Which categories describe property that may be the subject of a search warrant?

Which categories describe property that may be the subject of a search warrant?

• A. Property possessed, controlled, designed or intended for use; property used as means of committing a crime; property that was stolen or embezzled; or property that constitutes evidence
• B. Any household item
• C. Only property belonging to the victim
• D. Only property within a mile

Answer: (A)

Property that may be the subject of a search warrant is that which the police have probable cause to tie to a crime and that can be described with specificity in the warrant. This includes items a person possesses or controls; items designed or intended for use in the crime; items used to commit the crime; property that was stolen or embezzled; or property that constitutes evidence. These categories cover the kinds of things investigators look for because they are directly linked to the offense and can be described clearly in a warrant.

The other ideas are less accurate because they’re too broad or too narrow: “any household item” isn’t specific enough to be described in a warrant; “only property belonging to the victim” ignores property belonging to others that may be involved or evidence; and “only property within a mile” imposes an arbitrary geographic limit that isn’t how warrants determine what can be searched.