Legal Definitions - sneak-and-peek search warrant

SNEAK-AND-PEEK SEARCH WARRANT

A sneak-and-peek search warrant is a type of search warrant that allows law enforcement officials to enter a property without the owner's knowledge or consent, search the property, and leave without notifying the owner that a search has taken place. This type of warrant is typically used in cases where the government believes that immediate notification of the search would jeopardize an ongoing investigation or put someone's safety at risk.

An example of a situation where a sneak-and-peek search warrant might be used is in a drug trafficking investigation. If law enforcement officials believe that a suspect is using a particular property to store drugs, they may obtain a sneak-and-peek warrant to search the property without alerting the suspect. This allows them to gather evidence without tipping off the suspect and potentially causing them to destroy the evidence.

Another example of a situation where a sneak-and-peek search warrant might be used is in a terrorism investigation. If law enforcement officials believe that a suspect is planning a terrorist attack and that immediate notification of a search would put people's lives at risk, they may obtain a sneak-and-peek warrant to search the suspect's property without alerting them.

A sneak-and-peek search warrant is a tool that law enforcement officials can use to gather evidence without alerting suspects or putting people's safety at risk. This type of warrant is typically used in cases where immediate notification of a search would jeopardize an ongoing investigation or put someone's safety at risk. The examples provided illustrate how sneak-and-peek search warrants might be used in drug trafficking and terrorism investigations.