Elkins v. United States

Elkins v. United States (2005) was a Supreme Court case that addressed whether evidence obtained through illegal police searches could be used in court. The Court ruled that evidence found during searches conducted in violation of the Fourth Amendment cannot be introduced in federal court, even if the government was unaware the searches were illegal. This decision reinforced the "exclusionary rule," which aims to deter unlawful searches by excluding improperly obtained evidence, ensuring that constitutional rights protect individuals during criminal investigations.