Arizona v. Hicks

Arizona v. Hicks (1987) was a Supreme Court case that clarified when police can search or seize items without a warrant. In the case, police moved a stereo receiver during a search to identify its serial number, which was seen as a step beyond their initial reason for entry. The Court ruled that the police violated the Fourth Amendment because they invaded Hicks's privacy by changing the stereo's position without proper justification. The decision emphasized that police need a specific reason to extend a search or inspection beyond what’s necessary to address the immediate concern.