Good Faith Exception

The Good Faith Exception is a legal principle that allows evidence collected in violation of a person's Fourth Amendment rights to be used in court if law enforcement officers acted with reasonable belief that their actions were legal. For example, if police obtain a warrant but later it's shown that the warrant was invalid, the evidence may still be admissible if the officers were acting in good faith, believing they were following the law. This exception aims to balance the need for law enforcement effectiveness with the protection of individual rights.