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Probable cause may be based on the hearsay report of an informant so long as the veracity prong and the basis-of-knowledge prong are satisfied by the information.

User Heinnge
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Final answer:

Probable cause based on informants' hearsay is admissible if it satisfies the veracity prong and the basis-of-knowledge prong, ensuring that the informant is reliable and that there's a clear way the information was obtained. Cases such as Illinois v. Gates and Miranda v. Arizona help to define these legal standards and safeguards in law enforcement procedures.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to the legal standard of probable cause under the Fourth Amendment, particularly in relation to the use of informants' hearsay information by law enforcement in order to satisfy this requirement. The veracity prong and the basis-of-knowledge prong are two critical components that must be demonstrated for hearsay to contribute to probable cause. For an informant's hearsay to be credible, law enforcement must establish the informant's reliability or truthfulness (veracity prong), and there must be a clear indication of how the informant came to know the information (basis-of-knowledge prong).

The requirement of probable cause is also emphasized in the context of obtaining arrest warrants. It restricts the detention and custody of individuals by the police without a warrant. However, in certain circumstances, such as when a felony crime is suspected, the police may carry out an arrest without a warrant if probable cause can be established. An infamous clarification of related legal procedures is found in Illinois v. Gates, which established the totality of circumstances test for determining probable cause. Additionally, the precedent set in Miranda v. Arizona highlighted the necessity for procedural safeguards to protect against self-incrimination during custodial interrogation, which is related to utilizing information legally in the pursuit of establishing probable cause.

User John Stritenberger
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