed below Some theories employed voting wholly grounds urged Government. 39 Where, states oath informed existence activity, observed himself, discharging duty assessment can concludes (a) attributed true, cause; (b) likely relating truthfully informer said; (c) informer's description behavior accurately reflects reality.1 40 us, maintains supported. Plainly credit, establishes agent's official status, agent, administered assertions told credible. 41 final component equation, involved, occurred occurring probably accurate. Our element satisfied generally particular conclusions matter data, supra; supra invade another's even appears quite damning simply face value, its determined agent reported conveyed cannot, course, itself. immediately relevant established relies confidants judge himself condition met fulfilled render exists. (1964); Cf. Giordenello 357 480, 1245, 1503 (1958); (1933); Whiteley Warden, 401 560, 1031, 306 (1971).2 42 parties agreement principles re-examined. think precepts follow ineluctably command 'no Warrants shall cause.' Whether, tests trustworthiness vigorously disputed. 43 address contention, claims conclusions. Of data come direct predicate test. However, stresses embrace weeks Moreover, purchase 'within days' argued, stale 44 argument premised overly technical view affidavit. personally weeks,' include point close importantly, totality evidently purported ongoing operation course years. Giving due deference 'in fashion,' 746, (1965), sets permit telling truth, adequate obtained 45 turn, then, treated crux controversy us. contends, held, sufficiently might purporting detail observation, truth. Conversely, Government principally argues factors, singly combination, First, 'interviewed (and) person.' Second, knowledge.3 A. 46 Government's contention misconceives basic thrust Nathanson, Giordenello, supra. central each affiant. agent-affiant delegate responsibilities officials. effect 'has believe' apprise 'he (emphasis added). 'a person' conclusion Only Terms ago, defective '(t)hough confidant 'reliable,' offered conclusion.' Reading 'prudent' broadest conceivable fashion, i.e., truth.4 assertion, Constitution requires drawn independently What portion lacks whose presentation probability plausible justify authorizing B 47 void filled speak true dealing sufficiency respecting above-described components merely overall Further, notes, chief, sole, emphasis communicated infer gathered source. From this, contends Aguilar's reliability-of-the-informer test applicable full force where, seem belief, reported, reliable. makes cases. discussion perhaps precisely explicit twin 589, trustworthiness—namely, relayed reliable—are analytically severable. possible argue trustworthy, true. possibility remains fabricated. why require accuracy related short, requirement vanish indicates trustworthy. 48 say, play role actually place. perceive ways bear credibility, example, somehow responsible affiant, credibility. somewhat falsifying because, yields fruit, called account unable away impugning veracity sources. relationship revealed 49 Additionally, significance ordinarily detailed permissibly lead otherwise well. believe, instance relatively meager character are, enough probable-cause aspect unduly occur prone fabricate. man caution,' Berger New York, 388 55, 1873, 1881, 1040 open door acceptance little florid justifying warrants. C credited confessed commission crime. rationale advanced notwithstanding failure suggest 51 Had pressed difficult accept. analogy exception tenuous. rule, although often criticized, fall exception. (1913). thought factfinders necessity justifies it, universally trier fact, C. McCormick, §§ 253, 257 (1954), shown here. V, infra. Finally, application witness declined presumably assumed harm. Thus, while strict govern magistrates' assessments rather extensive relaxation them reliance factor. completely relaxed, Whiteley, prohibit mere simple affidant unspecified individual committed prove complicity third party, little, any, that. 52 Secondly, speaker's self-interest tends indicate 1457 1940). assume, enlightenment practice declarant-confidant receive absolution return (This, objection 425, 593—594 (White, concurring).) possess illusions immunity essential. 53 Thirdly, adopting encourage prefer participants enterprises ordinary citizens, goal specifically eschews brief premise obey law. Brief 14. am inclined view, decide importantly juncture, injected into jurisprudence representation assumptions do, indeed, comport reality, apparent able new cannot. speculative theory, affected escapes me. IV 55 argued plus credible, factors sufficed. 'under control,' 'prior indicating contraband,' ante, 581, admittedly hardly purposeful manner. Surely, seriously bootlegging, phone caller just witnessed (up later) agents home. makeweight, intended avoid calling outright overruling 56 'received (respondent's) activities.' flatly inconsistent 'the 'known' gambler gamblers bald unilluminating appraising decision.' instant 'know' dealer whiskey, identify effect. Nevertheless, experience,' 583, thus discarded. '(m)ere affirmance enough' private dwelling. 13. 'was insufficient.' Ante, 582. precise problem here—only invoked severable confidant's Parts 58 narrower 'held liquor.' carefully situations involving arrest driving moving vehicles, 176—177, 1310, 1311, typically sui generis valid '(w)holly agent's) suspect) bore engaged running.' 170, 1308. 736, (1960), cites 'story nowhere suggests factor, reliability. At equal placed proved tangible proof actual 59 contradiction, stand coincided, particulars, rumors circulated unknown parties. meant illogical. would, illogical deemed issue. responsibility. confess comprehend, activities,' can, logic experience, suspicion.' best, conclusory deserved Amendment, repeat, drawn, agent. V 60 earnestly protested result permitted stand, hamper extremely meet standards informer, apparently officers, he, unwilling disclosed. anomalous dictated results, hindrance fair, vigorous enforcement. citizen may, supplies regular basis. 'The latter someone enjoys confidence criminals.' 14.5 61 share concern constricting legitimate informers brought assume lawabiding qualms cooperation understand asserting effective dictate secret themselves. seek Beyond considerations, 'credible,' lay judgment. insist seeks Without violating confidences source, things employment, observe accurately, community, connection suspect, motivation falsify, supplying presence record association criminals, like. VI 63 barren anything enabled countenance disclosed sole cause' respected. confesses dovetail carries refutation. With respect, analysis bespeaks firm hostility reflect. Despite surface detail, sustained cutting deeply core except 64 dissent. reject issued. up recent history two-year period. concerned balancing probabilities, addition alternatively examining informative 588, Concededly, 16. insufficient. required validity basically 'sworn.' affects Surely anticipated potential perjury liar. reveal, meaningful sense, reflected created between informer. reversing '(t) informant) 'prudent signifies restrictive accept reasoning frequent purchaser 'is, argument, typical first-time bound out

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