Opinion ID: 1270103
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: What is the remedy if the Fourth Amendment was violated?

Text: Finally, even if the searches were illegaland we conclude they were notappellant has no remedy. The usual remedy for an unlawful search is suppression of the evidence in a criminal trial against the possessor. See Mapp v. Ohio, 367 U.S. 643, 81 S.Ct. 1684, 6 L.Ed.2d 1081 (1961) (applying exclusionary rule to the states). Here, no criminal charges have been filed against appellant. The exclusionary rule applies in civil forfeiture actions to suppress evidence seized in violation of the Fourth Amendment where the property sought to be forfeited is derivative contraband. [3] One 1958 Plymouth Sedan v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 380 U.S. 693, 85 S.Ct. 1246, 14 L.Ed.2d 170 (1965). Here, however, there was no jury from which to suppress the evidence. Furthermore, because the machines are contraband per se, the State certainly cannot return them to appellant, which is presumably the remedy sought. See Trupiano v. United States, 334 U.S. 699, 68 S.Ct. 1229, 92 L.Ed. 1663 (1948), overruled on other grounds, 339 U.S. 56, 70 S.Ct. 430, 94 L.Ed. 653 (1950) ([S]ince this property was contraband, they have no right to have it returned to them.); see also State v. Four Bell Fruit Gum Slot Machines, 196 Okla. 44, 162 P.2d 539 (1945) (slot machines seized without a warrant were contraband and must be destroyed regardless of legality of seizure).