Blue to Gold | University

Knowing when you can enter a home without a warrant is essential for every officer. From curtilage to emergency aid, understanding these legal concepts helps you stay within the law while protecting your case. This class covers the key factors that allow warrantless home entries and explains how to apply them in real-world situations.

In Warrantless Home Entries, you’ll learn the rules around curtilage, hot pursuit, destruction of evidence, and the differences between community caretaking and the emergency aid doctrine.

What You’ll Learn

• Curtilage
  Understand what curtilage is, where it starts and ends, and what actions are allowed within it.
  
  

• Hot Pursuit
  Learn when you can chase a suspect into their home and the legal principles that apply.
  
  

• Destruction of Evidence
  Know the four key factors that justify entering a home to prevent evidence from being destroyed.
  
  

• Community Caretaking vs. Emergency Aid Doctrine
  Get clear on how these two doctrines differ and when each can be used to enter a home without a warrant.

By the end of this class, you’ll be ready to make decisions about entering homes confidently and lawfully. You’ll have the knowledge to protect your cases while respecting constitutional rights.

Certificate: 1 Hour

Credit: In-service credit available in many states