Legal Definitions - exigent circumstances

Definition: Exigent circumstances refer to situations where law enforcement officers are allowed to conduct a search or seizure without a warrant. These situations arise when there is an urgent need to act to prevent physical harm, destruction of evidence, escape of a suspect, or other circumstances that would frustrate legitimate law enforcement efforts.

Examples:

• If the police receive a report of a person screaming for help inside a house, they can enter the house without a warrant to provide emergency assistance to the occupant.
• If a suspect is fleeing from the police, the police can pursue the suspect without a warrant to prevent their escape.
• If the police receive a report of a fire in a building, they can enter the building without a warrant to put out the fire and investigate its cause.

These examples illustrate how exigent circumstances can arise in different situations where there is an urgent need for law enforcement to act to prevent harm or preserve evidence.