Opinion ID: 2313282
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: An administrative search requires both substantial compliance and reasonableness

Text: This Court has recognized that probationers do not have the same liberties as ordinary citizens and has held that administrative searches of probationer homes require only reasonable grounds, even if the probation officers do not satisfy each technical requirement of the search and seizure regulations of the Department of Correction. [22] The special nature of probationary supervision justifies a departure from the usual warrant requirement. [23] Delaware law puts probationers under the supervision of the Department of Corrections, whose probation officers shall attempt in each case to effect a satisfactory adjustment between the individual and the individual's needs and the demands of society. [24] By statute, probation officers may conduct searches of individuals under probation and parole supervision in accordance with Departmental Procedures.... [25] The purpose of the Department of Corrections' procedures governing searches of probationers is to ensure that the Department has sufficient grounds before undertaking a search. [26] We do not require the probation officers to satisfy each technical requirement of the search regulations before conducting an administrative search of a probationer. [27] Rather, we require only substantial compliance [28] because under federal law [29] an administrative search of a probationer's home requires only reasonable grounds. [30]