Under what circumstances can a warrant requirement be excused?

The warrant requirement can be excused under specific circumstances that justify immediate action by law enforcement. When an officer has probable cause, it means they have sufficient reason based on facts or evidence to believe that a crime has been or is being committed. This could lead to urgent situations where waiting to obtain a warrant would hinder law enforcement from acting effectively.

Emergency circumstances, or exigent circumstances, refer to situations where law enforcement needs to act swiftly to prevent the destruction of evidence, the escape of a suspect, or potential harm to individuals. In these cases, obtaining a warrant is impractical and could impede justice.

Valid consent is another way to bypass the warrant requirement. If a person gives consent for an officer to search their property, no warrant is needed, provided the consent is given voluntarily and the person has the authority to provide such consent.

Thus, having probable cause, recognizing emergency situations, or obtaining valid consent combine to create scenarios where law enforcement can lawfully conduct searches and seizures without a warrant.