Final answer:
Exigent circumstances justify warrantless entry by police when there's an immediate need to prevent destruction of evidence, prevent a suspect's escape, protect officers or others, or during the commission of a serious crime. These situations are exceptions to the Fourth Amendment under the totality of circumstances test.
Step-by-step explanation:
The factors that determine whether police have exigent circumstances to enter a home or other private building without a search and/or arrest warrant include:
- The need to prevent the imminent destruction of evidence.
- To prevent a suspect's escape.
- To prevent harm to the officers or others.
- A reasonable belief that a serious crime, such as a felony, is being committed.
Exigent circumstances allow for a warrantless search when there is no time to secure a warrant and action must be taken immediately to prevent the destruction of evidence, escape of a suspect, or to safeguard individuals from harm. This concept stems from the Fourth Amendment, which protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures but does allow certain exceptions based on the totality of circumstances test, as established in Illinois v. Gates. An example could be a situation where police hear screams from inside a home, suggesting that a person could be in immediate danger.