Opinion ID: 2179687
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Delaware Search Warrants

Text: The Delaware Constitution provides that a search warrant cannot be issued unless there be probable cause supported by oath or affirmation. [3] Section 6. The people shall be secure in their persons, houses, papers and possessions, from unreasonable searches and seizures; and no warrant to search any place, or to seize any person or thing, shall issue without describing them as particularly as may be; nor then, unless there be probable cause supported by oath or affirmation. [4] Section 2306 of Title 11 of the Delaware Code prescribes specific statutory requirements that were promulgated by the General Assembly in furtherance of the Delaware Constitution's probable cause provision: The application or complaint for a search warrant shall be in writing, signed by the complainant and verified by his oath or affirmation. It shall designate the house, place, conveyance or person to be searched and the owner or occupant thereof (if any), and shall describe the things or persons sought as particularly as may be, and shall substantially allege the cause for which the search is made or the offense committed by or in relation to the persons or things searched for, and shall state that the complainant suspects that such persons or things are concealed in the house, place, conveyance or person designated and shall recite the facts upon which such suspicion is founded. [5] Section 2307 authorizes a judicial officer to issue a warrant: If the judge, justice of the peace or other magistrate finds that the facts recited in the complaint constitute probable cause for the search, that person may direct a warrant to any proper officer or to any other person by name for service. The warrant shall designate the house, place, conveyance or person to be searched, and shall describe the things or persons sought as particularly as possible, and may be made returnable before any judge, justice of the peace or magistrate before whom it shall also direct to be brought the person or thing searched for if found, and the person in whose custody or possession such person or thing is found, to be dealt with according to law. [6] This Court has consistently held that Sections 2306 and 2307 contemplate a four-corners test for probable cause. [7] Pursuant to that time honored standard, sufficient facts must appear on the face of the affidavit so that an appellate court can verify the factual basis for the judicial officer's determination regarding the existence of probable cause. [8] The requirement that all facts relied upon by the magistrate be in a written affidavit insures that the reviewing court may determine whether the constitutional requirements have been met without reliance upon faded and often confused memories. [9] Consequently, the affidavit in support of a search warrant must set forth facts adequate for a neutral judicial officer to form a reasonable belief that an offense has been committed and that seizable property would be found in a particular place or on a particular person. [10] This Court has eschewed a hypertechnical approach to the evaluation of the search warrant affidavit in favor of a common-sense interpretation. [11] Accordingly, we have held that the affidavit supporting the search warrant must be `considered as a whole and not on the basis of separate allegations.' [12]