Which statement about a search incident to arrest is correct?

Which statement about a search incident to arrest is correct?

• A. The arrestee's future plans.
• B. The arrestee's tax status.
• C. The house's structural integrity.
• D. Contraband or evidence of a crime.

Answer: (D)

When someone is arrested, officers may perform a search incident to arrest to quickly look for weapons and to find evidence that could be used in connection with the crime. This type of search is allowed to protect officer safety and to preserve evidence, and it is limited to the arrestee and the area within the arrestee’s immediate control at the time of arrest. The focus is on contraband or evidence of a crime. The other ideas aren’t the target of a search incident to arrest: a person’s future plans or tax status aren’t relevant to safety or crime evidence, and the structural integrity of a house isn’t within the arrestee’s immediate control and would require a separate warrant or different justification.

When someone is arrested, officers may perform a search incident to arrest to quickly look for weapons and to find evidence that could be used in connection with the crime. This type of search is allowed to protect officer safety and to preserve evidence, and it is limited to the arrestee and the area within the arrestee’s immediate control at the time of arrest. The focus is on contraband or evidence of a crime.

The other ideas aren’t the target of a search incident to arrest: a person’s future plans or tax status aren’t relevant to safety or crime evidence, and the structural integrity of a house isn’t within the arrestee’s immediate control and would require a separate warrant or different justification.