Stops, searches, and arrests are some of the most common types of encounters that the public has with law enforcement. Each encounter also presents the opportunity for an adverse outcome, up to and including harm to officers and community members. Law enforcement agencies must ensure that all stops, searches, and arrests are made by the rights secured or protected by the US Constitution, specifically the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments, along with state and federal laws.
Ensuring stops, searches, and arrests are lawful and appropriate can help foster community trust and law enforcement legitimacy and promote a shared responsibility for addressing crime and disorder and other public safety priorities.
Resources Related to Stops, Searches, and Arrests
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Recommendations from Civil Rights Litigations
Explore the modules below to learn how Civil Rights Litigation has touched upon arrests, searches & seizures, and investigatory stops & detentions. The information provided within these modules has been gathered from various consent decrees, settlement agreements, and assistance letters. The modules are intended to support agencies in improving their Constitutional policing practices. Additional information and resources may be needed to implement the recommendations successfully. To learn more about civil rights litigation, visit the Knowledge Lab's Federal Interventions Dashboard.
The information provided within these modules has been gathered from various sources, including consent decrees, research, and practitioner and department-developed resources. These webpage modules are intended to be a guide for departments to use to improve their Constitutional policing practices. Additional information and resources may be needed to implement the recommendations successfully. This resource is intended to be dynamic, and the Knowledge Lab will continue to update and add to these modules to provide additional and current guidance for departments.